Welcome from the MACs
We are pleased to welcome you to Atwood Primary School!
At Atwood, the safeguarding, wellbeing and needs of the children are the top priority for all of us and we are really proud of the progress and achievements made by the children.
We are fortunate to have extensive playing fields, an orchard and a large garden area where the children experience all the stages in growing flowers and vegetables. The school is close to Kingswood and open common land which provides opportunities for all kinds of outdoor exploration and activities that enrich the curriculum. In the Early Years classes the children take full advantage of the great outdoors in the Forest School activities that are an innovative addition to the curriculum.
Atwood MACs and staff believe in strong partnerships with parents/carers in order to help each child reach their potential, both academically and personally. Our main focus is on the skills of literacy and numeracy which underpin all learning, but the children experience a wide, exciting curriculum that gives them stimulating and enjoyable ways of learning.
The Headteacher, SLT, staff from Pegasus and the MACs work in close partnership and the responsibilities of the Local Governing Body (MACs) as described below.
Members of Atwood Academy Council have a range of skills and experience including accounting and finance, banking, law, HR, teaching, education management, learning support, IT and health and safety. We have parents, community and staff representatives, all sharing a commitment to ensuring that Atwood children receive the best possible start in life.
The school is fortunate to have a really strong staff team who provide excellent teaching and learning for the children, led by our Headteacher, Rob Veale, who has been at Atwood since 2015. During this time the school has undergone significant change as Rob has put in place structures and improvements that have raised expectations, skills and accountability of senior leaders and staff.
We all want your children at Atwood to have exciting learning opportunities and experiences and we welcome your comments and suggestions for improvement.
Atwood MACs
-
Barbara Alcaraz
Chair of the Academy Council -
Carl Knightly
Co-opted Director PAT -
Andre Savarian
-
Kayley Dunn
Staff MAC -
Amanda Lawrence
Staff MAC -
Matthew Nolan
Safeguarding MAC -
Anna Huzzey
Parent MAC -
Dale Burridge
Barbara Alcaraz
Term of Service started:
25th March 2021
Term of Service ends:
24th March 2025
Responsibilities:
Chair of the Academy Council
Barbara has lived in Croydon all her life and held roles in education and adult education. From 1998 to 2011 she worked as Health and Safety Manager and Deputy Facilities Manager at the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill.
Barbara has breadth of experience in governance working with different schools within the London Borough of Croydon. In addition to supporting Atwood Academy she is a governor at Red Gates special school where she has served for 4 years and has held a variety of roles.
Barbara believes in the importance of a well-balanced, inspiring and enriched curriculum for all children, whatever their background and needs. She will help to ensure that the school has a highly motivated and inspiring team of staff in all areas of the school to support this.
Since joining Atwood Trustees in April 2021 Barbara has offered support in several areas and in September 2021 accepted the role of Chair of Governors to the Board. She is committed to working with Atwood Academy and supporting the Board of Trustees and staff across all areas of governance
Carl Knightly
Term of Service started:
15th September 2022
Term of Service ends:
14th September 2026
Responsibilities:
Co-opted Director PAT
Appointed by Board
Andre Savarian
Term of Service started:
16th September 2021
Term of Service ends:
15th September 2025
Send EmailAndre is a financial services professional with a breadth of experience across fund management and corporate finance advisory. He works for ‘Finance Earth’, one of the UK’s leading environmental impact investment advisors which develops innovative financial solutions and projects to address societal and environmental issues for conservation, climate and communities.
He joined the Aacdemy Council as a Community member to support with strategy, resources and financial management, alongside supporting linked roles in curriculum development and good governance.
As a father with two young children, he is committed to working together with the senior leadership, educational and governing teams in Atwood to develop and widen access to unique children’s experiences and an education filled with variety and wonder, providing them with a foundation to be imaginative, compassionate and hard working allowing them to develop, persevere and flourish through school and where their passions take them.
Kayley Dunn
Term of Service started:
15th September 2022
Term of Service ends:
14th September 2026
Responsibilities:
Staff MAC
Amanda Lawrence
Term of Service started:
25th March 2021
Term of Service ends:
24th March 2025
Responsibilities:
Staff MAC
Mrs Lawrence knew from an early age that she wanted to work with children after running her school’s tuck shop at the age of 8. After a stint in insurance and accounting, she joined the Met Police as a Youth & Community Officer and then as a Child Protection Officer.
Mrs Lawrence has a long association with Atwood; her three daughters went to the school, and she has been a governor and now MAC at the school over a period of 20 years. She also has experience as a governor at Forestdale and Riddlesdown.
Outside work, much of Mrs Lawrence’s time is spent as a besotted nanny to baby granddaughter Sophia!
Matthew Nolan
Term of Service started:
24th March 2022
Term of Service ends:
23rd March 2026
Responsibilities:
Safeguarding MAC
Anna Huzzey
Term of Service started:
1st December 2022
Term of Service ends:
31st November 2026
Responsibilities:
Parent MAC
Dale Burridge
Term of Service started:
01.02.23
