Name   

Sarah Cullen 

School  

Orchards Church of England Academy 

When did you become headteacher at the school?    

September 2021 

Tell us about your teaching background and how you came to your current position. 

 It is quite a long story and has evolved over many years, but I’ll have a go! I taught in London for most of my career (20 years) and really thrived on the challenges that this gave me. I loved teaching in the classroom, working with children and seeing the progress they made. After having my own child at the age of 39 I realised that I could perhaps do more and have more influence and impact on children by taking the leap into leadership. To take this first step I decided to start with my passion for SEND and became SENDCo/Assistant Head at the school I had spent many years working in. 

A few years later my husband retired from the RAF and we moved out of London. I took a Deputy Head position for a Peterborough school in challenging circumstances and found myself applying for the Headship when it became available. After four years there, we were ready for a change and moved out to the sticks (Norfolk). I found the perfect school for me in Orchards. Lots of challenge, lots of amazing staff and the most fabulous children! I love my job, no two days are the same. Our school is on such an exciting journey, and I am thoroughly enjoying being part of it. 

What do you think makes your school stand out?  

Passion! Our team is truly passionate about supporting our children and families. I have introduced so much change in school and they have jumped on board with all of it, knowing that everything I put in place is to support our children and that for all of us, the children come first. 

What are your plans for the school? How have you/will you make your mark?  

To build a positive reputation for the school, raise outcomes for all children, so that Orchards is the first choice for all families in our area. All of this, while also building a sense of aspiration and ambition within our community. 

Tell us something about yourself that your staff and pupils might not know.  

I am a totally crazy Madonna fan and know the lyrics to every one of her songs. 

What’s been the highlight of your teaching career to date?   

Taking a group of children to the Houses of Parliament and meeting the then Secretary of State for Education to launch a book that the children had written. 

Reading is obviously a core focus for children. What’s your favourite children’s book and why?   

Six Dinner Sid by Inga Moore – I love a picture book. Everybody has met a cheeky cat like Sid and it is a truly lovely story about a greedy little cat but also a community that learns to communicate.