Wider Team
Andrew Proctor
Primary Lead
I have worked in primary education in Lancashire for nearly 25 years and have been a Headteacher since 2012. I was appointed Headteacher at Highfield Community Primary School in 2015 and since that time I have worked tirelessly to improve the reputation of the school within the community. I am passionate about inclusion and giving every child, no matter what needs they may have, the opportunity to have a happy and successful education. I established an SEN unit for pupils with Speech, Language and Communication Needs and/or ASD which now educates 18 pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) from Chorley and the surrounding areas.
I am also the lead Headteacher in the Chorley Inclusion Hub. Working with an educational psychologist we have established the Chorley Inclusion Support Service. Assistant Educational Psychologists employed by CISS provide support to mainstream schools with the intention of improving inclusive practice. We have also arranged two successful inclusion conferences for staff from across the district.
Having recently completed the NPQEL through Teach First, I now have the knowledge to develop processes and systems that enable and encourage collaboration between staff within and across the primary schools in the MAT. I am looking forward to furthering the relationship between the schools and working with the rest of the central team to establish AFMAT as one of the best trusts in the area.
Outside of school, I am passionate about sport and I'm a season ticket holder at Preston North End. I also enjoy the outdoors – dog walking and cycling in particular and have a love of the natural world.
Andrea Jolly
Trust Designated Safeguarding Lead
Since 2012, I have been employed at Highfield Community Primary in multiple roles, including Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, Senior Learning Mentor, Wellbeing Coordinator for staff and pupils, and Schools Senior Mental Health Lead. These roles are interconnected, all founded on protecting children and young people from harm and supporting families in need. I have a qualification as a Children and Families Practice Manager.
Throughout my time at Highfield, I have built strong relationships with children and families to provide the best possible outcomes when they face challenges. If a child experiences one factor or a combination of barriers to learning, this may lead to low self-esteem, disruptive behaviour, or a negative attitude toward learning, which can result in the child not fulfilling their potential. As a Learning Mentor, I help the child develop strategies and skills to enable them to make positive choices and learn. I support pupils by providing a diverse range of learning opportunities. I work with pupils, families, school staff, and other professional agencies to help pupils develop their potential by removing barriers to learning, whether these barriers exist in school or at home.
I work closely with a variety of outside agencies and the local community to promote collaborative efforts. Additionally, I lead a cluster group for pastoral support leads and outreach workers from primary and secondary schools within the Chorley district. This group serves as a platform for sharing best practices, training events, and making direct links to Children's Social Care, along with providing peer supervision to support wellbeing and mental health.
I am passionate about my role and work flexibly to meet the needs of children and families, offering advice, support, and guidance while promoting positive care and parenting skills. I believe that safeguarding in school is vital and should be embedded as a whole school approach to ensure pupils are kept safe. I actively keep up to date with new legislation and updates, ensuring all staff are made aware of these changes. I truly value the sense of achievement that comes from supporting children and understand the immeasurable impact that education and nurturing have on young lives. My time in this post and the experience gained have reinforced my desire to help and support children, young people, and their families.
Fiona Fish
Trust Attendance Lead
I started working at Parklands over 10 years ago and before this I was a Team Manager for NatWest and RBS Corporate and Commercial Banking. I left the bank in my mid 20s to start a family and worked part time while my children were young. I qualified as a Teaching Assistant as I wanted to start my new life in education. After 12 months on reception at Parklands the Attendance role became available and I thought this would be a new challenge for me - I must say that I love my job! Attendance is fundamental to attainment and every day is a new challenge. I look forward to sharing my knowledge and best practices with both primaries and secondaries; attendance is a high focus since the pandemic and keeping up with new legislation will be a new challenge too.
Outside of work I like to spend time with my family, walks with our dog, holidays and watching my team, Liverpool!