Deb joined Heritage High School in October 2022 as Headteacher and had previously been part of The Two Counties Trust in the role of Pastoral Director since September 2021. She believes in and is committed to developing high quality pastoral systems including SEND, safeguarding, behaviour and attendance, PSHE curriculum and careers. She is passionate about genuine and true inclusion and ensuring that all students’ needs are met and benefit from a range of support and positive relationships.
Prior to joining the Trust, Debbie worked for a Trust in Rotherham leading on behaviour and attendance, safeguarding, SEND and inclusion as a deputy headteacher. She developed a range of SEMH interventions and established an inclusion resource base to re-engage students and to give all students the tools to access mainstream school in a positive way. Deb graduated from Sheffield Hallam University and completed her PGCE at the University of Leeds in Geography.
Deb’s key driver is inclusion and supporting students, families, and communities to ensure that students achieve their very best. Her legacy sentence is “she empowered me to support others”.
Deb’s legacy sentence is ‘ She empowered me to support others’.
Dawn Cook – Deputy Headteacher
Dawn joined Heritage High School, in September 2024, as Deputy Headteacher responsible for the quality of education. She believes that every person in our school community is on their own unique journey which needs to be understood and supported, removing barriers to learning and enabling them to flourish. She is passionate about ensuring that all children have access to a first-rate education that widens their future life choices.
Prior to joining Heritage High School, Dawn spent over 5 years as an Assistant Headteacher with Tapton School Trust, primarily as Head of Sixth Form at Forge Valley School in Sheffield. Dawn gained her degree in Music at Anglia Polytechnic University and, after completing a PGCE, started her career at Branston Community School, Lincoln, as a teacher of Music. She has extensive experience as a Head of Year and as a subject leader. Dawn is passionate about learning and has grown as a professional through her studies.
Dawn’s legacy sentence is ‘she recognised the capability and ensure the growth of each individual’.
Joe Brooke – Assistant Headteacher
Joe joined Heritage in January 2023, in the role of Assistant Headteacher. His responsibilities include the development of the curriculum and teaching and learning, alongside oversight of the careers and Y6 transition programmes.
Joe is passionate about ensuring that all students receive an education that is broad, ambitious and challenging. He believes education is precious, and should provide students with the knowledge and skills that will provide them with the very best life opportunities.
After graduating from Durham University in 2010, Joe taught History at two Rotherham secondary schools, holding the posts of Head of History and Head of Ebacc Faculty. He is excited at the prospect of working with all Heritage students and families in the upcoming months and years.
Joe’s legacy sentence is ‘He was a passionate teacher who inspired everyone to become life long learners’.
Jon Hunt – Assistant Headteacher
Jon attended the University of Hull and gained a BSc (Hons) degree in Sport and Exercise Science. After a year of working with SEND students he decided to pursue teaching, going on to study his PGCE in Physical Education at Sheffield Hallam University. Jon joined Heritage High School six years ago as a teacher of physical education. During that time he has been the leader of learning for the performance faculty and has also gained an accreditation as a lead practitioner. His role as Assistant Headteacher involves providing pastoral support to students in addition to developing a positive school culture for learning.
Jon’s legacy sentence is ‘ He achieved everything with laughter and enthusiasm’.
Chris Kemp – Assistant Headteacher
Chris attended the London School of Economics and Political Science and gained a BSc (Hons) degree in Sociology. Having worked in the Media industry for eight years, he decided to pursue teaching, going on to join a comprehensive school in Essex as a Teaching Assistant and leaving as an Associate Senior Leader eight years later. Prior to joining Heritage High School as Assistant Headteacher, Chris was part of The Difference Leaders programme, spending two years leading pastoral provision within a Pupil Referral Unit. His role as Assistant Headteacher involves providing pastoral support to students in relation to Personal Development, in addition to developing a positive school culture for learning.
Chris’s legacy sentence is ‘ He showed me that kindness and hard work can lead to success’.
Steve Richardson – Assistant Headteacher
Steve studied at Loughborough University and gained a BSc (Hons) Degree in Sports Science and Management. His teaching career began in Hong Kong, teaching English to primary aged students before returning to Doncaster to complete the Graduate Teacher Programme. After 11 years of teaching PE and Maths in 3 secondary schools, alongside numerous pastoral and leadership roles, Steve was proud to take on the role of Assistant Headteacher at Heritage High School in January 2020, leading on Safeguarding and SEND.
Steve’s legacy sentence is ‘ He believed in me, even when i didn’t believe in myself ‘.
Anne Jenkinson – SENDCo
Anne joined Heritage High school in April 2024 as SENDCo. She believes in the power of positive relationships; taking the time to listen and understand each individual child being the key to a successful education.
Anne graduated from University of Cambridge in 2002 and worked as an English teacher and literacy lead. However, she was always driven to enhance her understanding of children’s psychological development and wellbeing. This led her to gain a Masters in Developmental Psychology at Sheffield Hallam University while working as an education coach in schools across South Yorkshire.
Prior to joining Heritage Anne has been a SENDCo in both Primary and secondary settings in Rotherham. She is passionate about SEND and inclusion believing that in understanding and removing barriers to learning all children can achieve their full potential.
Nicola Dagless – Operations Manager
Nicola joined Heritage in 2021 as Administrator. She is now Operations Manager and is responsible for maintaining and increasing the efficiency of the day to day running of the school.
In her role as Operations Manager, Nicola works closely with the Headteacher as her Personal Assistant and is also the Governance Professional, attending regular meetings with the Chair of Governors and governing board.
Nicola is passionate about ensuring students have an enjoyable experience at school and that their achievements and successes are celebrated, she works along side Chris Kemp to ensure the school has a strong culture of appreciation.