Meet the Senior Leadership Team

I feel very privileged to be Headteacher at The Academy Selsey at this very exciting time and keen to continue its development as the school of choice for the local area. I hold a BA (Hons) QTS in Physical Education with Coaching Science/Psychology from Chichester University and over the past 20 years have enjoyed several senior leadership roles across Hampshire.

Prior to working in The Academy Selsey I worked as a Head of Department in a Southampton School, with more recently working for many years as a Deputy Headteacher in a Gosport school.

Over that time, I have been fortunate enough to gain the National Professional Qualification for Headteachers (NPQH) along with other National College qualifications and delivered at several National Conferences on behalf of the Youth Sport Trust, to which I was seconded.

I am committed to working with our community to make sure that our students have the very best opportunities and I look forward to watching them succeed and go on to great things.

Jo Ford

I am incredibly excited to take up my new post as Deputy Headteacher at The Academy, Selsey this September and be part of our journey to becoming an Ofsted 'Outstanding' School. 

I know the area well, and read for my degree in Sports and Exercise Science at the University of Chichester from 2005. Since completing my PGCE I have taught in Secondary Schools on the Gosport peninsula, gaining a wide range of experience in teaching Mathematics and Physical Education, leading departments and Year Groups and working for the past 6 years as an Assistant Headteacher with a wide range of responsibilities. 

My remit at the Academy includes leading the quality of the curriculum, careers provision, the tutor program & rewards and homework amongst other items. 

I firmly believe that the key to achieving success for young people is to form open, clear and positive relationships with home and I am very much looking forward to meeting so many of you in the Selsey community as we work together to support our young people to develop their academic and cultural capital to give them the very best start before fulfilling their ambitions Post-16.  

Dean Searley

Having lived in Selsey since childhood and raising my own family within the community. I have witnessed a lot of changes over the years however the strong community spirit has prevailed throughout.  I started working in the Adult Education department at the school as an administrator in 1997, once both my children started at Seal Primary.  It wasn’t long before I followed in my parent’s footsteps and added financial administration to this role.  By the time my children attended Manhood I had taken on the role of Assistant Bursar in the main school office and was an established part of the team.

I am always willing to accept new challenges and have gained experience in most areas of school life and was delighted to be appointed to the Senior Leadership Team as Business Manager in 2011. The change to Academy Status that year had a massive impact on my responsibilities and have endeavoured over the years to secure capital funds to improve the educational environment and facilities of the Academy.  I enjoy the diverse nature of her position and am keen to ensure a secure and sustainable future for The Academy Selsey.

Frances Carver

I have wanted to be a teacher since I was at school. I studied Physical Education and Teaching (QTS) at Chichester University and Graduated in 2010. Once I left University, I decided to teach Maths as I have a passion for it which developed during my time as a supply teacher. 

I have taught is 2 schools based in Portsmouth where I gained experience in middle leadership. I have experience as a progress/attainment leader and Head of Year. The opportunities to lead I received in my previous schools have given me an insight into further school leadership. I started at The Academy Selsey in 2021 as Head of Maths and Assistant Head teacher of Data and Assessment.

I am delighted to be working at The Academy Selsey, where the ethos of the school mirrors my beliefs in education, Pride in Excellence.

Junior Davies

I was born and raised in Chichester and educated at Chichester High School for Girls. Having previously followed a successful career in Sales and Marketing but feeling a passion to embark on a career with the opportunity to make a real difference, and so enrolled on a degree with The Open University to gain my Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in English Language and Literature. I worked as a Teaching Assistant before securing a place on the Graduate Teaching Program whilst working for Felpham Community College, where I was successful in gaining employment as a full-time member of the teaching staff.

Whilst at Felpham, I was Head of House and, later, Head of Year 10 and 11. In order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the realms of middle management, I joined The Academy Selsey in 2015 as the Head of English. Success in that role led to me being promoted to Assistant Headteacher, with a strong focus on meeting the needs of the more able, our disadvantaged students and the progress of Year 11.

I am a firm believer in the ethos of the school and is proof that it is never too late to embark on something new and challenging. My mindset is firmly about making things happen rather than wanting them to; this is the approach that I bring to my role at The Academy.

Bridgit Keen

I am proud to join The Academy, Selsey and support all of our students to excel in all that they do. In my role as a teacher of English and as Assistant Head Teacher of Teaching and Learning, I have the privilege of working with all of our school community; children and adults. I have taught in the North of England before moving to the South Coast, teaching in Hampshire and West Sussex and therefore I can offer different and new ideas which I have been able to use and adapt during my time as a Middle Manager.

I am a GCSE Examiner and Team Leader, and I therefore can share my knowledge and expertise in my subject to specifically focus on examination preparation and excellence.

I am an avid reader and wish to encourage as many members of The Academy, Selsey to share my passion.

Jemima Toone

Having worked at The Academy, Selsey since 2009, I am delighted to join the leadership team at this exciting time. 

After graduating from the University of Warwick with a BA (Hons) in German with International Studies, I taught in Japan for two years before returning to the UK to complete a PGCE at Westminster College, Oxford.  Before taking a career break, I taught German, French and Literacy in a number of schools in Luton, Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire.  I gained a wealth of experience as Literacy Project Lead, Head of Subject, Head of Year and Head of Faculty.  Following my career break, I was delighted to join the school as a part time teacher of MFL.  Since then, I have had the opportunity to widen my subject basis and now teach a range of subjects across KS3.  

While working part-time, I completed a Level 5 Qualification in Identifying and Supporting Students with Dyslexia and was subsequently appointed as SENCo.  I have since completed the National Award in SEN Co-ordination, have qualified as a specialist assessor and have completed my NPQSL.

I am passionate about teaching and throughout my career I have endeavoured to improve the life chances and life experience of all those with whom I work so that students can fulfil their potential and leave school prepared to take their place in the world.  As a school, we pride ourselves on knowing the young people in our care and I look forward to working more closely with the different stakeholders involved with the school to help us fully understand and meet the needs of our cohort.

Tracey Orde