Tim Harris – Headteacher  

Born and raised in the Black Country, I am first and foremost a family man.  A proud father to two wonderful girls who make me smile and laugh every day.   

I now have the privilege of working at Summerhill, and I mean, privilege.  The students, staff and community are a pleasure to work with and I am excited for the future.   

Having graduated in 2000 with a Sports Science degree I began my teaching career in Sandwell as a PE Teacher.  My first school will always have very special memories, especially as I met my wonderful wife there (she may look back on that time differently!).   

As my time in Sandwell progressed, I was lucky enough to develop in various different roles and this allowed me to secure an Assistant Headteacher position for Pastoral and Behaviour, at Moseley School, Birmingham.  A culturally diverse school with over 40 first languages spoken; it was a pleasure to teach there.  This then led to a Deputy Headship at Streetly Academy in Sutton Coldfield.  A wonderful school with amazing students and staff, a place very close to my heart.  I have always tried to continue my education alongside teaching and have recently achieved a National Professional Qualification in Executive Leadership.   

Outside of school I am an avid sportsman.  I love all sports…. especially Liverpool FC.  I grew up as a swimmer which allowed me to experience some incredible opportunities.  I am now a ‘Dance Dad’, which is a whole new world for me! 

 

Chris Randle - Deputy Headteacher: Pastoral 

I always knew I wanted to be a PE teacher. I studied Sports Science at University and completed my Masters (MSc) in 'Sport and Exercise Science' before completing my teacher training. I am a keen sportsman who enjoys Triathlons, my biggest achievements include completing the London Marathon and Half-Ironman. I have a personal goal to complete a full Ironman.  

I have been a teacher for the past 18 years and have worked in pastoral care for over 10 years in numerous roles as Head of House, SENDCo, Head of Inclusion and Assistant Headteacher for Behaviour. I strongly believe our role as a teacher is to support young people to become well-rounded individuals. We are driven at Summerhill School to ensure students achieve not only academically but to also ensure the young people in our care develop, Physically, Emotionally, Socially, Spiritually and Mentally.   

My weekends are mostly taken up with football matches for my son and netball matches with my daughter!  I love having that family time and watching my children do something they love.  I have also taken up a coaching role within the football team that my son is part of.

 

Adrian Cresswell – Deputy Headteacher: Curriculum  

Born in Stourbridge, I grew up in Wolverhampton before heading off to Cambridge University to study Science.  I then worked as the Technical Manager of a theatre and had great fun designing scenery / lighting / special effects.  I worked with great teams of people putting on productions and going on tours around Europe and the UK.  I trained to become a teacher after doing "behind-the-scenes" tours for young people around the theatre - I discovered I enjoyed teaching even more than the theatre.  I still love to spend time designing, making and mending things. 

I started my teaching career in Tamworth as a Physics teacher and was quickly given the opportunity to teach other areas of science and also Computing.  I moved to a school in Dudley to gain leadership responsibility and then joined Summerhill as Deputy Headteacher in 2010.   I love this school because of the genuine way that everyone does their best to make new people feel welcome, care for each other and help our students to flourish. 

Inside school, my favourite lessons are where students are solving problems or creating something unique.  I really enjoy writing the school timetable because it's like a huge jigsaw puzzle.  Away from school, I'm fascinated by the natural world and passionate about looking after the environment.  I'm a particular fan of trees, bees, bats, owls and dogs... some of my favourite times are spent nature-watching with my wife and daughters.  My mornings start with a walk up a local hill from where I can look at a view across the whole of the West Midlands conurbation. 

 

 Craig Holden - Assistant Headteacher: Teaching & Learning 

For over 24 years I have proudly served as a member of our Summerhill community. During that time I have been a teacher of English, Head of Media and more recently Assistant Headteacher with responsibility for Teaching and Learning. It is an honour and a privilege to work with our fantastic students at Summerhill; they inspire, surprise and impress me every single day.  

My passion for education is deeply rooted in the belief that every student has the potential to excel when provided with a nurturing and challenging learning environment. Supporting students in reaching their potential and making their contribution to society has been my motivation since the day I became a teacher and continues to this day.  

My role as Assistant Headteacher enables me to work with a talented and inspirational team of educators who share a belief in, and commitment to, the power of education to shape and change lives. We are also lifelong learners and continuously strive to develop the very best practice. The belief that we can always improve drives our professional development and I am proud to be in a role that supports this.  

My passions in life are film, music, reading and spending time with my wonderful family. My two sons share my love of film and music and is not uncommon to find us at weekends at a local record fair or heading to the cinema.   

Summerhill has been an important part of my life for a long time- as a teacher, parent and senior leader. I look forward to being a part of our ongoing development and am excited about our potential to provide the very best educational opportunities for our students.  

 

 Mike Rowley – Assistant Headteacher: Data & Progress 

As an integral member of the senior leadership team at Summerhill School, I am dedicated to fostering student progress and success through a holistic approach to education. With a focus on leveraging technology for learning, I am committed to ensuring that our students have access to the tools and resources they need to thrive in today's digital age. 

My responsibilities encompass overseeing student progress data and reporting, as well as managing internal and external examinations to ensure that our assessment processes are robust and fair. By analysing data trends and implementing targeted interventions, I strive to support each student on their educational journey. 

In addition to my administrative duties, I am a passionate advocate for Computer Science and ICT education. With over 20 years of teaching experience, I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the classroom. I am dedicated to empowering students with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate an increasingly technology-driven world. 

Outside of school, I am the proud father of two young boys, with the eldest about to embark on his secondary school journey. As a family, we share a love for football, and most weekends you'll find me cheering them on at Eagle Park or supporting our favourite team at Molineux. 

Having been a part of the Summerhill community for nearly 10 years, I am honoured to contribute to our mission of nurturing the academic, social, and personal development of every student. 

 

Sarah Sprouting – Assistant Headteacher: Safeguarding & Student Welfare (DSL & MHL) 

Hello! I'm Mrs. Sprouting, and I'm very proud to work at Summerhill School.  With over two decades of experience, I am passionate about safeguarding and supporting the mental health of our students and staff. 

I knew I wanted to be a teacher when I was in sixth form in a local secondary school, with an awesome Headteacher who was my inspiration.  I went to Keele University and studied Maths and Education Studies before completing my teacher training at Worcester.  I have worked in 2 other schools and joined Summerhill in 2014. 

I love spending time with friends and family, enjoying days out and meals together.  As a mother of two, I understand the importance of a supportive educational community that works alongside parents to ensure the best possible outcomes and experiences for everyone. My eldest child is currently studying for his GCSEs and my youngest is about to start their secondary school journey.   

Outside of school, I enjoy teaching dance classes, reading a book in the sunshine, walking my dog Scout and travelling to new countries.  

I love working at Summerhill and the fantastic atmosphere it has.  Students and staff are so friendly, that you walk in and feel instantly at home.  

 

Kev Quirke – Assistant Headteacher: Raising Standards 

I arrived into teaching in 2002 after completing a brief career in Accountancy and completing a degree from Aberystwyth University.  A PGCE in Secondary education Mathematics from Worcester University followed before I joined Summerhill School in 2003. Having worked at Summerhill for over twenty years, I am extremely proud of the students and their achievements. Having held a variety of pastoral positions at the school including careers co-ordinator, Head of Year and Head of House, I am now responsible for supporting and driving Year 11 performance. Through the raising standards role I am responsible for evaluating whole school performance and implementing the appropriate level of intervention for our students to ensure they maximise potential. 

Family is everything to me and there is nothing I enjoy better than travelling with my wife and daughter. I have been fortunate enough to travel to South America, across Europe, Canada and USA over the years. Sport has always been a true passion of mine and in 2017 I achieved my ambition to run and complete the London Marathon (even if it was a bit slow).  

 

Anna Mohamed - SENCO 

Born and raised in Kent, I graduated from the University of Brighton with a 2:1 degree in Physical Education BA Hons with QTS. As someone who struggled with physical exercise as a child, I wanted to encourage children to consider the advantages of a variety of physical pursuits. In order to accomplish this, early in my teaching career, I took courses in extracurricular sports like cheerleading, boxing, and Parkour. I also had the pleasure of leading two international expeditions to Thailand and Uganda, where students were challenged to their physical and mental limits. 

I was honoured to return to my former high school to work alongside staff members who encouraged me to become a teacher. I was promoted to Lead Head of Pastoral after rapidly being promoted to the position of Head of House and honing my pastoral care skills. I was offered the chance to retrain and teach Design Technology after suffering a sports injury; I love sharing my passion for design.  

In 2019, I became Assistant Principal, Deputy Head of House and SENCo. I completed the National Award in Special Educational Needs Co-Ordination qualification at Canterbury Christchurch University. Throughout that year, it was my joy to introduce new projects, such as the creation of the mental health hub "Mind Space" and the introduction of a school therapy dog.  

I took the difficult decision to relocate to the Black Country in order to be closer to family. I look back with fondness and forward with excitement, to carry on with my mission at Summerhill of educating and influencing young people's lives to help them realise their full potential.  

Besides spending quality time with family, friends and my dog, my hobbies away from work include travelling, exercise, sport, art, home renovations and music.  

 

Vicki Poole – Business Manager 

Having been born and raised in Wolverhampton, I didn’t move far to complete my Business and Maths degree at Wolverhampton University. 

I joined Marks and Spencer as a graduate trainee in Finance moving to Oxford to complete my training. I experienced a varied career over 20 years, mostly as a Store Manager in over 8 different locations. 

In 2018 I changed direction completely and was delighted to join the team at Summerhill School as Business Manager. 

I am married with two children and spend most of my time out of work following their various sports interests. 

I love travelling and enjoy organising holidays and time away with family and friends.