New Headteacher for Westcliff High School for Girls

March 5, 2021

A new Headteacher will join Westcliff High School for Girls later this year.

Andrew Cooper will be joining the school from 1st September 2021. He will also be the Chief Executive Officer of South East Essex Academy Trust which currently comprises Holt Farm Junior School, Prince Avenue Academy and Nursery, Rochford Primary and Nursery School and Westcliff High School for Girls. The Deanes School, Hadleigh Junior School, and The Westborough Primary School and Nursery are also planned to join the academy trust later this year.

Andrew has 30 years teaching and leadership experience in a wide variety of schools. He has a strong track record of sustained success and raising standards across organisations of varying size and complexity.

As a Headteacher, he successfully led three schools, including leading a Grammar School to an outstanding Ofsted judgement. For the past seven years, Andrew has been a CEO leading groups of schools, with provision ranging from nursery to sixth form. Until recently he was an Ofsted inspector alongside his school leadership roles.

Andrew said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead both Westcliff High School for Girls and South East Essex Academy Trust and proud to lead a team of passionate, dedicated and talented staff and wonderful young people. It is a fantastic family of schools and I feel privileged to be able to play a part in the future success of children across South East Essex from the age of 3 to 19.”

The Chair of the Board of Trustees, Murray Foster, said: “We are very pleased that Andrew is joining us.  We are positive that the blend of his background and expertise and the strength already in Westcliff High School for Girls and across our Multi Academy Trust will prove a strong partnership and build a very bright future especially when our three additional schools join us this year as planned.”