I am very proud to say that I was born and educated in Stoke-on-Trent with a family heritage of miners and pottery workers. It’s said that in Stoke-on-Trent we don’t shout about our city as we should, but we certainly have lots of personality, bags of pride, a rich cultural heritage and hardworking and caring communities. In my opinion Stoke-on-Trent is a wonderful place to be educated, to live and to work.

At Mill Hill Academy there is a strong sense of community with hardworking, ambitious and committed staff and pupils. We all work together to ensure that achievement, enrichment, keeping our young people safe and happy and prepared for the next stage in their learning is at the heart of everything we do. Every day I am impressed by the warmth, care and respect the staff, pupils and parents share.

The Academy aims to provide the inspirational experiences for its pupils, whether through academic work, competing in sport, participating in the performing arts or through a plethora of trips and visits. Such experiences help to shape our young people as they go through our Academy and beyond to secondary school and then on into their adult lives.

I strongly believe that education needs to unlock the potential of all children to achieve their hopes dreams and aspirations. Here at Mill Hill Academy we encourage our young people to dream big, work hard and persevere and to have no ceiling on their aspirations.

I am passionate that all young people should have the opportunity to achieve great things and be happy. I strongly believe that education is the key that opens many doors and improves our life chances. Success in life is down to hard work, determination and a drive to keep learning. As Henry Ford said “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether 20 or 80. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.”