Head of School-City Academy Whitehawk

My name is Russell Wood, and I am Head of School at City Academy Whitehawk. After eigtheen years working in educational settings in Japan and the United Kingdom, I joined Aurora in September 2022 as Deputy Headteacher, and have felt incredibly well supported in my time here. This was my first Deputy Headteacher role, and the thorough mentoring and coaching I was afforded, alongside formal training schemes, allowed me to adapt to the role quickly. Aurora have also supported me in working towards my MA in Educational Leadership, which has had a significant positive impact on my leadership practice.

I was proud to become Head of School in September 2024 and the continued support from across the Trust (from both the Central Team and other schools) remains exceptional. The opportunities for exchange visits with Aurora-affiliated schools in other countries are fantastic for professional and cultural development. I am delighted to have the privilege of representing our Whitehawk community, and couldn't do this as effectively without the consistent support and commitment from Aurora.

Please do reach out to me at rwood@cawhitehawk.org.uk if you'd like to know more about my experiences at Aurora.