Academy and College Leaders
Graeme Dow
Headteacher - Anchorsholme Academy
Graeme Dow is the Headteacher at Anchorsholme Academy, having held this post since January 2007. Previously he was headteacher at three other schools, Ribchester CE Primary School, Bispham Endowed CE Primary School and Revoe Community Primary School. He has been a Blackpool resident since 1976. He attended Warbreck High School and Blackpool Sixth Form College before completing his degree at St Martins Lancaster. His drive in education is helping children to find their talents and skills and develop them. He is committed to the development of the whole child including educational, social and personal development. As Headteacher and Governor at Anchorsholme, Graeme strives to provide the widest opportunities for all of our pupils to develop, succeed and establish a love of learning.
Dan Simm
Headteacher - Devonshire Primary Academy
Prior to taking up the post of Headteacher in January 2020, Dan had been the Deputy Headteacher at Devonshire Primary Academy since September 2015. His teaching career spans 25 years, most of which was spent on the Fylde Coast at another local school in Fleetwood. The Devonshire staff, led by Dan, are working together to make sure that the school is ‘the best that it can be’. Staff are committed to ensuring that all children meet their full potential through our new curriculum and other personal development opportunities that are provided by the school. Devonshire Primary Academy prides itself on being outward facing; we are always looking for new and innovative, research- based strategies to assist school improvement because our pupils deserve the best possible education that Blackpool has to offer.
Gill Hughes
Headteacher - Park Community Academy
Gill has worked at PCA for 20 years. Throughout this time she has been team leader for key stage 2 and 3, led the school’s bid to become a specialist Arts College and spent 7 years as Deputy Headteacher, leading on Curriculum and assessment across the school. Gill took up headship in January 2021 and has a clear vision for the school, centred around inclusion, growth, staff development and the mental health and wellbeing of the whole PCA community. Gill is a strong believer in the benefits of extra-curricular activities and set up the key stage 2 residential to Tower Wood and the key stage 3 residential, initially to London and then to York. Gill also established and led the highly successful School Direct programme and is passionate about developing, mentoring and coaching initial teacher trainees and early career teachers.
Dayle Harrison
Headteacher - Revoe Learning Academy
Dayle has held a number of senior leadership positions and has been Headteacher of Revoe since April 2014. During his tenure the school has moved from Requires Improvement to Good. Prior to this, Dayle was Headteacher at a primary school in Blackpool, which he moved from Special Measures to Good. Whilst there, Dayle was seconded to merge two failing high schools into one sponsored academy.
Louise Parrish
Executive Headteacher of Tor View School and Valley College
Louise is Executive Headteacher of Tor View School (a four times outstanding special school) and Valley College (a new Specialist Post-16 Institution). She has 20 years of experience as a special school leader working from the early years through to FE and post 19 adult education. The Tor View School and Valley College teams, work tirelessly to provide first-class educational experiences that inspire, excite, engage, promote independence and ensure learners fulfil their potential. Louise is a former Specialist Leader in Cultural Education (SLICE) who worked with Curious Minds developing Inquiry Based learning skills in herself and inspiring others to engage in school-based arts education research with a particular focus on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Louise has had significant engagement with the National Professional Qualifications Suite writing materials for Adaptive Teaching and SEND and Additional Needs. As a trained SEND Reviewer, she has extensive experience of supporting mainstream schools in auditing and action planning for improvements of provision for learners with SEND. As a strategic lead on the Behaviour Hubs programme, she is skilled in supporting other schools to improve their Behaviour Culture.
Samantha Dillon
Head of School - Tor View School
Samantha Dillon is Head of School for EYFS, Primary, Secondary and the Intensive Support Centre. Samantha has worked at Tor View School since February 2008 where she began her career at the school as an NQT. She was Assistant Headteacher/Head of the Primary department for 4 years before successfully gaining Deputy Headship. Samantha was Deputy Head for 3 and a half years before becoming Head of School. Samantha has taught across all age phases within school, with the majority of her teaching career being spent in the primary department. She is passionate about inclusion and equality. She has taught the inclusion link classes at both Haslingden Primary School and Haslingden High School and has set up social inclusion links with local mainstream primary school to develop pupil’s social interaction with their mainstream peers. Samantha has played an active role on the Governing Body since 2010.
Kelly Swindells
Head of Valley College
Kelly is Head of Valley College (Including Tor View Further Education Department) and Director of Adult Learning. Kelly thoroughly enjoys working for Sea View Trust and the varied role she holds and the opportunities for growth for the whole community. Kelly has worked education for 11 years and held a number of leadership roles during this time, developing her skills and knowledge and learning something new every day. She is a Mum of two boys and enjoys spending quality time as a family, walking, cycling and at football matches.