Castle Wood

Together, children first...

Our Leadership Team

Click on the photograph to learn more about us

  • Lindsay Atkins
    Assistant Headteacher

    Lindsay Atkins

    My name is Lindsay and I have two amazing children, one cat, one dog, ten fish and nine rather crazy chickens who provide me fresh tasty eggs every day. As a child I always wanted to work in the travel industry and I achieved my dream spending nine years working in a variety of roles including working for Lunn Poly. It was only after having my first child I realised that I desperately wanted a more rewarding career where I could help and support children to grow and learn. Â This is when I moved into teaching. I have since spent the last 15 years working in a range of special schools across Coventry and Warwickshire supporting children with a wide range of needs. Â Over the years I have learnt so much both about and from the children I have worked with, and I absolutely love the fact that no two days are the same at Castle Wood. The children amaze me each day with their resilience, perseverance and fantastic attitude to life and learning.

    My role within school as Senior Teacher is threefold. Â Firstly, I am Faculty Lead for Enquiry and Investigation, redesigning and implementing a new and vibrant curriculum for the areas of science, people and communities and enquiry and information skills. Â Secondly, I lead on a program of activities for our year 5 and 6 pupils to support them with their transition to secondary school, and to make this process as smooth and worry free as possible for both pupils and their families. Â Thirdly, I am the lead across the school for complex communication and part of this role is to ensure all our pupils have the means and the methods to communicate effectively, are able to make their needs and wants known and can successfully access the curriculum. I want to ensure all pupils can participate fully in school life, home life and engage with the wider community.

    I am passionate about making our pupils feel safe, secure, and happy as this is when children will thrive and learn the most. I want each child to be as proud to be a pupil at Castle Wood as I am to be a teacher, and for them to begin and end each day with a smile.

  • Suzanne Kavanagh
    Assistant Headteacher

    Suzanne Kavanagh

    I am an Assistant Head at Castle Wood School with a responsibility for teaching and learning in Key Stage 2. My teaching career includes both special and mainstream schools where I have taught across Key Stages 1 and 2. I am passionate about ensuring that our children have the skills that will help them to be happy and successful when they leave Castle Wood and move on to their next setting.

    I also have responsibility for educational visits and believe that children should have opportunities and experiences that will enrich their lives and help them to learn and achieve success. Â

    Castle Wood School offers students, volunteers and apprentices many opportunities to learn and develop new skills and knowledge and I am delighted to coach and mentor students, volunteers, apprentices and new SENCOs.

    During my career at Castle Wood I have completed my NPQSL and my Masters in Special Educational Needs and Inclusion. Â I also hold the NASENCO qualification and I am an SLE for Literacy, Assessment and SEND.

  • Samantha
    Senior Teacher (Communication, Language & Literacy, Early Years)

    Samantha

    I started teaching in 2010 after working with under 5s in a private nursery. Â I have worked in Key Stage 1 and 2 in mainstream schools and came to Castle Wood in 2018.

    At Castle Wood I teach one of our Reception classes and lead the Early Years team. Â Alongside this, I support other teams around the school to develop a child-led approach to teaching. Â I also lead the Communication, Language and Literacy faculty and am passionate about learning to read and learning through reading - however that might look for our children.

    I am passionate about treating children as individuals.  In Reception we believe that it is our job to know our children so well that we can join children in whatever play or activity they are engaged in and  bring their next steps to them, whether that be learning to ask for help, learning to self-regulate or learning to hold a pencil.

    At Castle Wood we are advocates for our children and I believe our role is to prepare them for the next stages of their lives. Â My aspiration for all of our children here is that they are able to engage in activities they enjoy and that support their development and independence. Â I believe that communication is key and we aim to build communication skills into everything we do in school.

    Â

    My favourite thing about working at Castle Wood is that every day is different and every day brings a new 'wow moment'. Â Â We get to know our children so well that we see every small step on their journey with us. Â Â

    Outside of school I am part of a netball club, enjoy watching my niece play football and am busy decorating my new house!

  • Marie
    Senior Teacher (Mathematics & Sensory)

    Marie

 

 

 

 

 

© 2025 | Legal Information

School Website Design by Greenhouse School Websites