Mrs M Quinn

Deputy Headteacher

Mary Quinn joined Ark Blacklands Primary as Assistant Headteacher in 2016 and became Deputy in September 2018. She has a proven track record of consistently improving Key Stage 2 results. Before joining Ark Blacklands, she worked for ten years at a large primary school in Bexhill, most recently working as Leader of years 3, 4, 5 & 6. Under her leadership of Upper Juniors, KS2 attainment and progress results improved in all areas of the curriculum every single year since 2012.  She has also successfully nurtured and coached teachers, developing their skills and raising their performance, from good to outstanding within a year. As Instructional Lead Teacher at Ark Blacklands, Mary will continue with this role of improving teachers' practice.

During her time at Little Common, Mary led Art and then English across the whole school. Mary has a passion for reading and the necessity for children to keep reading as they progress through school, in order to reach their full potential. She has been instrumental in changing the function of school libraries and the teaching of Guided Reading in order to support and encourage children to read widely.

Prior to teaching, Mary achieved a 2:1 Hons degree in History and Politics from Reading University. She worked for an academic publishing company before securing a Post Graduate Certificate of Education from the University of Chichester. She has taught in primary schools in West Sussex and Shropshire, teaching years 2 through to 6.  She lived in Shropshire for ten years, where she worked part-time for SureStart, developing community relationships with travellers' families  as well as bringing up her three daughters.

Mr A Higgins-Gooch

Assistant Headteacher - Inclusion

Prior to joining Ark Blacklands Primary Academy as Assistant Headteacher – Lead for Inclusion. Adam was Key Stage 1/2 and FLP Leader at New Horizons School. During his time there, Adam worked as part of the senior leadership team and helped to drive forward the school’s vision and aspirations of all pupils in the school. Adam’s FLP responsibility allowed him to regularly visit local Primary schools, observe their teaching and meet with Headteachers and senior leaders to discuss pupil outcomes, curriculum effectiveness and advise them on a range of strategies that will support them with pupils that are struggling to make progress in their setting. Adam galvanised an incredibly passionate and determined Primary team who worked tirelessly to ensure all pupils reach their potential. This contributed towards maintaining the school’s grading of ‘outstanding’ in March 2018. 

Prior to New Horizons, Adam worked at Saxon Mount School for six years. Here he set up and implemented the school’s first catch up afterschool provision and introduced new clubs to promote awareness of the importance of physical activity within the school and wider community.  Adam worked with an exceptional team of staff who together ensured the pupils developed their social and academic skills and provided them the platform to achieve their potential. During his time at Saxon Mount School, he contributed towards the school being awarded two successful ‘good’ gradings by Ofsted. 

Adam’s teaching career started at Heathfield Community College where he completed his training year in Physical Education. Prior to being awarded qualified teacher status, Adam achieved a 2:1 BA Hons degree in Sport Science (Physiology). Adam has always enjoyed working with children. He has previously worked as a recreational sports assistant leading birthday parties and summer activities. In his free time, Adam enjoys spending time with his family, walking, playing football and running. 

Mrs D Jones 

Lower School Phase Lead & Year 1 Class teacher              

Diana graduated from NEWI Cartrefle (affiliated to University of Bangor) in 1988, with a B’Ed in early primary 3-8 years. Her diploma in Special Educational needs led to her first position as an NQT in a Hailsham School with challenging behaviour.

She then moved to work in an Infant School in Bexhill for 8 years. She has been subject lead for many areas of the curriculum during her career, including computing, DT, R.E and Maths. In 1998 she moved to a rural Eastbourne school where her interest in assessment and performance data led to her taking on the role of KS1 Co-ordinator.

Diana joined Ark Blacklands in September 2014, working initially in Y1. She has a passion for all children to succeed and achieve their very best.

Outside of school Diana enjoys country walks and bike rides especially if there is a tea room along the route! She also makes preserves and chutneys in season.

Miss N Caush

Leader of Learning: Read, Write Inc... & EYFS Class teacher

Nicky joined Ark Blacklands as an Early Years teacher in 2018. She is passionate about children having the best start to their school life and works alongside the Early Years team to ensure that they feel secure, happy and achieve in their first year.

Prior to becoming a teacher, Nicky graduated with a 2:1 BA Hons degree in History from the University of Essex and then, in 2004, achieved a Master degree in Pre Columbian and Native American Art. Nicky worked in administrative roles for Lloyds TSB and Twinings before qualifying as a teacher with PGCE from the University of Southampton in 2008.

Nicky worked for nine years in a variety of schools in Hampshire and then moved to East Sussex to teach in a small village school. She has taught classes ranging from EYFS to Year 6. Over this time, she initially led History and Maths across the different schools, but her love of books and storytelling drew her to the role of English lead. She led this subject in two schools where she worked with teachers to improve engagement and excitement with reading and writing through story telling teaching.

In her role as Read, Write Inc lead, Nicky works with the Early Years and KS1 teams to ensure that every child receives excellent phonics teaching that will enable them to develop into a confident and independent readers.

Miss B Tooze

Leader of Learning - Reading & Year 3 Class teacher

Beth joined Ark Blacklands as a trainee teacher in 2017 and trained through the Ark Teacher Training programme. After gaining experience in Y4 and Y5, she is now teaching in Y6. Prior to teaching at Blacklands, Beth studied English and Philosophy at The University of Nottingham where she achieved a 2:1. After gaining her degree, she taught in China for two years, first as an English teacher and then as a specialist music teacher. She then moved to Ecuador and worked as a music and English teacher for nursery and primary aged pupils before deciding to move back to England to gain her PGCE. As Reading lead, Beth supports other teachers to deliver outstanding reading lessons which enables pupils to develop a love for reading. Beth also enjoys playing music in her spare time.