New headteacher starts at Wooburn Green Primary School

Headteacher Sam Kaye took over as the new leader of Wooburn Green Primary School.

The 29-year-old educator started his first headship on April 17 at the primary school with 155 children and 20 staff.

The school was previously known as The Meadow School, which was placed in ‘special measures’ following an ‘inadequate’ Ofsted rating in 2017 but since change of ownership it was rated as ‘good’ by Ofsted in May last year.

Wooburn Green Primary School has 155 children and 20 staff (Image: Sam Kaye)

Mr Kaye, who was born and raised in Aylesbury, said: “I don’t know if I’m the youngest in the whole of UK, but I’m one of the youngest.

“I’m turning 30 on Sunday!”

Starting in his new role at the school’s collaborative environment, which is part of Great Learners Trust, was “exciting,” he said.

Day in the life of a headteacher

Mr Kaye swears by BBC Radio 1 and coffee to get ready for the day, which starts with a drive from his home in Oxford around 20 minutes away from Wooburn Green.

He said: “I have to have a coffee, it’s an absolute must.

“Radio 1 does a quiz every morning so I enjoy taking part in that.

“After getting into work the priority number one is to unlock and make sure the site is nice and safe and secure before the children come in.

“Then I just start working on my laptop and cracking on with the day.”

On his first day on Monday 17 April Mr Kaye led a staff training session as an ice-breaker.

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So far, his favourite moments include “seeing lots of happy children” and spending time outside at every lunchtime, he said.

“I’ve out every playtime to show that I’m a visible leader. That’s one of my main drivers when I first started to be visible.

 “I’ve here only a week but I can already see that Wooburn Green is a very lovely, close-knit community and that has stood out.”

Being a headteacher involves educating and working with staff but also financial responsibility, health and safety, safeguarding and staff welfare.

He said: “The role of headteacher is humongous – there’s the bit people see but then there’s the hidden side like balancing the budget and making sure the school has enough funds and is able to run.

“That’s incredibly tough and it’s a bit of a juggling act to balance those things.

“The financial responsibility stops with you and that’s why there’s a lot of pressure.”

When he started, he told staff he wants to “listen, learn and see the lay of the land” rather than coming in and changing everything.

Now Mr Kaye’s eyes are set on making Wooburn Green Primary “the school of choice for new children to join,” he said.