Samantha Winter

SLT Teaching and Learning, Art & Photography Teacher

One School Global Colchester Campus, Stoke By Nayland

About Me

I currently work in One School Global Colchester Campus (Formerly Stoke By Nayland Focus School) on the senior leadership team with a responsibility of Progress Lead for years 9-13, Assistant Head of 6th Form and Teaching & Learning.  In this role I monitor and analyse the progress of KS4 and 5 students, oversee Teaching and Learning within the school for the secondary year groups and support the Head of 6th Form, working to raise the achievement of the students.  Prior to this I worked in Woodlands School as a Lead Practitioner with a whole school focus of differentiation development.  Within that role I ran whole school and targeted CPDs, coached and mentored on the 3 to 2 programme, action planned, completed formal and informal lesson observations.  I always offer an open door policy to my colleagues.

Prior to Woodlands I taught at Greensward Academy for 7 years, and there I was fortunate enough to be Head of Department for Art and Photography for 3 years and Assistant Head of Year for 5 years.  During my time as HOD, I lead our department to the most successful results in both GCSE and A-Level and we consistently achieved higher than national average in A* – C% and also above national in making 4 levels of progress.  Along with this GCSE success I have experience in A’level teaching and mentoring, taking our A’Level class to see success at an ALPs 2.  I was very privileged to have won Outstanding Teacher of the Year in 2015 at GWA.

I am an OCR moderator for both A’level and GCSE and moderate all art and design based subjects such as Textiles, 3D design, Graphics, Fine Art, Photography and Art Craft and Design.  I strongly believe in the importance of seeing your subject beyond the classroom, seeing what other schools are doing and knowing what is ‘on trend’.  It can be easy to stick with what ‘we have always done’, but easy is not always our most promising or exciting route.  I thoroughly enjoy my time moderating and visiting other schools to share ideas and also gain new ideas.  I also take great pride in celebrating the success of our students and will find ways and opportunities to exhibit work publicly and am always on the ‘hunt’ for exciting, collaborative projects with artists, local schools and companies.

I have supported local schools in setting up A’Level art, have delivered mock moderations and discussed national standards and continue to offer my support after any initial visits.  I have offered advice on planning, effective SOW and planning for differentiation.

I have been very privileged in mentoring GTP/SCITT and ITT trainees, seeing them gain their first external positions applied for.

Specialist Areas of Expertise

  • Art and Photography
  • Coaching and Mentoring
  • Teaching and Learning
  • Support for more able
  • ITT and NQT development

Other Areas of Expertise

  • CPD planning and delivery
  • Enhancing art and photography beyond the department

Recent Training

  • SLE core training
  • Arts award advisor
  • ITT mentor training – Billericay Teaching School Alliance
  • GCSE and A'Level standardisation with OCR