Ripley Academy principal vows to work tirelessly to inspire youngsters

So what do you do after achieving your life-long goal? Well if you’re Carey, you set more of course.

The Ripley Academy principal, 35, has spent the past year of her role working tirelessly to improve the standard of education available and inspire students to pursue their dreams too.

She said: “It’s taken a lot of luck, hard work and making the most of every opportunity presented for me to get to where I am now. And a mix of hard work and determination is something I am trying to instil into my students.”

Carey, originally from Hucknall, studied for a chemistry degree at Imperial College, London, followed by a PGCE course at the University of Nottingham to become a teacher.

She joined Meden School in Nottinghamshire in 2002, where she was given leadership roles including the gifted and talented co-ordinator. She was also selected to take part in a government Fast Track teaching programme.

In 2005, she was became the head of science at West Park School in Derby, and was made assistant head in 2007.

But it was a twist of fate that led to her applying for the assistant head job at Ripley Academy, formerly Mill Hill School, when she was involved in a car accident in 2008.

She said: “I was driving on the M1 when a lorry went into the back of my car. I wasn’t seriously injured but I decided I didn’t want to do that commute any more and applied for the job at Ripley.”

Once there, she rose up the ranks quickly, becoming acting deputy head teacher in 2010, deputy head in 2011 before being named as acting head and now principal.

She added: “I am proud of myself and where I have got to in my career. I’m pleased that I have been able to make my family proud after the sacrifices that my parents made to enable me to live in London during my degree.

“However, the most rewarding part of the job comes from seeing what I have been able to help the students achieve, in terms of actual grades (right across the ability range) as well as what the students’ qualifications have then enabled them to go on to do.

“I feel privileged to be the principal, it is exciting to work in a school which has been reopened as an East Midlands Education Trust (EMET) Academy.

“There have been numerous changes over the past 14 years, but more recently education has experienced lots of changes, not least to the examination system – this has made things rather interesting for us all. But a key piece of advice to offer in these situations is never to lower your expectations – help the students and staff rise up to meet them.”

Even in her spare time, Carey is dedicated to the academy. She completed the London Marathon last year to raise cash for a sensory room at the school.

She is now looking forward to new challenges.

“Although we firmly believe that The Ripley Academy is a good school, we are working on ensuring that we are judged ‘good’ by Ofsted. It’s important for me that the school gets the recognition it deserves based on the relentless hard work of staff, students and their parents.

“At present we are looking to the summer examinations which will be upon us before we know it. In these few remaining months, everyone is working hard to ensure that the students are able to achieve the highest results that they can to give them as much choice for their future careers as possible. It is hard work for all involved, but it’s also the most exciting time of the year.”