Ron Dearing UTC has expanded its top team, adding additional knowledge and skills to its successful curriculum with five new colleagues.
Zaeem Basit, Sabina Abedin, Al Robinson, Gemma Elliott and Rachel Fussey have a wealth of teaching and leadership experience and will enhance the school’s Creative, Digital and Computing, Engineering and English departments.
Zaeem has joined the school’s Senior Leadership Team as Senior Assistant Principal for Digital and Computing.
The UTC’s Leadership Team has been bolstered by Sabina as Deputy Head of English, Al as Head of Engineering and Gemma and Rachel both as Deputy Head of Creative, based in the UTC’s state-of-the-art STEAM Studios creative hub.
Zaeem, who has worked in education for five years, has relocated from London to Hull to take up the position at Ron Dearing UTC and was previously Director of Learning for T Levels, a two-year qualification for sixth form students, at Leigh UTC in Dartford.
He will lead RDUTC’s whole school digital strategy and oversee the Digital and Computing curriculum pathway, as well as teaching Computer Science.
Zaeem said: “Everyone had such smiley faces during my interview and I knew straight away I wanted to work here.
“I attended the recent A-level and GCSE results days and everyone was very upbeat and excited. I want to have a positive impact on all the RDUTC students and help them to become responsible digital citizens, regardless of whether they are studying digital qualifications.”
Sabina was previously Literacy Leader at Kelvin Hall School in Hull and has been teaching for 10 years. She will work with the UTC’s Head of English, Jack Campbell, to lead the department, which has recently expanded to offer additional English A-levels in response to demand from students.
Sabina said: “I’ve heard so many great things about Ron Dearing UTC and I’m really excited to join the team.
“I hope to bring enrichment and my love of reading to the school. Ron Dearing’s links and involvement with Employer Partners is what sets it apart and sets students up for great careers.”
Al, a teacher with 24 years’ experience, previously held the positions of Curriculum Director at Wyke Sixth Form College, and Head of Maths and Head of Engineering at Wilberforce Sixth Form College, both in Hull. He will lead the UTC’s large and expanding Engineering pathway and teach Engineering to both Key Stage 4 and sixth form students.
Al said: “Ron Dearing UTC is really well respected and its links with industry are really positive. The students are very well supported and have excellent university and apprenticeship opportunities available to them. I’m delighted to join the team.”
Gemma, former Key Stage 5 Coordinator in Art and Design at St Mary’s College in Hull, has worked in education for seven years and will work with the Creative Leadership Team to develop the rapidly growing Creative curriculum, focusing particularly on qualifications in Graphic Communications. Gemma will also teach Art and Photography.
She said: “I wanted to work in a college environment which is industry-led and I’m excited to help develop the Creative A-level courses here.
“STEAM Studios is an amazing facility and the space is so flexible, almost like a university-style environment. I’m really looking forward to getting started.”
Rachel was previously Head of Art at Kingswood Academy in Hull and has been teaching for 12 years. She will bring her expertise to developing and teaching the recently introduced A-levels in Fine Art and 3D Design.
Rachel said: “Joining Ron Dearing UTC is an exciting fresh start and the new facilities at STEAM Studios are amazing.
“The positivity from the staff is really impressive and everyone is super friendly. The students are happy to come here, they want to be here and they want to do well and excel.
“I’m looking forward to my career here. I feel part of the Ron Dearing UTC family already.”
The new appointments bring the total number of Senior Leaders to 15 alongside 16 in the Leadership Team.
Ron Dearing UTC Principal Sarah Pashley said: “Zaeem, Sabina, Al, Gemma and Rachel are settling in brilliantly and bring a wealth of experience to the table.
“We attracted exceptionally strong applicants for these positions and it’s great we’ve managed to appoint such high-power leaders who are all subject specialists and great teachers. We’re delighted they chose Ron Dearing UTC and can’t wait to see them progress their careers with us.
“They will support our excellent existing team in further developing our unique curriculum, inspiring our students to be the best they can be and enabling them to excel in their studies.”