Section outline

  • PSHE Secondary Lead

    Helen Dear

    e: helen.dear@hants.gov.uk

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    Helen is an experienced senior leader, having spent the last eleven years in senior management within schools in Southampton and Hampshire and most recently being the Head teacher at a school in Hampshire.

    Richard’s passions are:

    Helen has worked within challenging contexts and has led in several areas of school improvement which include the curriculum and teaching and learning. She also worked with schools and leaders across the country as part of a school improvement model for a large academy chain.

    Helen is an English specialist and presided over significant improvements in English both at middle and senior leadership level and worked with several schools to help improve their outcomes for English. During her tenure as a Headteacher Helen was passionate about personal development and the links between this and academic performance which in a post Covid world seem even more pertinent and relevant as an area of school improvement for Headteachers today.

    PSHE Consultant, Primary and Early years

    Roary Pownall

    e: roary.pownall@hants.gov.uk

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    Roary joined HIAS following a long career in education, including eight and a half years as one of His Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools (HMI), holding the role of Quality Assurance Plus for the East Midlands. He has inspected over 200 schools, including MOD schools abroad, and led training and development for inspectors nationally.

    His main areas of responsibility are:

    • school improvement through leadership coaching, quality assurance, and curriculum development
    • mentoring and developing new HMI and Ofsted Inspectors
    • reviewing school improvement plans and investigating complaints against schools and Ofsted
    • delivering national training and webinars to support school leaders and inspectors
    • contributing to the development of the current Ofsted framework and national guidance.

    Roary was formerly Ofsted’s National Lead for Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) and Citizenship. This work included:

    • writing Ofsted’s response to government proposals on Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education
    • presenting to Government Select Committees and supporting the National Director with evidence and briefings
    • contributing to a major (unpublished) report on the quality of personal development in schools
    • speaking at national conferences and events for primary and secondary leaders.

    Prior to his work with Ofsted, Roary held two successful primary headships, including one that achieved two consecutive “Outstanding” judgements in all areas. He also played a central role in a local authority programme to develop future school leaders in Stockport.

    Roary has over 20 years’ experience as a school governor and worked part-time as an Ofsted inspector while serving as a headteacher.

    He remains deeply committed to supporting school leadership, personal development, and character education.