In 2010 Julie stuck a pin in the map and she and her family moved
down to Brixham. In 2010 she came to KEVICC as SENCO; designated
teacher for children in care and teacher of English. Julie has been in
post in a particularly challenging and difficult time for SEND, with
the new SEND code of practice taking effect in September 2014. She
is to become Head of Centre at 'On Track', a special school in Totnes.
Julie is originally from ‘up North’ however, she and her family are now very much
settled into the pace of Devon life, being actively involved in their local church,
committees and community, and walking ‘our Molly’, the West Highland terrier,
along Brixham harbour.She will be most remembered within the SEN office for
strange shoe-related incidents and lost keys/umbrellas/coats etc.
Page 35
Alumni
When Fern started
here in 2008, her skills
in teaching adults
ICT and numeracy
stood her in good
stead and later, eager
to continue her own learning, she
passed her HLTA in Science to the great
benefit of our students. She eagerly
volunteered to support students with
dyslexic-type difficulties and spent
time expanding her skills within the
literacy department.
Popular in SEN, and with a real
understanding of the difficulties that
young people can face (and with a
huge fund of funny family stories!) she
has left to return to supporting adults
with literacy difficulties.
Kellie's passion over
the past six years,
lay in supporting
KEVICC students with
Down’s
Syndrome.
She keenly headed
up the 'Endeavour Plus' intervention
programme, her wicked sense of
humour helping with its success both
for KEVICC and Bidwell Brook students.
Her responsibility for the extra Year 6
transition visits here helped many new
students feel much more confident
about their transition.
Kellie has taken a new, challenging
post, continuing links with KEVICC
through this Post-16 placement in
Dartington. Staff and SEN students will
miss her humour and compassion.
In his first year
here in 2012, Roger
worked
tirelessly
with students with
behavioural
needs,
both here, and later
supporting our vocational courses at
South Devon College.
His eloquence, intelligence and sense
of humour were assets to the SEN
department and his letter writing skills
were infamous! All studentsworkedwell
with Roger and liked his kind, patient,
calm, funny manner. None more so
than our students with complex needs,
who need the care, compassion and fun
that Roger could provide.
He moves on to Post 16 support at
South Devon College.
We recently said goodbye to three of our valued SEN Learning Support Assistants ~
Roger Beer, Fern Ogilvie and Kellie Oakley. We wish them well in their chosen new roles
Rob had only worked
with us for seven months
but, in that time, we
enjoyed his humour and
his set of skills. Whatever
Rob was asked to do, he
did so in his characteristic quiet but
willing way. He was a pleasure to work
with and, whoever has the good fortune
to work with him in his next endeavour
will be lucky indeed. We wish him well.
Rob Houcke ~ caretaker
Julie Dixon-Higgins ~ Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator
I, and all members of the College, have found
Jane to be an inspirational teacher due to her
thorough subject knowledge; the good rapport
she has developed with her students, and the
creative ways she uses to engage students
of all abilities. She is very enthusiastic and
passionate about post-16 education. She wins
people over with her warmth and commitment
to doing what is the best for the students. That
she is a Cambridge graduate shows through
her level of precision and the close attention
to detail paid to all aspects of her work. As
a colleague and friend, I have found Jane to
be a good listener and sounding-board, both
professionally and personally. She is very
supportive, but also a respected critical friend.
Jane has made an outstanding contribution
to Kennicott and the College as a whole
during the time she has been here. She will
be missed by all who have worked with her or
have been taught by her. We wish her all the
best at Westlands, her new school in her well-
deserved post as a Vice Principal. Keith Price
I was looking forward to the arrival
of Jane as our new post-16 Assistant
Principal. I’d had dealings with her
before when she helped me sort out the
finance for a KS3 year trip to Bristol, and
I was impressed. Jane is sharp, witty, and
slightly less loud than her predecessor!
She has the ability to 'read' colleagues
and pupils’ moods, and tailor her
interactions to suit. She has certainly
given me sage and positive advice when
things have not gone the way I would
have liked. Jane is not, however, afraid
to make strong decisions and you cross
her with caution. I know I speak for all
the team at Kennicott when I say that
she will be sadly missed, and not just for
her subtle and calm contribution to end
of term parties. She was always going to
go onward and upward. We wish her all
the very, very, best.
Dave W, Amy, Tin, Julie, Mandy,
Karen, Gerry and Dave B.
Jane Richardson ~ Assistant Principal with responsibility for post-16 students
Jane taking part in
Ready, Steady, Cook
(page 13)
