Leadership Team
Claire Bailey - Principal
Claire Bailey graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University with a BSc in Computing in 2003, followed by a PGCE in ICT at Sheffield Hallam University with placements at Wakefield and Doncaster in 2004. In 2010 Claire completed a MA in Teaching and Learning in Education at Sheffield University and a PG SENCO qualification in 2019 at Leeds Beckett University. Claire has also completed her NPQH qualification.
In 2004, Claire began teaching as a Newly Qualified Teacher in Wakefield as an ICT teacher, which then progressed to Assistant Head of Computing. In 2010, Claire joined United Learning in Sheffield as Head of Computing and later Assistant Headteacher for Sixth Form. During her time as an Assistant Headteacher, Claire had other roles including Data and Assessment, Specialism, Ensuring Attainment and Teaching and Learning. In 2015, Claire was appointed Deputy Headteacher with responsibilities including curriculum and outcomes. In 2016, Claire became Associate Principal and became Operational Lead of the academy, overseeing personal development, behaviour, attitudes and safeguarding. In 2017, Claire was named as being the Associate Principal for the 9th highest performing secondary school in the country.
In January 2018, Claire was seconded to another United Learning School in Leeds to support with school improvement and in 2019 was named Principal which included operational and strategic leadership including a resource provision.
Claire’s primary and secondary education was within an area of South Yorkshire and, because of her own personal experiences in her childhood, she is very passionate about education and young people’s experiences. Claire lives with her husband, three children and three French Bulldogs. Her hobbies include walking, travelling to Spain and Motor Sport.
Rachel Lewis - Vice Principal – Safeguarding and Culture
Rachel Lewis graduated from Lancaster University in 2009 with a degree in English Language and Linguistics. This was followed by a PGCE in English, Drama and Media Studies at the University of Cumbria. In 2013, Rachel completed a MA in Teaching and Learning at the University of Manchester and in 2014 completed the National SENCO Qualification at Edge Hill.
In 2010, Rachel started working at Darwen Aldridge Community Academy as an NQT teaching English. Within her first couple of years, Rachel realised that her passion in education was inclusion and in 2012 was promoted to Assistant SENCO and again to SENCO in 2013. In 2016, Rachel was promoted again to Assistant Principal with responsibility for Inclusion and Transition. This involved leading on provision for students who are looked after, are identified as having special educational needs or disabilities, have English as an additional language or are in receipt of pupil premium. In April 2021, Rachel became designated safeguarding lead for the academy and now leads on all aspects of safeguarding and inclusion. In January 2023, Rachel was promoted to the Interim Vice Principal role for Culture for the Academy.
Living in the local area, Rachel is passionate about improving outcomes for all students. She lives with her husband and 2 children and her hobbies include travelling, reading and football.
Steve Clarke - Assistant Principal – Assessment, Recording and Reporting
Coming soon …….
Jessica Flanagan - Assistant Principal – Teaching and Learning
Jessica Flanagan graduated from The University of Manchester in 2016 with a First-Class Honours degree in Spanish and Italian. This was followed by a two-year placement on the Teach First Leadership Development programme, in which time she completed both her PGCE and NQT year at Marsden Heights Community College, Nelson. In 2018, Jessica then progressed quickly to Head of Languages at All Saints Catholic High School, Rawtenstall, where she spent a year improving results at KS4 and working on her middle leadership skills before returning to Marsden Heights as Curriculum Leader for Languages the following year. Jessica was excited at the prospect of returning to her placement school and improving outcomes for all children, regardless of their background.
Throughout her time at Marsden Heights, Jessica worked continuously on her own professional development by focussing on gaining experience in Teaching and Learning. Jessica has delivered whole-school training on metacognition, retrieval practice and revision techniques, and is passionate about the science of learning. Jessica then began to take a keen interest in coaching and mentoring, therefore deciding to complete her Level 2 in Teacher Education in October 2022. It was at this point that Jessica decided that she was ready for a move into Senior Leadership, thus prompting her to take up whole-school responsibility for etymology. By working alongside the Literacy lead, Jessica focussed on encouraging students to think more deeply about where words come from, which in turn would enable them to decode the meanings of unfamiliar words moving forward. Her work went some way to improving reading ages for children across the school, which had always been her goal.
In July 2023, Jessica completed the United Learning course in Senior Leadership, which has equipped her with the skills to become an integral part of the Senior Leadership team at DACA as she takes up post as Assistant Principal for Teaching and Learning in September 2023. Jessica is excited to be a part of the team at DACA and is keen to use her previous experience to create a strong culture of Teaching and Learning across the school.
Jessica loves the outdoors and is currently in the process of hiking all 214 peaks in the Lake District. Having hiked 72 of them, she has quite a few to go!
Ben Parker - Assistant Principal – Personal Development
Ben Parker graduated from Lancaster University in 2007 with a BMus (hons) degree in Music before completing his PGCE at the University of Cumbria the
following year. From that point he worked as a classroom teacher of Music for 11 years, taking on increased responsibility in school to oversee and coordinate school productions and completing Middle Leadership training along the way. It has been since 2019 that Ben’s career escalated quickly, and in this time, Ben has been both Head of Music and Head of a Creative Arts Faculty, overseeing the development of an improved curriculum for Music, Art, Drama and Media. In June 2022, Ben was asked to lead on a whole school initiative and it was at this point he realised he had the desire to have a stronger hand in the running of a school. In January 2023, Ben began his NPQ course for senior leadership and he was appointed as Assistant Principal for Personal Development at DACA in September 2023.
Ben is excited to be a part of the Senior Leadership Team at Darwen Aldridge Community Academy and he is committed to enriching the lives of young people. Drawing on his own education and upbringing, Ben realises the importance and the influence we can have as educators and to be able to broaden horizons and create opportunity for future generations is a privilege. Learning within the classroom is only a small part of the role school has to play in shaping futures and Ben is looking forward to strengthening partnerships between the school, places of further and higher education and places of employment and apprenticeships. There is no greater reward than to see young people flourish and have successful and prosperous lives.
In his personal time, Ben enjoys walking with his family, running and working with local Amateur Dramatic groups as rehearsal pianist, pit musician, musical director and stage crew.
Philip Goulding - Assistant Principal - Inclusion
Coming soon …….
Joe Burgoyne - Assistant Principal - Curriculum
Joe Burgoyne graduated from UCLAN with a BA Hons in English before undertaking teacher training at MMU in 2006. He joined Tottington High School as a teacher of English in the same year where he has progressed through Head of Year, Head of House and Head of English positions before accepting the role of Assistant Headteacher in 2020 and completing his NPQ qualification in Senior Leadership. In this time, Joe also completed a Masters in Education.
In April of 2024, Joe joined Darwen Aldridge Community Academy as an Assistant Principal responsible for curriculum and is excited to support the school in achieving its vision for its young people, in particular helping to raise aspirations and pupil outcomes with innovative curriculum design and implementation.
In his personal time, Joe is an active but extremely limited sportsman, enjoying football, golf and squash without being good at any of them. He also loves to spend time with his fiancée and six children.
Kate Gould - Assistant Principal - Behaviour & Attitudes
Coming soon …….