Senior Leadership Team

Key Contacts

Drew Duncan (Chief Executive Officer)

Mr Duncan began his teaching career in 1986 in Norwich, as an English and History teacher. In 1989-1992 he was the Deputy Leader of an English and Expressive Arts Faculty in a very challenging and exciting context in Hull. Between 1992 and 2002 he worked as Head of English, Senior Teacher (Pastoral & Discipline), Deputy Headteacher (T&L, Curriculum & Timetable) and then Deputy Headteacher (Pastoral Care and Discipline) at an urban school in Greater Manchester.

For 6 years, Mr Duncan was a Leadership Development Advisor to aspiring Headteachers to Urban Complex Schools (in the North West, as part of the Future Leaders’ Programme in the Ambition School Leadership Trust), many of whom are now in substantive posts as Headteachers and Principals. Mr Duncan has trained Executive Leaders and currently trains on the NPQH with UCL and the East Manchester Teaching Hub.

Between 2002 and 2015, Mr Duncan was a Headteacher of a school in Tameside, Greater Manchester which was the top similar school in England for Pupil Progress and Achievement in 2014. The school was rated Outstanding by Ofsted on two successive occasions.

Mr Duncan set up two primary partnership groups, working with eleven primary schools and their communities, to help to secure strong educational and co–curricular provision for pupils aged 3-16.

Mr Duncan is now the Chief Executive of the Tame River Educational Trust. Previously, as the Executive Headteacher, one secondary school remained outstanding and the other moved quickly from the Ofsted Category of Inadequate to Good in each educational category, and overall. This has been due to the dedication of students, staff, parents, governors and partners.

As an NLE, Mr Duncan provides support and coaching on leadership and school improvement in a number of North West Schools.

Headteacher: Mr P Wilson

Following completion of the nationally accredited Future Leaders programme, he held a number of senior leadership positions in different schools before being appointed Headteacher at Droylsden Academy in May 2015. Mr Wilson has visited some of the very best state and independent schools in this country and the United States to research outstanding teaching and learning pedagogy and school culture. He has two daughters of primary school age who keep him extremely busy in his time away from the Academy.

Deputy Headteacher: Standards in Curriculum Intent, Implementation and Talent Development: Mr E Mayell

Mr Mayell studied at the University of Warwick and the University of Birmingham, gaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Post Graduate Certificate of Education; as part of his degree, he completed his dissertation on Elizabethan and Jacobean Drama at The Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon. Mr Mayell taught English at schools in the West Midlands and Manchester before joining the leadership team at Droylsden Academy and is also a senior examiner for GCSE English Language.

Deputy Headteacher: Standards in Curriculum Intent, Impact and Achievement, Educational Recovery, Timetable and Pupil Premium:  Ms A Wood

Ms Wood completed A-Levels in Maths, Law and History before achieving a BA(Hons) in Sport and Leisure Management at Staffordshire University. Following this she completed a PGCE in Physical Education at Liverpool John Moores University. Since then she has had a successful career leading the Sport and Healthy Lifestyles faculty at Droylsden Academy before moving into her current role of teaching Mathematics. During this time she has also completed the National Professional Qualification of Senior Leaders (NPQSL) and is a member of the Senior Leadership Team leading on Raising Attainment (including Pupil Premium), Curriculum and Timetable.

Deputy Headteacher: Standards in Pastoral Care, Character, Life Skills, Discipline, Co-Curricular and Community: Mrs G Arnold

Mrs Arnold gained a BA HONS in Management at UCLAN before moving on to studying for a Post Graduate Certificate of Education at Sheffield University, leading onto a Masters Diploma in Education Leadership at Edge Hill University. She has experience working in prisons with prisoners and their families across the North West. She has since held pastoral senior leadership positions in schools across the North West and won the DATA Design and Technology Teacher of the Year in 2011. Mrs Arnold is on the National Future Leaders programme cohort 2012, and has facilitated programmes for the National College, Future Leaders, NPQSL and NPQML. She has also been involved in the change of the national strategy for the British Nutrition Foundation, Schools Food Trust and sits on the Management Committee for Manchester Pupil Services.

Assistant Headteacher: Standards in Science and Computing, Teaching and Learning and Strategic ICT: Mr T Evans

Mr Evans read Animal Science at Canterbury Christ Church University before completing a Post Graduate Certificate of Education. Since 2009 he has taught science at several schools in Kent and has held a variety of positions linked to improving Teaching and Learning. He worked as Director of Science in Whitstable for two years before moving to Manchester to join Droylsden Academy as Associate Assistant Headteacher. He lives with his wife who, having recently completed her PhD, is now a Research Associate at the University of Manchester.

Assistant Headteacher: Standards in Mathematics and Numeracy and Head of Key Stage 3: Ms M Shakoor

Ms Shakoor studied a BA Maths Education at Manchester Metropolitan University. Since 2006 she has taught mathematics with the majority of that time spent at Levenshulme High School for Girls in Manchester. She held a variety of positions at the school, with the last 9 years spent  successfully leading the maths faculty.  She has an active interest in the delivery of the maths curriculum and has been proactive in working with the NCTEM Hubs and partnership schools.  She completed the Associate Senior leadership training in 2020 and the NPQSL in 2021. She lives with her husband and two young children.

Associate Assistant Headteacher: Mrs R Fernandez-Arias

Mrs Fernández read Drama at the University of Manchester and gained a first-class BA honours degree before completing a Post-Graduate Certificate of Education through the Teach First Leadership Development Programme. She is currently completing a NPQSL and, as well as being curriculum leader for English, she is a senior leader for teaching and learning in the Academy. In addition, Mrs Fernández is an Instructional Coach and Facilitator for the TRET’s Highly Effective Teacher Programme.

Associate Assistant Headteacher: Mr M Eade

Mr Eade has worked at the Academy since 2012 as Curriculum Leader for Sport and Performing Arts. In addition to this he has worked in the development of teaching and learning within the Academy as a facilitator for the Highly Effective Teacher programme, and in the development of school leaders across East Manchester as a Facilitator for the National Professional Qualification in Leading teaching.