Year Teams

Head of Year 7 & Transition: Mrs S Pancholi

Mrs Pancholi read Psychology at the University of Salford, graduating in 2008 and going on to work in Salford for 4 years as a Pastoral Mentor. In 2012 she joined Droylsden Academy as a Learning Mentor before being appointed as a maternity cover Year Manager. From here Mrs Pancholi was successfully appointed as a permanent Year Manger, then progressing on to the role of Behaviour, Alternative Provision, Transition and Community Manager before being appointed in her current role as a non teaching Head of Year 7 and Transition. 

Over the 10 years that Mrs Pancholi has worked in Droylsden Academy she has worked with a range of Year groups in a range of supportive roles and in 2016 took a number of Pupils to India as part of a World Challenge Expedition for 3 weeks. 

 Her focus now is to ensure the smooth transition of Year 6’s into the Droylsden Academy community, supporting parents and pupils to ensure that our newest and youngest pupils are as successful as possible.

Head of Year 8: Mr A Royle

Mr Royle started his career as an apprentice SEN teaching assistant in September 2014 and completed both a Level 2 & 3 qualification in supporting teaching and learning in schools, with a particular focus on students with SEND and delivering pastoral support. Mr Royle has continued to further develop his career by completing additional courses such Youth Mental Health First Aid, Mental Health Leads in school as well as additional qualifications with the purpose of removing barriers to learning and keeping students safe.

Mr Royle later joined Droylsden Academy in May of 2018 as a Year Manager and was then appointed as House Leader of Albion in January 2020, Albion then went on to win the House Trophy for the first ear of the house system running.

Senior Head of Year 8: Mrs Isherwood

Mrs Isherwood read Physics at the University of Salford and graduated in 2002. She then completed her PGCE at Manchester Metropolitan University and graduated in 2003. In 2004 She joined Littlemoss High School for Boys, initially as a literacy co-ordinator within the Science department and continued to work in the Science department until the school amalgamated with Droylsden High School for girls in 2009. Towards the end of Littemoss High School for Boys, Mrs Isherwood was successfully appointed Second in Department. Her Middle Leadership responsibility continued and currently she holds the position of Head of Year 11.

Mrs Isherwood also leads student leadership in Droylsden Academy which includes prefects and student council. Our prefects are selected following a successful application and interview and have many responsibilities and duties in the Academy through leadership.  The student council work together across all year groups to allow all students to ‘have their say’ in the Academy and ensure that we work together as a community to develop a progressive Academy for us all through innovative thinking.  

Senior Head of Year 9: Mr B Gately

Mr Gately read Business Information Systems at the University of Salford and graduated in 2005. Following four years of working for Centrica, he returned to complete his PGCE at Edge Hill University where he successfully graduated in 2010. Following his arrival at Droylsden Academy in 2010, he taught ICT until changes to the National Curriculum and now teaches Computer Science from Year 7 to 11. He quickly progressed to becoming a middle leader as a Head of Year and is now the Head of Year 8.

Senior Head of Year 10 and 11: Mr D Frost

Mr Frost read French and Japanese at the University of Aston and graduated in 1994. After a 5-week long stay in Japan which included a period at Kanagawa University in Yokohama, he studied at L’Université de Paris VII in 1992/93. Manchester Metropolitan University is where he then completed his PGCE in French and Maths. He worked in Stockport for five years before moving to Littlemoss High School for Boys in January 2001 as Head of Modern Foreign Languages. He is currently Senior Head of Year with responsibility for Year 10 although he also has significant involvement with other year groups. Mr Frost has held a number of pastoral and departmental responsibilities and has taught a number of different subjects and currently teaches French and Maths.