LOCAL PEOPLE
Okehampton’s new principal is passionate about inclusive education
will cater for up to 100 primary and secondary pupils with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) difficulties and on the autism spectrum. The school will be run by the Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust (DMAT), which also runs Okehampton, Tavistock and Holsworthy Colleges and a number of primary schools in the area, and forms part of a £22-million programme by Devon County Council to provide 300 extra places for vulnerable children with special needs across the county.
Tracy and her two children Sebastian Langmead and Ciaran Oakes.
Tracy Ashton is appointed principal of the state-of-the-art, brand-new Promise School in Okehampton. Work is currently underway to deliver the new £10.7-million school for children with special needs in West Devon, on behalf of Devon County Council. Located on the Okehampton East Business Park, The Promise School
The new building is expected to be completed in the spring of 2023 but the school will open to its first pupils in September 2022 using interim accommodation. And at the helm is Tracy. Tracy is no stranger to a leadership role but this will be her first time as principal - and it’s the job she was born to do! Tracy grew up in Saltash and has been a qualified teacher for 25 years, working at senior leadership for the past 19 years. Her career began as a teacher of music, English and drama and still passionately pursues these areas within
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her spare time - playing a number of musical instruments including clarinet, saxophone, flute, piano and trumpet. After completing her degree from the Colchester Institute School of Music, Tracy decided to continue her passion for music by becoming a teacher. When fully qualified she joined the team at St Boniface Boy’s School in Plymouth, followed by 21 years at Lipson Cooperative Academy where she became head of music and then the specialism coordinator for performing arts. ‘I moved into all leadership roles during my time at Lipson and then went to senior deputy head in music,’ said Tracy: ‘And that’s where my passion for inclusive education with special needs and disabilities began. I wanted to help people that might have barriers to their learning. It made my day light up helping them.’ ‘When I saw the Promise School advertised in the Autumn term of 2021, and saw it was part of the DMAT, I knew it was perfect for me. ‘Lipson focusses on equality and inclusivity and DMAT (is part of that
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