8 minute read
Local People
Okehampton’s new principal is passionate about inclusive education
Tracy and her two children Sebastian Langmead and Ciaran Oakes.
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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 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. 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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Tracy Ashton and her wife Amanda
belief) follows the same cooperative principles.’ The Promise School has four key focus points: Nurture and care, preparing for adulthood, personal pathways and developing partnerships. ‘In the school we provide a caring approach and we engage them with their learning in an individual way. There will be a big focus on literacy and those underpinning skills but the big focus will be on wellbeing and positive mental health for everyone, including the staff. ‘My aim as a leader is to always make a positive difference to the life chances of the children and young people with whom I am working. Through an unreserved positive approach, I aim to ensure that provision engages students through creative individualised learning which enables them to gain the academic, social, emotional and independence skills to achieve in learning and in life. ‘I believe that building relationships are key and base all approaches, policies and interactions on a relational approach.’
In her spare time, Tracy, as a talented and passionate musician from a young age, loves all aspects of musical theatre and all aspects of creating, from writing to textiles: ‘I am very creative and spend time knitting and crocheting to relax after a busy day. I am Mum to two boys, one who now lives in London teaching maths (age 24) and one in Year 11 (age 15) preparing to sit his examinations. I am also, with my wife Amanda, Foster Mum to two beautiful girls, age 10 and 4.’
Tracy and the team are now busy setting up the school’s interim accommodation and appointing staff to provide the best education for its future pupils. Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust chief executive, Dan Morrow, said: ‘The new free school will have a positive impact, not just on the learners and young people who access it, but the schools and communities from which they are drawn.
To help with the children’s learning, Tracy is appealing for help from local businesses who are willing to engage with the children at the school as part of school trips or as visiting speakers: ‘We want to focus on outdoor learning and we would love to hear from local groups that would be willing to engage with the children at the school as part of school trips. We would also be grateful from any company or group that would help our goal of sourcing a minibus so we can take outings to better the children’s broader education.’
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Astounding cake creations
Winkleigh woman completely changes her career to pursue her passion for art and design - and cakes!
Like most people in lockdown, Clare Bolt had time to think about her future.
What would drag her out of bed in the morning? Other than her children, husband or dog? She had been a dental nurse for 24 years and would miss her colleagues but she knew it was time for a change. Clare has always loved making cakes and creating their visually impressive models for her friends and family - and wondered if this could be her new career? Could she create the eyecatching cakes full-time for a wider audience?
Thanks to her close family network, with her parents Arthur and Biddy, and brother Darren in Okehampton, and sister Tracey is Exmouth, Clare was supported by everyone around her and she made the leap to go into business by herself as ‘Clare Bolt’s Bespoke Cakes’. Clare even uses some of her mum’s cake recipes. . . ‘My mum, being a farmer’s wife, was always baking, and she has taught me so much. My parents have always said I should do something with my art so they are very proud of my new career.’ Clare grew up in and around North Tawton and is a former Okehampton College student. She met her future husband Simon at Hatherleigh Carnival and moved to Winkleigh in 2001 before they married in 2003, and they have remained in the village ever since. It is where they have raised their two children Samuel, 16 and Rosie, 14.
Clare completed a BTEC in art and design when she was 17 at Exeter Art College but never pursued a career in the profession - until now. Set up with all gizmos and gadgets a baker could ever dream of, Clare designs the cakes in the beauty of her own wonderful, light and airy kitchen. With windows on all sides (and above) and an abundance of space, it is a delightful haven for the artist to create.
‘I have been in business for over a year and I have to say my main priority is creating something beautiful. I am not the most “business minded” person but I don’t want it to be about money, I
want it to be about beauty. I want to be able to offer something unique and personal. I like to hear about the people / person the cake or topper is for and put their personality into the cake,’ said Clare. ‘It’s intense work and I put a lot of research and thought into a design but what I love the most is the variety. I like hand painting and incorporating the modelling into the creation.’
Clare aims to limit the amount of cakes she undertakes to three a week.
‘My favourite cakes include dogs, the moors and Devon. One of my favourite
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