“Giving up our defences and becoming transparent go hand-in-hand. With greater honesty comes the opportunity to work on our relationships and ourselves more openly. Thus, we can create greater trust and deeper change . . .faster." SHARON STRAND ELLISON
Gill Goodswen
Gill comes with a background of over 34 years of experience in education, her last position, directly in school, being that of a successful and highly respected headteacher in Kirklees for 15 years. The school served an ethnically diverse community in an area of high social deprivation. Gill led the school through 3 successful OFSTED inspections and took part in a pilot to trial a new inspection format. As headteacher, Gill led a dedicated team of teachers and support staff to create a high quality learning and teaching environment based on a climate of collaborative success and high aspirations. She served as chair of the Kirklees Primary Heads (KPH) and represented them on many consultative groups including Cross Phase Headteachers and School’s Forum. She has developed and led training and is an accredited SIP.
Throughout her career in education Gill has been an active member of the National Union of Teachers both locally and nationally. Her passionate drive to promote the very best for pupils and staff resulted in her being elected to the position of National President of the NUT 2009, the largest teaching union in Europe with over 290,000 members.
The support offered is set around the firm belief that the success of a school has to be set within an ethos of respect, where all feel valued, supported and challenged to achieve their best. Positively enhancing the working environment and professional relationships has to be a key factor to enhancing teaching and learning. Work will be completely confidential, bespoke and flexible to your needs. Talking to Gill could be your first crucial step in formulating appropriate solutions for a range of issues.
Support available
- Developing and maintaining an inclusive professional culture for all staff
- Identifying possible barriers to good communication and understanding
- Enhancing and maintaining a collaborative ethos where there is collective responsibility
- The skills required for productive working relationships and constructive dialogue
- Advice and guidance covering formal and informal dispute resolution
- Advice and guidance covering disciplinary and capability procedures
- Understanding the legal rights of staff and the legal duties of headteachers and governing bodies
Huddersfield Daily Examiner - December 18 2009
Former Stile Common Junior School head Gill Goodswen is new president of NUT 
GILL Goodswen has a lot of items on her “to do” list as she prepares to head the largest teaching organisation in Europe next year. The former headteacher of Stile Common Junior School admits to being “scared but very much looking forward’’ to the challenge of becoming the president of the National Union of Teachers and addressing its national conference in Liverpool next Easter. Her combination of more than 30 years’ teaching experience, strong personality with strong views and wicked sense of humour, will stand her in good stead for her new role.
Gill trained at Alsager Teacher Training College in Stoke on Trent. Her first teaching post was at a junior school in Wakefield. She has taught at Lepton and Kirkburton Middle schools, Honley Junior School and Mount Pleasant Junior, Infant and Nursery school.