Bridgwater College Academy

Leadership Team

Jonathan Black - Executive Headteacher

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Chris Wade BSc(Hons), MA - Head Teacher Secondary

Chris has been a senior leader and Headteacher in a number of schools in the south west and has joined BCA this year for the second time.  As a PE teacher he is a keen sportsman and takes part in a number of activities in his spare time including rowing for a local club.  He lives in Portishead where he also volunteers as a helmsman on the local RNLI inshore lifeboat. 

Chris has recently completed a Masters degree in Education at the University of Bath.

Nicola Spicer BA (Hons), MA, NPQH  - Senior Deputy Head Teacher (Secondary)

Nicola moved to West Somerset in 2008 with her family after a successful career in the Design Industry employed as Product Design Director at Hallmark Cards. She always had a secret desire to become a teacher and took the opportunity to retrain in 2009. She was employed as a newly qualified teacher within the Trust at West Somerset College Minehead in 2010 and has never looked back.  

Nicola has gone on to become a dedicated educationalist who has progressed from classroom Teacher to Head of Design Technology, Head of Creative Arts, and Assistant Head, responsible for the Sixth Form, before being promoted to the role of Deputy Head Teacher in 2018. 

When she isn’t teaching Nicola loves to travel, look after her horse and dog, take part in sporting activities, and spend time with her family and friends.  

Sam Finch B.Ed (Hons) - Senior Deputy Head Teacher (Primary)

Sam has worked in this school for almost 25 years. She started teaching in Year One as an NQT in Sedgemoor Manor Infants School, and then spent a number of years teaching Year Two.  Sam then went on to Lead Key Stage One. In November 2012 Sam became Primary Deputy Head and since November 2013 she has taught in Year Four at our Academy. When not working she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Although recently retired from playing football, Sam still watches her beloved Bath City, and loves to travel.     

Jennifer Jones BScEcon (Hons), MSc – Deputy Headteacher - Quality of Education

Jen completed a degree in Politics at Cardiff University and a Masters in European Governance at the University of Bristol before training to be a teacher through TeachFirst in 2013. Jen taught for 7 years at Orchard School Bristol as an English teacher, then Second in English, before becoming Head of English in 2016. During this time, she also completed her NAML and NPQSL qualifications, worked as an AQA Examiner for English Language and English Literature, and continued to work with TeachFirst as an Associate Tutor supporting the training of new participants. In 2020, Jen joined the Academy as Assistant Headteacher with responsibility for English, Reading and Literacy. In her spare time, Jen enjoys reading, travelling, amateur dramatics, and spending time with friends and family.

Marie Marchant Bsc (Hons) Deputy Headteacher – Quality of Education

Marie graduated in 1999 from Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education with a degree in Sport Science and Psychology.  After travelling for several years, she then completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (ages 5 - 11) at the University of Gloucestershire.  She had several teaching positions in Gloucestershire before moving to Tenerife to teach at a British school.  Following that, she moved to Dubai and taught in both local and British curriculum schools; it is here that she first stepped into middle leadership.  After returning to Somerset to start a family, Marie worked at Eastover Primary, St Mary's Primary and most recently she moved from Cannington Primary in January 2020; where she was Deputy Headteacher.  Marie is currently completing her NPQH to develop her skills in leadership and strategic planning.

Rebecca Barber BA (Hons) - Assistant Head Teacher - KS3

Rebecca completed a degree in History at The University of Birmingham and a PGCE at the University of Bath in 2010. Rebecca taught for 2 years at The Sexey's School, Bruton as an History teacher, before becoming Head of History in 2013 at Worle Community School. Rebecca remained at WCSA, for 10 years and within this time she was promoted to Deputy Director of the Teaching school for the Priory Learning Trust as part of her career journey. During this time, she also completed her NPQSL qualifications, worked as an Edexcel Examiner for History, and continued to work with work with primary schools to promote transition for student. In 2023, Rebecca joined the Academy as Assistant Headteacher with responsibility for Ks3 and Transition. In her spare time, Rebecca enjoys running, reading, travelling, and spending time with friends and family.

Dan Neal BSc (Hons) Assistant Head Teacher - Achievements

Dan qualified as a teacher in 2006 from Southampton University after completing a BSc degree in Maths and Music. After a year teaching in Southampton, Dan moved to Somerset and Bridgwater College Academy in 2007 as a Maths teacher. He became head of Maths after this, followed by becoming the Raising Standards Lead for Secondary while completing his NPQSL. After a year spent at West Somerset College, one of the Trusts partner schools, he returned to the Academy to lead in a whole Academy role. When not teaching he can be found enjoying some of his passions, which include taking many holidays, improving his already large Lego collection or playing computer games (much to his wife’s dismay.)

Lindsey Hull B.Ed (Hons) NASENCO - Assistant Head Teacher - Inclusion EYFS - Yr 11

Lindsey completed her teacher training in Leeds and taught in a Secondary School before moving back to the South West. She has worked in both Primary and Secondary school as a class teacher and SENCo, as well as more specialist settings in Hospital Academic Units and working as a Medical and Mental Health Advisory Teacher across South Somerset.

Lindsey enjoys gardening, walking, reading and travelling with her family.

Elly Challand - Assistant Head Teacher BSc - Designated Safeguarding Lead

Elly qualified as a teacher in 2000 from King's College London after studying BSc Intelligent Systems at the University of Reading.  After this she has spent time teaching maths and computer science in a variety of schools in Greater London before moving to the South West.

Away from work Elly enjoys many sports including running and paddleboarding.  She is keen on many crafts and will often be wearing items she has made.

Cameron MacDonald BSc (Hons) - Assistant Head Teacher - Professional Learning & Wellbeing

Cameron graduated from the University of South Wales with a degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice. He then completed his PGCE specialising in Mathematics at Greenwich University. Cameron has taught Maths in secondary schools, special needs schools and further education college before coming to Bridgwater College Academy in September 2023 as Assistant Headteacher for professional learning & wellbeing. 

Away from work, Cameron spends a lot of time enjoying a variety of sports and suffering watching Scotland football and rugby.

Rhiannon Howarth BA(Hons) -Assistant Head Teacher - Reading

Rhiannon began her career, as an unqualified teacher, in 2008 whilst finishing her degree in English Education and Law. She went on to train as a teacher in 2012 and was given the role of Head of Law the same year. Rhiannon has worked in three schools in Essex and has numerous responsibilities such as head of Key Stage 4, Lead Practitioner for English and the lead for Initial Teacher Training.  Through her last role, she helped several trainee teachers to qualify whilst working with many training organisations. She relocated to Somerset in July 2022 in order to start her role at BCA as an Assistant Headteacher for Reading. In her spare time, Rhiannon loves to read and sets herself a challenge to read more than she did in the previous year. She also enjoys binge-watching series and films at weekends with her partner- as well as forcing him to go to ballroom, latin and salsa dance classes with her!