Our Lady of Victories Catholic Primary School  is a National Support School and John Devlin, the Executive Headteacher, is a National Leader of Education. National Leaders of Education (NLEs) are outstanding headteachers or principals who, together with the staff in their schools, known as designated National Support Schools (NSS), use their skills and experience to support schools in challenging circumstances. Our Lady of Victories has a very successful record of working with other schools, headteachers, groups of teachers and individual teachers in improving teaching and learning and pupil attainment and achievement. In addition to leading their own schools, NLEs work to increase the leadership capacity of other schools to help raise standards.

John Devlin

I have been headteacher at Our Lady of Victories for 16 years, and am also Executive Headteacher at St Joseph‘s and St Anne's in Keighley. I am extremely passionate about giving our children the best possible start in life. Primary school should be the best years of pupils’ lives and I believe that an exciting, personalised curriculum is the key to this.I was an LLE for four years, and during this time I enjoyed supporting a number of schools in my role as headteacher mentor and school improvement partner. I have recently been appointed an NLE, and I’m looking forward to the challenge that this role will bring. It is a real privilege to work with other school leaders to bring about change and better life chances for children.

The school has three SLEs (Specialist Leaders of Education) who have been supporting other schools through the Catholic Schools Partnership Teaching School Alliance. 

Catherine Mitchell

Hi, I'm Catherine Mitchell and am Head of School at Our Lady of Victories and I have taught here for over 20 years. I have supported a number of other schools, particularly giving advice on Early Years and the assessment of children at this age. I lead an Early Years network for our Academy Trust and would love to share what I have learned over my career with others. I became an SLE in 2017 and would be very happy for other teachers to pay us a visit or to meet up and help in any way I can. 

Victoria Earley

Hi, I'm Victoria Earley and I have been teaching at Our Lady of Victories for 16 years and have taught across both key stage one and two. I am currently the Year Two teacher, Key Stage One leader and English leader. I have experience supporting leaders, teachers and NQT’s with teaching English and general classroom practice in my own and other schools. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team some of my other responsibilities include monitoring outcomes for pupils and the teaching and learning of English, phonics and reading across the school. I became an SLE in 2017 which involves working alongside and supporting other schools. 

Rebecca Peers

Hi, I’m Rebecca Peers and am the EYFS leader. I have been a teacher for 8 years at Our Lady of Victories Primary School. studied Primary Education in the Early Years for four years and have specialised in Reception throughout my career. I am currently Reception class teacher and have various other roles, including: PE Co-ordinator and Creative Curriculum Co-ordinator.I became an SLE for Early Years (particularly Reception class) and PE in July 2017. I have worked with other Early Years settings locally to help support them in a variety of ways. I have supported both college and university students also on their placements. I feel really privileged to have been able to work alongside and support other schools / practitioners.