Menu
WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER
Menu
WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER
The aim of The Leathersellers' Federation is to provide an excellent education for children from the local community in a safe, supportive learning environment, where people are valued and make positive contributions to each of the schools, and where pupils are taught to become responsible, independent members of society.
The Federation develops the vision of Joseph Prendergast who founded Lewisham's first girls' secondary school in 1890, on a site provided by the Leathersellers' Company (one of the ancient Livery Companies of the City of London.)
The Leathersellers' Company provides Foundation Governors to the schools, as well as regular financial support, with the aim of improving the quality of education in a Federation of Schools that encompasses approximately 3000 pupils.
View Vacancies Visit our Main WebsiteOur Core Values are:
About Our Schools
Prendergast Ladywell School is a coeducational 4-16 school where young people in our local community are provided with an excellent education that enables them to achieve outstanding outcomes in a safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environment. We are a school that CARES; where Community, Ambition, Resilience, Effort, and Success are valued. Our students are led by reflective and committed teachers and support staff.
View Website
Welcome to Prendergast School. It is an honour and a privilege to be Prendergast School's eleventh Headteacher and to work with staff, students and families. Staff here are passionate about ensuring the very best opportunities and education for all students. Our motto and ethos is 'Truth, Honour, Freedom and Courtesy.' We are all on the same side, working to support all students to excel. We take pride in building strong relationships with students and their families.
View Website
Our wonderful site is located next to Ladywell Fields and includes a purpose-built Primary building, as well as a stunning outdoor space which includes specifically designed play areas for Reception, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. Our pupils also have fun and learn in our Nature Reserve and multi-purpose games area. In our February 2019 Ofsted inspection our Early Years Provision gained an 'outstanding' judgement. We were particularly praised for the positive links that we make with our families, and this is something that we have continued to nurture, as we are all very well aware of the huge impact that this has on the success of our pupils.
View Website
We are building a family at Prendergast Vale with academic excellence at the heart of everything we do. We are Prendergast Vale School, catering for both boys and girls of all ages from 3 to 16. Our aim is for every student who leaves this school at age 16 to be on the path to university leading to successful careers with good prospects. To make this happen, we ensure that the academic and social development of every student is at the heart of what we do.
View Website
Having worked for the Federation as Head of School for Prendergast Primary since 2014, I have always felt that requests to support my work-life balance have been listened to.
Following illness in 2018 my request to reduce my full-time hours was accepted with a job share role quickly advertised and a candidate appointed. This helped my recovery both physically and emotionally, with me being able to spend more time enjoying walking, cooking and bingeing the odd box set!
My job share was fantastic; it takes effort on both sides to make a job share successful and we made sure that we communicated well to make the role work.
My first job share moved onto a full-time role as a Head of School having 'found her feet' in the Federation and I decided to work full time again with a view to taking a phased retirement in the near future. The 'near future' seemed to arrive very quickly and once again my request for flexible working (this time phased-retirement) was carefully considered and accepted.
My new working pattern has been in place since September 2022, and I couldn't ask for a better job share partner. Once again, I have started spending more time on hobbies and enjoying family life.
I feel very lucky to be working for such a forward-thinking employer. Part-time Head of School roles are rare, and the Federation's flexibility has enabled me to continue a career that I love with energy, enthusiasm and commitment.
Being a working parent is a balancing act, the demands of life inside and outside of school can be significant. Having the support and openness of the Federation helps me to pursue a healthy work-life balance and to feel I needn't compromise on my aspirations as a leader, nor my personal endeavours.
During maternity leave, I decided to apply for a promotion and was invited to interview, with adjustments offered to meet my needs at the time. It felt really positive to be meaningfully included in the recruitment process despite being on maternity leave. Having gained promotion, the opportunity to work part time within a more senior role has supported me to approach my return to work with greater confidence and enthusiasm.
Working three days per week feels manageable and attractive and I hope to hear of more people in leadership roles being offered flexible working arrangements in future. Having the opportunity to job share and to have a crossover day with my co-Head, is so beneficial; this not only affords me all the flexibility of part time working but also provides our organisation with a forward-thinking model of school leadership.
I am proud to be part of a Federation that promotes part time work, flexible work and hybrid working; I feel grateful that others in our community will get to enjoy the challenges and rewards of the educational profession, alongside investing in their own lives outside of school, as I am currently doing.
I started working at Prendergast School on the 01st September 2022. Since beginning in my position as Student Receptionist, even from the moment I arrived waiting for my interview to begin I was made to feel so welcomed. I work with a very diverse, super-friendly, kind, talented, professional group of individuals who value each other's contributions and listen to me when I have ideas. Beginning a new role in a new environment could be quite a daunting experience but I have been supported by amazing colleagues and never once felt overwhelmed, I've looked forward to coming into school every day since.
When I participated in the Federation Inset Day not only was the training excellent but I was able to meet and engage with colleagues from all the other schools within the federation which was really insightful.
In January I successfully applied to become the supervisor of the Breakfast Club and this has been so rewarding. I am very fortunate to be able to spend a large percentage of my working day interacting with the amazing students and can see not only personal growth in the new skills that I am learning here but know that my career can grow into other areas which is so exciting.
Menu