Laura Snow

Laura joined the Trust in September 2014 (SPTA) at Willows Academy, Grimsby as the Year 4/5 teacher and Curriculum Lead. 

Laura trained at Hertfordshire University and completed her Bachelor of Education Degree (B.Ed) in July 2005. She began her teaching career in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire in September 2005 teaching in Year 2. At the same time, she started school, so did her daughter! She can still remember their first days; her daughter in her new uniform nervously waiting in the reception line, and Laura in her new teachers outfit far more terrified to meet her new class. Needless to say, they both survived.

Laura taught in Borehamwood for the first 9 years of her teaching career. Progressing from fresh faced NQT to Key Stage 2 Leader and Assistant Head Teacher. It was a wonderful place to teach and she has fond memories of the staff, children and families. However, the countryside living beckoned and in 2014 her and her family moved from Hertfordshire to the Lincolnshire Wolds. 

Here she began working at Willows Academy, Grimsby. At the time, the team at Willows were on a journey of school improvement, and in March 2015, the school achieved a rating of Good from Ofsted. It was a challenging first year, but well worth all the hard work. The team at Willows thoroughly deserved the recognition of transforming from Special Measures to Good in just 19months. She was proud to play a role in their success.

In July 2016, Laura was asked to take up the role of Assistant Head at Strand Primary Academy as a one-year secondment. That role was made permanent in September 2017 and in February 2019, she took the role as Acting Head of Academy, which is where she is today.

Laura has had a varied career, leading whole school curriculum development at three separate schools and has been a leader of maths, working alongside LEA partners whilst developing leadership in maths. 

There's no such thing as an average day for Laura, she's not sure there is ever an average day at any school. There certainly is not at Strand. Every day is varied – it is one of the reasons she enjoys her job so much! Laura tries to spend as much time in classrooms as she can; she teaches regularly in  Year 6 class covering NQT release time and working with small groups. Walking around the academy and sharing the children’s day-to-day successes is a privilege. It does mean she spends very little time during the school day on admin tasks such as emails and paperwork, however she would always chose to be with the children above such things.

Meetings are inevitable part of the job, but that provides opportunities to learn from other leaders and share best practice. It also provides excellent support from other local Delta Academies Trust Heads of Academies in Grimsby – vital when she is new to the role. Laura runs tutoring groups three times a week before school starts and the nearer they get to SATS, this will increase. She also enjoys Key Stage story time – one of her most enjoyable times of the week is reading stories to all the children.

Outside of work, Laura takes every opportunity to relax and catch up with friends and family. This often means several weekend trips back down south. Her Father lives in near Alicante in Spain, and she is fortunate to spend her summers there – enjoying the sunshine and laid back pace of life. There is nothing better than a Siesta!

At home, she is a mum to her Daughter and three lively Labradors. They provide endless long walks in the woods and on the beach (the dogs not her daughter!). Her husband's avid Formula 1 hobby also provides them with more excuses to travel - if only races that are in more exotic locations took place in the school holidays!

Having worked for a successful and supportive LEA in Hertfordshire, Laura was looking for a Trust where she could continue her career and where continuing professional development was high on their agenda. However, the main reason of joining Delta Academies Trust and continuing her career with us so far has been down to the team of colleagues she works with.