Abbot’s Lea School stays true to “growing its own” leaders!

The largest special school in Liverpool, catering for over 250 students age 3-19 with Autism and associated complex needs, has appointed a new deputy headteacher.

Anthony McVerry started his new role at Abbot’s Lea School in April 2019, taking a lead on the whole-school strategic function of teaching and learning.

He is exceptionally well-equipped for the position, having worked at the school as a teaching assistant, class teacher, middle leader, head of secondary department and now – the deputy headteacher.

Mr McVerry is passionate about Abbot’s Lea’s vision, philosophy of holistic education and its mission to become the best specialist school in the world.

Supporting the school’s headteacher, Ania Hildrey, who joined the school in 2016, he has continued to transform the school’s curriculum, placing equal importance to academic progress, specialist therapeutic support and development of life skills.

As part of that, he led a launch of now nationally recognised exceptional programme of Supported Internship for most senior students and apprenticeships for Abbot’s Lea School’s leavers.

Anthony says: “It is a great privilege to now be the deputy headteacher of Abbot’s Lea School – the school has a special place in my life as I have worked here now for eight years, initially beginning as a teaching assistant in 2011.

I have seen the school develop and become forward thinking. To now lead the team of middle leaders, teachers and support staff and together shape the future direction of the teaching and learning arm of the school is what drives me.

Working with the staff and students at Abbot’s Lea School is what motivates me to get up in the morning and make a real difference. “I am very grateful to the headteacher and the governing body for their belief in me and for giving me this amazing opportunity.”