YOUR CAREER
Name: Carmel Cunliffe.
Which organisations are you/have you been involved with?:
Rhyddings Business and Enterprise School, Oswaldtwistle for 16 years. I am also corporate Rotarian representative of the Rotary club of Church and Oswaldtwistle.
Which school did you attend?:
Mount Carmel High School before attending Accrington College.
What was your first job?:
My first job was at Accrington Library before being promoted to a post in the children’s library at Blackburn Central library.
Who has been your inspiration?:
I was born the ninth child of ten children, and was taught by my parents to always work hard and try our best. As a result all my brothers and sisters have all found success in their chosen careers. My inspiration has always come from my parents who have sacrificed so much to enable all their children to achieve success.
What is your main current role?:
Local school business manager/ assistant headteacher.
How did you start out in your career in education?:
I joined Rhyddings School on a part-time basis, as my children had just started school, so the hours were ideal. Soon after this I helped instigate Rhyddings to become one of the first fully extended schools. This scheme opened the school to students from 8am-6pm every day, including holidays. We offered after-school clubs, social activities, revision clubs, holiday activities, adult learning, parenting classes and family support sessions.
Have you experienced any challenges along the way?:
Finances have become increasingly difficult with reduction of income yet increase of expenditure. However, with stringent management, the finances of Rhyddings are very positive and enabled the refurbishment of the school, including the replacement of all ICT facilities. The school continues to be very passionate about supporting all students and offers additional opportunities for all students despite the lack of government funding. One of these opportunities is that all students in Year 9 are totally funded by the school to complete the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award, the only school in the country to do this free of charge.
What are the highlights of your career so far?:
The school became a national example of good practice and was approached by SSAT, who work to support secondary schools, to see if I could be seconded to support other schools to deliver the extended schools programme. I held this additional post for four years and have presented at national seminars all over the country and helped support other schools to develop similar schemes. More recently the school was honoured at a service in Westminster Abbey hosted by the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke and Duchess of Wessex. This service was to recognise the work done to promote an increase in young people to accessing the Duke of Edinburgh Award in its Diamond Anniversary year.
If you could give one piece of advice, what would it be?:
Aim high and work to the best of your ability at all times.