Names and faces

Meet your team

With a number of new faces amongst the regional and field officer team, Leader is bringing back this column in order to introduce them to readers.

Ed Collins
Regional officer north west

Ed started his teaching career in Birmingham and after two deputy headships became a head in West Yorkshire, where he remained for the last 11 years of his career. He was an ASCL branch secretary for several years and a member of ASCL Council from 2002 onwards, where he was on Professional Committee.

After over 20 years of school leadership, Ed left in 2006 to become ASCL's first regional officer, a role he describes as fascinating, rewarding and very different.

Ed is married with a grown up family and he has recently become a grandfather. He lives in a small Pennine village, enjoys the great outdoors, even in British weather, and has an allotment. He is a keen sportsman, though he admits that, sadly, his football playing days are over.

Brenda Spenceley
Field officer

Brenda joined the field officer team four years ago, after 22 years of headship in the Bristol area, 16 of which were at Patchway High School. During her time as head she was an Ofsted inspector, NPQH trainer and was involved in several different national consultancy and training activities.

As field officer for the south and west, she has travelled many miles and supported members as far apart as the tip of Cornwall and the Hampshire/Sussex borders. Brenda observes that over the period of time, the cases have become much more complicated but she has found the work immensely varied and very rewarding.

This year she has reduced her time commitment in order to pursue her leisure activities which include being captain of her local ladies' bowls club. A long visit to Australia and New Zealand is top of the travel list for the future.