Leah trained as a language’s teacher from university, worked as a Head of Languages for 12 years and then progressed to Cross Trust lead when she joined West Norfolk Academies Trust.

When Leah first started at the trust, she found (and still finds) the staff across the Trust to be very welcoming and helpful - especially as all the secondary schools were new to her all at the same time and finding her way around was been a challenge! She found people to be really approachable and willing to help her settle in and after such a short space of time she felt very much like part of the team.

Leah said that the best part of her job is being able to work with such a dedicated and passionate group of colleagues and to see children be enthused by the learning of another language - opening eyes to the language and cultures of so many varied places around the world, and to see them grow in confidence in conversing in a foreign language.

The thing Leah finds most, especially when she was a new member of staff, is having a handbook to refer to - most questions she had were answered upon a glance in there and her advice is “if you can’t find the answer, make sure you have someone (who doesn't mind you knocking on their door at least fifty times a day in the first couple of weeks!) that you can ask all the little questions that pop up unexpectedly. And, obviously, ensure you know where to get hot water for a coffee at all times!”

Leah’s biggest achievement is being a mum to her own two children and, hopefully, showing them that with hard work, belief in yourself and support from people around you, you can achieve whatever you put your mind to.