Wahid Zaman THE STORY OF ME : DIVERSE EDUCATORS NETWORK FRIDAY 31ST JANUARY 2014

Childhood and Education

u  Born in Halifax.

u  Second of 7 children.

u  Six sisters.

u  Went to Beech Hill Primary School.

u  Heath Grammar School; Crossley Heath Grammar School. 1980-87

u  Salford University 1987-92

u  Articled Teacher Scheme : Bradford 1993-1995

So what’s in a name?

u  I’ve had two official names!

u  Registered as Whahid Zaman on birth certificate but as Wahid Zaman in school.

u  Officially changed name to harmonise variant spellings.

Some other names I’ve been known by:

u  Immigrant

u  Wog

u  Paki

u  Coon

u  Nigger

u  Black

u  Funny Coloured

u  Mad Mullah

u  Ayatollah

What defines the authentic me?

u  Father of 5 children.

u  Husband.

u  Son.

u  Brother.

u  Friend.

u  Care for the community.

Teaching Experiences

u  Halifax Mosque/Madrassah voluntary teaching.

u  Voluntary in schools Beech Hill; Warley Road; Queens Road.

u  Training in Heaton Middle School and Frizinghall First School.

u  Classteacher, Copthorne Primary School, Bradford.

u  Class and subject teacher, Manarat Al-Sharkia, Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia.

u  Curriculum Co ordinator, KS2 leader, Assistant Headtecher, Parkinson Lane Community Primary, Halifax.

u  Deputy Headteacher, Greenmount Primary School, Beeston, Leeds.

u  Deputy Headteacher and Acting Headteacher, Thornton Primary School, Bradford.

u  Headteacher, Atlas Primary School. Bradford.

u  Headteacher, Lapage Primary School. Bradford.

Other professional work

u  Lectured science and maths to ‘Teachers of the Future’.

u  Seconded work with National Strategies as a Consultant Head.

u  Member of SACRE.

u  Former governor at children’s primary school.

u  Former trustee of Schools Linking Network.

u  Lead for achievement strand BPIP.

u  Board member for Teaching Schools Alliance.

u  Member of ‘Health and well being of school age children’ group.

How I overcame challenges from within and outside.

u  Moral purpose and moral outrage.

u  Belief in self worth.

u  Knowing when you’re ready for more.

Minority within a majority.

u  In 1993 there were only 3 primary BME headteachers in Bradford.

u  In 2014 there are a grand total of 4 Primary BME headteachers in Bradford.

The joys of being a Headteacher.

u  Ability to be an advocate for suppressed voices.

u  Knowing the impact you have on families and lives.

u  Constructing order for some where there is chaos.

u  The privilege of moulding lives.