Longthorpe Primary Academy, part of Keys Academies Trust, is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Jamie Parkhouse as its new Head Teacher.

Jamie returns to Longthorpe having previously served as the Academy’s Deputy Head Teacher, where he helped drive improvements in teaching, assessment and curriculum development, contributing to significantly improved Key Stage 2 outcomes.

He most recently led Thorpe Primary Academy, also part of Keys Academies Trust, where he helped establish a positive, child-centred culture built around clear expectations, strong communication and consistency.

Jamie said: “Having previously been Deputy Head Teacher at Longthorpe, I already had a real connection with the school and its community. I felt I had invested a great deal in the school and, when the opportunity arose to return as Headteacher and continue that journey, it was something I felt I needed to do.”

He added: “I know what the Longthorpe team and community is capable of, and I genuinely believe it should be one of the very best primary schools in Peterborough. It is a real privilege to have the opportunity to lead the school.”

Jamie began his teaching career in London within the Ark Schools network, where he developed a strong foundation in high expectations and evidence-based teaching. Before joining Keys Academies Trust, he was Deputy Head Teacher for Quality of Education at Ark Academy in Wembley and played a key role in the school’s successful Ofsted inspection in 2022. He has also completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship.

During his first year at Longthorpe, he will focus on strengthening communication with families, introducing a more streamlined and consistent approach to homework, and creating further opportunities for parents and carers to engage with the school and their children’s learning.

The Academy is also introducing the “Longthorpe Way”, which will provide a clear and consistent framework for expectations, classroom routines and teaching strategies across the school. This will work alongside the new “Building Blocks of Longthorpe” to create a shared understanding of excellent teaching, behaviour and learning.

Jamie continued: “Longthorpe has enthusiastic, polite pupils who are keen to learn, alongside talented staff who care deeply about them and want the school to succeed. My ambition is for Longthorpe to be known for excellent teaching, high expectations and a community in which every child feels that they belong. I want our staff to feel proud of the work they do, our families to have confidence in the school and, above all, our children to be happy, successful and able to achieve their full potential.”

Reflecting on his return, Jamie added: “There is something very special about returning to a community you already know but coming back with new experiences and a different perspective.

To our pupils, my message is that we want you to make yourselves proud, make your families proud and make your teachers proud through the choices you make and the effort you put into your learning.  To our staff and families, I want to say that I am committed to working with you to make Longthorpe an excellent school. It is genuinely good to be back, and I am incredibly ambitious for the school.”