Mickey Kelly – Executive Headteacher – Phoenix Federation
My name is Mickey Kelly and I am Executive Headteacher of the Phoenix Federation.
I was born in Belfast but came to University in Lancaster, where I met my wife Rhiannon, over forty years ago. When I came to London in the 1980s, I worked with the Irish community in Lewisham and Greenwich. As part of the programme, I did some educational work in Grinling Gibbons. This inspired me to become a teacher.
After qualifying at Goldsmiths, I taught in an Infant school in Plumstead, later in a school off the Old Kent Road in Bermondsey. Over time I worked my way to becoming Acting Headteacher. It was at this time our two children Eoin and Maeve were born.
In 2000, I left to become Headteacher at Redriff School in Rotherhithe which was in Special measures. After a lot of work with many colleagues, we became Outstanding. In the process, I undertook school improvement in many schools, becoming a National Leader of Education. Amongst other things we became an Academy, formed a Multi Academy Trust sponsored by The City of London and founded a Free School, Galleywall, which was also judged to be Outstanding.
Last year I was asked to lead our Federation, now called the Phoenix Federation, taking up my post at Christmas – just when we went into full lockdown! It is such a pleasure to work with the children and staff of the Federation and to contribute to the dynamic growth and development of our schools. We are unique schools in a unique place, and we aim to become not just truly great schools, but to serve our children and our community.
This year I was honoured to be awarded an MBE for services to education and to the community.