Dan Ainscow is Co-Headteacher at Crosshall Junior School, which became part of the Meridian Trust family in September 2025. He has a long-standing connection with the school, having first trained there as a student teacher. Over the past 25 years, he has worked across most year groups. We recently spoke to Dan about his aspirations for the school’s future and the achievements he is most proud of during his time there.
Can you take us through what a typical day looks like working at Crosshall Junior School?
Our typical day starts quite early, catching up on admin and with fellow staff members. Then we welcome pupils into the school and chat with their parents.
Over a normal day, you will find us walking the school, covering classes and meeting with colleagues. The end of the day tends to be our time to discuss with staff the strategic direction of the school and develop our Continuing Professional Development. You might even find us out on the football pitch!
Can you tell us about your career journey?
I have always had a strong connection to Crosshall Junior School. Unusually, I have spent my entire teaching career at the school and have now worked in most year groups.
As well as leading PSHE for a number of years, I have been SENCO, modern languages lead and history lead. Before becoming the Co-Headteacher, I was Assistant Head and a Head of Year.
What inspired you to pursue a career in education, and what motivated you to become Headteacher at your school?
Both of my parents worked in education, so teaching always felt familiar to me.
My career started with an aim to become an educational psychologist, which required two years of teaching before completing additional qualifications. However, once I became a teacher, I realised how much I loved the job and never left!
What are your main priorities for the school?
Our main priority is always to support as many pupils as possible to achieve their potential. For me, one of the most important aspects of primary school is experiencing the breadth of the curriculum so that children can find those subject areas that most interest them.
In addition, as well as developing a collaborative network with other Meridian schools, I want to ensure that we are using innovation to maximise the learning in the school.
Moving forward, I hope to raise our profile within the community by encouraging everyone to be positive role models and by sharing resources that improve the lives of others.
How do you support pupils, staff, and families to thrive at your school?
Two of the most important staff at the school are our brilliant Learning and Wellbeing Mentors. These amazing colleagues, one of whom is our Senior Mental Health Lead, provide support for pupils, families and staff. Partly by knowing who to engage with, partly through their training and experience, these two people support us all.
We have a group of trained pupils who serve as Wellbeing Ambassadors in the playground, making sure everyone feels happy and included.
We also provide support for our Young Carers and have a staff wellbeing group, who make suggestions to improve support for colleagues in the school.
What do you find most rewarding working at this school?
Working with people, especially the children, is the most rewarding aspect of my job. It is always amazing seeing the progress children make in their learning and how much they mature as we send them on to secondary school.
Seeing colleagues develop and grow as professionals is a wonderful feeling as well.
Tell us about a particular achievement or initiative that you’re proud of.
We are extremely proud of our Future Me curriculum, which starts children on their way to thinking about themselves as adults. As well as considering the sorts of jobs they might enjoy, it’s a great way to celebrate the lives they lead outside of school, as well as their achievements in school.
How do you unwind outside of school?
I have a wonderful family, who give me joy every day. In addition, I jog a fair bit, even completing a few marathons. Apart from being unashamedly geeky – loving superheroes, science fiction and video games – I have been learning the art of the Japanese Tea Ceremony for the last 15 years!