As Vice Principal at Stamford Welland Academy, Tom Weller plays a pivotal role in supporting both students and staff. Highly valued by the school and the wider Meridian Trust, Tom’s responsibilities span behaviour, welfare, safeguarding, admissions, attendance, and much more. We caught up with him to learn about his journey into education, what his day-to-day looks like, and what makes Stamford Welland Academy such a special place to work…
What does your role involve day-to-day?
My role as Vice Principal is a real mix of leadership and hands-on involvement across many aspects of school life. I oversee behaviour, welfare, safeguarding, admissions, and attendance – all those areas that keep the school running smoothly. Although my regular teaching has reduced, I still teach some PE and cover lessons when needed. Because we’re a small secondary school, there are fewer people in leadership, so I have to wear a lot of different hats and take on a wider range of responsibilities. We’re also a growing school – in September, we’ll have about 60 more students than this year – and as our reputation has improved in the Stamford community, we’ve grown consistently.
How long have you been at Stamford Welland, and what did you do before?
I’ve been here for about six years. Before that, I worked as a PE teacher in a Leicester City school for a couple of years. Then I spent around eight years at a school not far from here, where I progressed to head of house, before moving to a new school as head of key stage 4, then assistant principal. I joined Stamford Welland Academy as Vice Principal and this is my first role within the Meridian Trust. At university, I studied sports development and coaching, knowing it could lead to a career in PE teaching, and then completed a PGCE in PE before starting my teaching career.
What inspired you to get into education?
My love of sport is what first inspired me to become a PE teacher. I still play a lot of sport now, and growing up, I was lucky to have a couple of brilliant PE teachers who really motivated me. My interest in the pastoral side of education comes from my parents, who fostered children while I was growing up. We always had children from different backgrounds in our home, which gave me a real insight into supporting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and wanting to make a difference. Those two influences have really driven me to where I am today.
What’s great about working for the Meridian Trust?
One of the biggest differences I’ve noticed with this trust, compared to others I’ve worked for, is the genuine sense of collaboration between schools. Rather than competing with each other, schools are encouraged to work together and share expertise. There’s a real community feel – even though some of the schools are quite far apart geographically, I’ve developed strong links with colleagues in similar roles, and they’re always there to bounce ideas off. In a job like mine, dealing with safeguarding and behaviour, it’s really useful to have that network and to be able to share best practice.
How does the trust support professional development and career progression?
If you want to develop, the support is definitely there and it’s encouraged. The trust ran a ‘Ready to Lead’ course for aspiring leaders last year, which I found really valuable and it helped me feel much clearer about my role. There’s good coaching available, and you get the chance to spend a day with a headteacher from another school in the Trust, which is a great experience. There are lots of positives in that. If you want to progress, Meridian Trust will help you get to where you want to go.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career at Stamford Welland Academy?
This is a fantastic place to work, with a real sense of community – everyone comments on that. I do weekly tours, and as we’ve worked to change our reputation, getting students and parents into the building has been really important. Prospective staff, students, and parents always mention how friendly the staff are and the genuine care that’s shown here. Staff work hard for the students and for each other, and students are well-known and feel like they belong. We always try to make it an enjoyable place to work and learn, doing things that enhance the experience for both students and staff.
Are there any initiatives at school you’re particularly proud of?
We’re very rewards-focused and have adapted our approach this year to include character education, which we’ve developed and will continue to evolve. Each half term has a different character focus, with rewards linked to that, and it ties in with the Meridian Trust PLEDGES system. It’s had a really positive impact on the development of our young people. The key thing for us is that reward outweighs sanction – students need to feel they can succeed. Some students find aspects of school life difficult, but they can succeed by being a good person and developing character traits, which are recognised and rewarded, positively shaping our ethos.
We offer a variety of activities, such as darts, gardening, and our Combined Cadet Force, which not only make the school day more enjoyable but also help build a sense of belonging and positively impact the whole school community. Our school’s social media is a great way to communicate with parents and celebrate what we do.
What are your hobbies outside of work?
Holidays are a key part of my calendar, and one of the real benefits of teaching is having that time to recharge with family. Outside of work, I spend a lot of time taking my two girls to their sports and dance activities – they play netball and football, so we’re always busy. Sport is a big part of my life too. I’ve got a Leicester City season ticket and go to matches with my dad, and I still play for a couple of vets teams and in seven-a-side games. I also really enjoy live music and try to get to the theatre and gigs whenever I can.