Staff

Senior Leadership Team

Mr P McKinniss

Head of School

My role is to lead OSCA to ensure that a quality education is available to all students.

BA (Hons) and NPQH

I graduated from Surrey University with a degree in Marketing. While I spent some time in industry working in IT my goal has always been to be in education.

I am an experienced senior leader and gained my National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) in 2019. I am proud to be able to lead OSCA and be part of such a wonderful community.

My aim is to ensure that every student has opportunities to develop and be leaders of tomorrow, working with an amazing team of staff.

Ms V Storer-Young

Vice Principal

My role is Assistant Principal, responsible for Teaching & Learning and CPD.

I graduated from the University of Warwick with a BA (Hons) in English and American Literature and a PGCE in English and Drama.  I also completed a Masters in Educational Leadership in 2024 achieving a Distinction. 

I have been a classroom teacher for 25 years. English is my first love, but I have also thoroughly enjoyed teaching Drama,  Film Studies, History, Business Studies and Health and Social Care.  My teaching experience spans schools in Sandwell, Dudley, Birmingham and Telford…and I even taught in the United States for two years!

I have been a senior leader for over ten years across four schools. Primarily, I have had Quality of Education remits (assessment, data, curriculum, teaching and learning etc) but I have had some pastoral experience too.  I now lead the QoE team which gives me the opportunity to work closely with staff and students alike.

I’m passionate about travel, food, cooking, books, new experiences and PEOPLE.  Having wanted to be a teacher since I was tiny, I’m still incredibly proud to have made it a reality and I continue to love being a teacher. I enjoy being able to help students (and staff) to grow and become the very best versions of themselves.

Mr M Horton

Assistant Principal

My role is Assistant Principal, responsible for Behaviour & Attendance.

I am a graduate of Sheffield Hallam University where I gained a degree in Physical Education with a qualified teacher status.

I have a sporting background and enjoy coaching football teams outside of school. Through sport I appreciate the value of teamwork and effort, with that comes the opportunity to showcase skills.  

As an education professional who has been a classroom practitioner at OSCA for over 20 years, 17 of these in leadership roles including head of boys PE, Head of House, and now as Assistant Principal; Everything that I implement is with the students at the forefront. It is my belief that building a parental partnership is central to a child’s success at school. I believe passionately in creating honest and respectful channels of communication between home and school.  

I value opportunities to work collaboratively with all stakeholders within our school and within the wider community to ensure that our pupils develop their skills, values and assist them in becoming well rounded young people. It is my primary aim to support our pupils to enable them to unlock their potential.

Mr M Lovatt

Assistant Principal

I am an Associate Assistant Principal, responsible for Transition and Enrichment within the Academy.

Having always enjoyed both the competitive and the social side of sport, I am passionate about creating opportunities for youngsters in our community to enjoy the same.  I began my career as a teacher of Physical Education, not only teaching in schools, but also leading teams that have competed in many competitions.  Extra curricular provision gives the perfect opportunity to develop ‘the whole child’, particularly those skills that are less prominent in a classroom environment.  As well as leading clubs at school, I have led many residential domestic and overseas visits where youngsters have had the opportunity to grow and develop their personal and interpersonal skills through both individual and team activities.  Since taking pastoral responsibility I have developed a deep understanding of the social and emotional needs of a child when at school.  More recently I have joined the senior leadership team in a role that combines these two areas, and I now lead transition and extra curricular provision at our academy. 

As a father of two, my philosophy for my work at school is simple – Would this be good enough for my children?

Mrs S Dickens

SENDCo

I am the Special Educational Needs Co-Ordinator (SENDCo) for OSCA, leading on our SEND provision for the Academy.

I have worked here at the Academy since 2002, therefore have a very strong bond with many young people and families that have been involved in the Academy, both past and present. I am a very proud member of our Academy staff team, having previously held key roles as a Head of Year, Head of House and Curriculum Leader for PSHE and Careers, which has provided me with a huge insight and skillset, to enable me to do the job I do today as the Special Educational Needs and Disability Co-ordinator (SENDCO), and have been for the last 10 years. 

I lead a great team of Learning Support Practitioners and also work very closely with many stakeholders including families, primary schools, colleges and the Local Authority. Underpinning my work ethic, is a strong desire to ensure that all children can achieve their goals and dreams, and it is my job to facilitate this through providing opportunity, support  and expertise, creating those very small steps today leading to great strides tomorrow.  

Mr A Price

Senior Principal

I am the Senior Principal at both Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy and George Salter Academy.

BA (Hons) French & History, NPQEL

I am proud to be the Senior Principal of Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy and George Salter Academy. I grew up four miles away and love being a die-hard Aston Villa supporting Senior Principal of academies in West Bromwich and Oldbury!  

I am an experienced leader, having moved to GSA for my second headship over six years ago. In 2023, I became Interim Principal at Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy and have now taken on the role as Senior Principal at George Salter Academy and Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy. I have worked in a variety of educational settings in Birmingham, Walsall, Worcester and Thailand.

I speak French fluently, Spanish, and conversational (now mostly golf course and restaurant quality) Thai. I believe passionately in the power of learning a foreign language to develop empathy, inter-cultural understanding and communication.  

Dr S Beach

Senior Assistant Principal

My role is Assistant Principal, responsible for Assessment, Recording & Reporting.

Chemistry (BSc)

Chemistry (PhD)

PGCE (Chemistry)

I spent a lot of time at the University of Birmingham completing my degrees in Chemistry. During my PhD I did research into the Ozone Hole and CFC replacements but also found a love of teaching when I did workshops with undergraduate Scientists to develop their maths skills to A-Level standard.

I have 25 years teaching experience in Walsall, Staffordshire and now Sandwell at OSCA.  In my time I have been Head of Science, Head of House and Assistant Principal with responsibility mainly for data and exams, but also Technology, MFL, PSHE, IT, Science and almost too many other things to mention!

I have worked at OSCA since 2019 and currently I work on Assessment, Reporting, Exams, Options and Timetabling.

I am proud of the work I do as a leader and in the Science department as hope to inspire the next generation to go on to be their very best.

Mr A Kettle

Assistant Principal

My role is Assistant Principal, responsible for Quality Assurance & Pupil Premium.

I am a graduate of Keele University gaining a dual honours BSc in Geography and Social Anthropology. Having attained my degree, I returned to the West Midlands to study for my PGCE in Geography at Worcester University. Having gained my qualifications, I began my teaching career working in secondary schools across Birmingham and Worcestershire before joining OSCA in 2016. I have held a number of posts since joining the school including Curriculum Lead, Director of Learning for Humanities / MFL and Lead Practitioner.

My current role as Assistant Principal of Quality Assurance and Pupil Premium enables me to play a key role in ensuring that our teachers create a positive learning environment, where our students are able to enhance their skills and achieve the best grades that they can. It provides me with incredible pride to see our young people succeed not matter what barriers that they may face. I believe that through support, structure and in believing in our students, we can continue to raise their aspirations and belief in their own ability. 

As a Geographer, I am passionate about learning outside the classroom and enhancing students understanding of the world around them. I have supported this ethos and improved students’ cultural capital through the planning and supporting whole school overseas visits to France, Spain, Italy, Morocco, Iceland and Azores.  

Mrs L James

Operations Manager

I am the Operations Manager for the Academy, responsible for our support services in school and our external contracts.

I started my career working at Dudley MBC in the Accountancy Department. Here I completed multiple levels of the AAT Qualification before moving to Dudley Catering, Cleaning and Caretaking Services (DCCCS) as Finance Officer. I remained in the department for 14 years, providing service support to over 100 schools in the Dudley Borough. I managed the Finance Team, and led on vital communications and initiatives both with our customers and our staff. It was a very varied role, and one which I still hold dear – many of the skills I pride myself on today were built and developed in this role. I successfully completed my BIIAB Lv3 qualification in Management, plus my BIIAB Lv4 Diploma in Management and Leadership whilst working for DCCCS. I met with various school representatives such as Senior Leaders, Finance Teams and Governors to discuss and improve their Catering and Cleaning provisions. It was as a result of building relationships with these schools that made me want to move over from working with them, to working in them.

I joined OSCA back in 2017, and it was honestly the best move I ever made. In the last 7 years I have built wonderful relationships with colleagues, students and families. As Operations Manager I oversee many of the support services within school including Admin, Site Team and First Aid. I still get involved with our Catering and Cleaning contracts and enjoy overseeing the provisions of services I once was a part of.

During my time here I have completed my LMP Lv5 Operations Manager qualification and my IOSH Qualification for School Business Professionals – I am very positive about personal progression, and think its important to keep growing and developing within your career. 

I pride myself on being solution focused, approachable and a positive person – attributes which I bring with me to OSCA every day.  This enables me to do the best job possible for our students, their families, my colleagues and the staff within my team.

I am very proud to work at OSCA, and get a real sense of accomplishment knowing I am helping our young people each day.  

Mr S Blackham

Associate Assistant Principal

Extended Leadership Team

  • Miss E Kelleher – Designated Safeguarding Lead
  • Mr A Day –  Senior Leader for English
  • Mr S O’Connor – Senior Leader for Humanities
  • Miss R Mia  – Senior Leader for Science
  • Mr K Baggott – Senior Leader for Mathematics

Lead Practitioners

  • Mrs R Rock – Whole Academy Literacy & Oracy Strategy
  • Mr J Price – Mathematics
  • Miss K Lochan – Operational Sendco
  • Ms J Caddick – SEMH