Award-winning headteacher Gary Tucker is awarded Honorary Fellowship

Gary Tucker, headteacher of Woodmancote Primary School in Cheltenham, has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the University of Gloucestershire during its 2024 Graduation Ceremonies at Cheltenham Racecourse.

Having trained at St Paul's College, a forerunner of the University of Gloucestershire, Gary has gone on to have a hugely successful career in teaching in primary schools across Gloucestershire.

Gary said: "As an ex-St Paul's student, it is an enormous honour to receive this award. Having joined the University as a student back in 1985 and hosted, mentored and supported students over the last 39 years, to receive this award means a great deal.

"I have had the privilege to work alongside some amazing teachers in that time and to a large extent this award also recognises the quiet determination that teachers have, to ensure as many children as possible leave school with all the skills they need to have happy and meaningful lives. Teaching is an amazing profession and one that I am really proud to have been part of."

Gary has been headteacher at Woodmancote Primary since 2008, having worked his way up to the headship role, after being Deputy Head at Croft Primary School, Painswick, and taking on his first headteacher role at Temple Guiting.

A strong advocate of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) at the University, Gary has hosted hundreds of placements for student teachers to gain invaluable experiences of teaching. By restructuring his school leadership team to include an ITE student mentor, he has shown his commitment to and the importance of teacher education.

On working in partnership with the University, Gary said: "With falling numbers of young people entering the teaching profession, it is more important than ever that schools and the University work closely together to prepare students for teaching.

"They need a firm academic foundation, alongside a well-supported school experience in order to prepare them for the challenges that lie ahead.

"The partnership between school and University is essential if we are to encourage more to join this rewarding, inspiring and invaluable profession."

Gary has contributed extensively to the University's teacher education programmes, including: lecturing at an annual event to support student teachers in securing their first teaching roles; providing advice and guidance in applications and interviews; being a longstanding member and chair of the Primary Partnership Board; chair of the ITE Quality Steering Group, and devoting time to partnership conferences and being a committed ambassador for the work of teacher education with Gloucestershire.

In 2020, Gary showed his dedication to education and development by undertaking the MA in Educational Leadership at the University.

In his professional career, he is highly regarded and holds a strong focus on providing for all children, including those with individual needs. In 2023, he received the Headsight Trauma-Informed and Therapeutic School Award on behalf of the staff of Woodmancote Primary School, for the school's commitment to supporting their most vulnerable pupils.

Gary offered the following advice to the University's students and graduates: "There are probably many profound messages that I could make about striving for excellence, following your dreams and dedicating yourself to your particular field of expertise.

"However, I think we really all need to focus on the one thing that could make the difference to everyone's lives. My message to students would simply be this, be kind.

"Be kind to those around you, be kind to those you may come across during your time here and be kind when speaking of those you may not even ever meet."

Image: Dame Clare Marchant, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Gloucestershire, and Gary Tucker who has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship