James Pointing joined Esland in 2022 as Deputy Head at Grantham School. Since joining, he has developed extensive leadership experience across school improvement, safeguarding, quality assurance and staff development, including undertaking the role of Interim Headteacher. Passionate about creating positive outcomes for young people, James is committed to supporting both students and colleagues to achieve their full potential.

My story at Esland

Hi, my name is James Pointing and I'm Deputy Head at Grantham School. I joined Esland in 2022 and since then I've developed as a leader, supported staff and students across the school, and even stepped into the role of Interim Headteacher when needed.

My journey so far

My route into Esland came through a former colleague who had joined Grantham School as an English teacher. She got in touch to let me know that the school was recruiting several teaching positions, as well as a Deputy Head.

I initially visited the school to explore a teaching role, but after meeting the Headteacher, Sue, it quickly became clear that our educational values and vision were closely aligned. Sue recognised the experience I could bring from my previous roles and encouraged me to apply for the Deputy Head position.

After completing the interview process, which included both teaching and practical elements, I was delighted to be offered the role.

When I joined, I was relatively inexperienced in senior leadership. Since then, I've had the opportunity to develop my leadership skills, gain valuable experience across all aspects of school life, and broaden my understanding of what it takes to lead a specialist education setting. More recently, I have also stepped into the role of Interim Headteacher, which has given me invaluable experience leading a school through both challenges and successes.

Leading with purpose

What has kept me at Esland is the support I've received throughout my journey. The organisation continually invests in its people, whether through professional support, recognition, or opportunities to grow.

I've been fortunate enough to be recognised through the Esland Awards, which meant a great deal to me, but it's the people around me who make the biggest difference. The leadership team are approachable and supportive, and I work alongside a fantastic staff team who go above and beyond every day to create positive outcomes for our students.

No two days are the same in my role. A typical day may involve supporting teaching and learning, observing lessons, meeting with staff, responding to safeguarding or behavioural concerns, working on school improvement priorities, and collaborating with the Headteacher on strategic planning.

What I enjoy most is the opportunity to make a meaningful difference across the whole school community. Whether it's helping a teacher grow in confidence, supporting a young person to overcome barriers, or contributing to wider school improvement, knowing that my work has a positive impact is incredibly rewarding.

For anyone considering a leadership role in education, I would say it's an opportunity to make a wider impact. If you're passionate about helping students succeed, supporting colleagues, and driving positive change, it's an incredibly fulfilling career path.

Growth through challenge

Since joining Esland, I've developed a much deeper understanding of leadership and school improvement. I've taken part in both internal and external quality assurance visits, gained experience leading across an entire school, and learned how to adapt quickly to the varied demands of senior leadership.

The Esland value I connect with most is Bold. Leadership requires confidence, courage and a willingness to make decisions that are in the best interests of students and staff. It also means being prepared to think differently, embrace new ideas, and continually look for ways to improve. I'm proud to have been recognised through nominations for the Bold award on several occasions.

A little more about me

Something people are often surprised to learn about me is that before moving into education, I served in the British Army and completed tours of both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Outside of work, I also hold a National Private Pilot's Licence and enjoy flying microlights whenever I get the opportunity.

One of my proudest moments at Esland was seeing our students complete their first Duke of Edinburgh expedition. The programme had never been offered at the school before, but thanks to the dedication of staff and the enthusiasm of students, it became a huge success.

Watching students challenge themselves, camp overnight, and achieve something many never thought possible was inspiring. When they returned to school, the entire community came together to celebrate their achievement. It was a fantastic example of what can happen when staff and students work together towards a common goal.