Julie Carrick

My journey began when I walked through the doors of Greenshaw High School on a sunny September morning in 2004. I initially joined as an HLTA, working with some of our most complex, hardest to reach young people. Three years later, I embarked on a new challenge, reorganising our internal exclusions provision. This role also involved providing one to one mentoring, small group workshops, mediation, and ongoing support to help students avoid further exclusions. During this time, I also worked with pupils from our internal C2S alternative provision and external pupils from Pupil Referral Units (PRUs), supporting them in gaining BTEC qualifications.

When we academised in 2011, I took on the role of Attendance Lead. This was an area completely unfamiliar to me, so I spent several months working closely with an LA court officer on the intricacies of attendance law. Having this technical expertise, combined with my pastoral and behavioural background, allowed me to support families with legal clarity while ensuring we avoided a ‘one size fits all’ mentality. It was important to me that we treated every family with genuine empathy.

When GLT was formed in 2015, I initially popped over to Green Wrythe Primary School, the first school to join us, just to ‘lend a quick hand’. However, as the Trust grew, so did my role and the need for formalised support and guidance. In 2017, I officially split my time between Greenshaw High School and the Trust, before moving into a full-time GLT role a year later.

Over the years, I have continued my professional development to broaden my expertise in mental health, safeguarding, SEND, and family support,  most recently, I have embarked on a Foundation Stage coaching qualification. This continuous growth has enabled me to work collaboratively with the DfE, local authorities, and fellow MATs, ensuring our schools remain fully compliant with attendance and elective home education law, while making sure that every child is always at the front and centre of everything we do.

Our strapline is ‘Always Learning’, and I am firm proof that this applies to GLT staff just as much as our students. The Trust genuinely encourages us to expand our skills and push our boundaries. I feel incredibly privileged to work with such amazing people and to have grown into a role I love. No day is ever the same, and I wouldn’t have it any other way