Cecilia Galloway

Cecilia Galloway has been a headmistress, both in England and Northern Ireland. Born in 1955, she studied chemistry at Leeds University. Later gaining an MSc degree at Reading University, she was accepted as a Fellow by the Royal Society of Chemistry and given Chartered Chemist status. She is currently studying for a law degree at Buckingham University

Entering the teaching profession in 1978 at the Wolverhampton Grammar School for Boys, she taught chemistry for the early part of her career, moving on into school management. Joining the Royal Latin School as their first female headteacher in 1992, she developed the school from 700 pupils to its current 1200.

In 1999 she was described as providing "inspirational leadership" by John Bercow MP, in the House of Commons. [ [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199899/cmhansrd/vo991020/debtext/91020-05.htm House of Commons] ]

In 2000, she was awarded for "Contribution to School Leadership in a Secondary School". [ [http://www.teachingawards.com/2000/awards2000/displayTeacher.asp?TeacherID=12 Teaching Awards] ] An Ofsted Inspector herself, Ofsted praised her leadership, saying: "The leadership and management of the school are particularly efficient with the vision and drive of the headteacher outstanding". [ [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/index.cfm?fuseaction=summary&id=110512 RLS Ofsted Report 2001] ] " Under her guidance the school obtained Investors in People status, gained a Silver Artsmark award, and was designated a Specialist school in Science.

In 2006 Galloway once again took the title of first female head teacher, this time at the Methodist College Belfast. Taking her "democratic", "transparent" and "straight-talking" leadership style with her, she introduced changes to the school. It was reported that these changes were not received well, with one newspaper claiming that staff compared her to Alan Sugar. [ [http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/incoming/article1849205.ece "Belfast Telegraph"] ] Rumours later circulated that Galloway was to leave the post after only a year, something she denied. [ [http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/incoming/article1269760.ece "Belfast Telegraph"] ] However in October 2006 she announced her resignation, citing personal reasons including "difficulties relocating to Belfast from England" [ [http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/incoming/article2048171.ece "Belfast Telegraph"] ] and "problems with buying and selling property and the management of her husband's business interests". [ [http://www.utvlive.com/newsroom/indepth.asp?pt=n&id=77423 "Ulster Television"] ]

She is a staunch supporter of academic selection, also known as Eleven plus, and spoke recently at a conference in Belfast on the subject of Government plans to stop schools selecting pupils based on academic ability. [ [http://www.sec-ed.co.uk/cgi-bin/go.pl/news/article.html?uid=1524 Proposals to end selection slammed] ] [ [http://www.redorbit.com/news/education/414021/cash_threat_for_grammars_turning_private/index.html Cash Threat for Grammars Turning Private] ] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/nolpda/ifs_news/hi/newsid_4766000/4766180.stm?(none) Warning over private school plan] ] While Headteacher at the Royal Latin School, she changed the school's motto of 'Alle May God Amende' which had existed since 1423, to 'High Expectations for All'.

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