My name is Graham Hertz and I am the SEN Centre Manager and Whole School SENCo at North Road Academy. Passionate about teaching; with a desire to help special needs children in particular, my many years of studying and experience have led me to the position I am today. 

I am a Qualified SENCo, and Senior Teacher with 30 years teaching experience, 20 years in Special Education. I have previously been the Head of Education for a private Children’s Residential School as well as 3 Deputy Head positions.

I began my education career as a primary school teacher and taught in primary schools for 5 years before entering into special education in September 2000.

During my career I have been part of Senior Leadership Teams transitioning 2 schools at strategic level. One school from learning difficulties to behaviour and the other form Social and Emotional challenges to Autism and Complex Needs.    

I have also been a Designated Safeguarding Lead and Health and Safety Officer as well working for Stoke’s Outreach Services. 

During my teaching career I have taught across all 5 Key Stage areas. I have taught and worked with pupils who were identify with primary and secondary needs of Autism, Complex Needs, Childhood Trauma, Attachment Disorder, BESD/SEMH, MLD, SLD,  SpLD, ADHD and pupils who were Hearing Impaired (cochlea implant) or Visually Impaired. This often required working alongside outside agencies such as the Speech and Language Team, Teenage Pregnancy Team and Drugs Awareness Team as well as seeking support from the HI/VI team.

In November 2019 I retired from education. I returned in May 2020 working part time as the Education Lead for a Residential Children’s Home Company. 

In May 2022 I took on my current role at North Road Academy with a view to supporting and promoting the vision and ethos of the school in providing special education to children of Muslim faith with the conforms of a Muslim Faith Community School. 

Qualifications : 

Master’s in SEND – NASENCO Award

University of Worcester – Worcester

Certificate of Higher Education in Leadership Pathways and Leading from the Middle

National College of School Leadership

Bachelor of Education (Hons) in Education

Crewe &Alsager College

Diploma of Higher Education in Higher Education

Crewe &Alsager College

Centre for Exceptional Children – Staff

Julie – Deputy SENCo & Behaviour Manager

Kathleen Cowen – SEN Curriculum Manager

Dalia Aboulaban – SEN Classroom Lead

Nirmala Diwan – SEN Classroom Lead

Jordan Biddulph – SEN Classroom Lead

Hebatullah Emara – SEN Support

Ashar Zafar – SEN Support

Quratulain Mohammad – SEN Support

Noora Parveen – SEN Support

Kaitlin Baggley – SEN Support

Ramsha Hussain – SEN Support

Rehana Siddiqui – SEN Support