Academy Leadership Team

Duncan grew up in Buckinghamshire before moving to London to read English at Queen Mary, University of London. It was through the experience of teaching primary school pupils King Lear in order to complete a module in this course that inspired him to explore a career in working with young people.

After graduating in 2006, Duncan spent a year working for a charity in East London who work with students that have been excluded from all forms of mainstream and alternative education. Reigniting their passion and interest in education further supported his motivation to enrol upon a PGCE English secondary course at Goldsmiths, University of London.

Once his PGCE was successfully completed, Duncan began teaching at Sir John Cass’s Red Coat and Foundation C of E school in Tower Hamlets, London. Duncan spent five years here, progressing from Newly Qualified Teacher to Advanced Skills Teacher of English, before relocating to Uttlesford, Essex with his young family. Duncan became Head of English at Joyce Frankland Academy, Newport and has been at the school for six years taking on the roles of Vice Principal and then Principal.

Colleagues at Joyce Frankland Academy are extremely proud of the traditional, caring and unique atmosphere with a rich, cultural history for excellence in education, dating back to the sixteenth century. Duncan is excited about the future of the school, helping to create an environment where students continue to explore through learning, fulfil their potential and flourish in their futures.

Lee Gamble grew up in Essex before studying Sport and Exercise Science in Leeds.  After graduating with a BSc in 1998 he completed a secondary PGCE in Physical Education at Leeds and entered the teaching profession in 1999.  Lee started teaching in Hertfordshire and worked in a variety of schools before joining what was then Newport Free Grammar School in 2005.

Lee joined the leadership team of Joyce Frankland Academy in 2014 as an Assistant Principal and has held leadership roles in the school covering Data Tracking/Assessment, Curriculum and now Pastoral Care and Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Tamsin grew up in Kent and Cambridgeshire before completing a degree in English Literature in 2001.  After a brief spell in Egypt and some time working in Cambridgeshire libraries, Tamsin completed a SCITT gaining QTS in 2008 and began teaching at Hinchingbrooke school, Huntingdon where she stayed for eight years.

In 2014 Tamsin accepted a position as Lead Practitioner at Sawston VC and quickly took on responsibility as Professional Tutor and associated SLT.  After four very happy years at SVC, Tamsin accepted a role with Meridian Trust, leading the English curriculum for 12 secondary schools.  Keen to return to the classroom, Tamsin joined JFAN in 2022 as Deputy Principal and is currently leading on making our school ‘Even better tomorrow’.

Ian grew up in Kent before reading History and Politics at Durham University. After graduating in 2008, he entered the teaching profession through the graduate training program, Teach First. The desire to address educational disadvantage and ensure all students, regardless of their backgrounds, have access to the best curriculum and education opportunities is Ian’s main motivation for working in schools.

As an ambassador with Teach First, Ian completed a Masters in Educational Leadership with the Institute of Education and worked for seven years in two inner London secondary schools, holding leadership roles in history and with a Year 11 cohort.

Ian joined Joyce Frankland Academy in 2015 as an Assistant Head Teacher and has held leadership roles in the school covering Assessment, Co-Curriculum, Pastoral Care and Safeguarding. He is now Vice Principal, recently completing his NPQH qualification, with a particular focus on ensuring that our Curriculum is vibrant, engaging and challenging for all students.

Dan Langley grew up in Cambridge before moving to Brighton to read Philosophy and English at Sussex University. After graduating Dan completed a PGCE in English at Brighton University. He taught in Sussex for several years before returning to Cambridge. Dan started teaching English at Joyce Frankland in 2013 and became Lead Teacher of English in 2014. He led the English department until 2018 when he was made Assistant Principal and Head of Sixth Form. Dan has held a number of leadership roles in the school including Challenge and Intervention. Dan is a passionate advocate of teaching to the top and believes that all children have the right to benefit from the full range of educational opportunities.

James grew up and was educated in south west Essex before reading English at the University of Reading. After graduating in 2005, he spent two and a half years working as a Client Manager for a media/PR firm in London. In 2008, James trained as an English teacher at the Institute of Education, University of London. His second training placement took him to a school in East Hertfordshire where he secured a job, remaining at that school for thirteen years. In that time, he was promoted to hold leadership responsibilities as Head of English and Assistant Headteacher, doing this role in a number of areas and over a number of years. He was most recently responsible for continuing professional development for staff.

James also holds various responsibilities with the exam board AQA, acting as a Senior Examiner in English Literature, and a Lead English Expert for their English curriculum team. He is Chair of Governors at a catholic primary school in east Hertfordshire. He is committed to serving the communities in which he works and lives. He is a teacher because of his belief that school life is the springboard to success; there is as yet no greater vehicle to provide young people so many opportunities to flourish, whether that be academic or vocational, in the classroom or out – all children have the ability to excel and it is our responsibility to enable and celebrate their successes.

He joined Joyce Frankland Academy, Newport as Deputy Principal in September 2022, responsible for strategic oversight of the Academy being “excellent today”.