Mr Kevin Harcombe

Teaching Awards 2007 Winner

The NCSL Award for Headteacher of the Year in a Primary School

Redlands Primary School, FAREHAM

Kevin has made an incredible journey from busking on the streets of Brighton to being an inspirational school leader who knows how to get the best from pupils and teachers.

And the journey he has taken his school on has been just as interesting. Look around Redlands Primary School now and it is impossible to imagine that, when Kevin took on the headship seven years ago, this was a school facing numerous difficulties.

Today it boasts a superb music and drama room, with a range of specialist lighting equipment and musical instruments, and a fully-stocked library. Pupils enjoy all the arts to the full. It also has an ICT room and a school website developed to a professional standard.

Then there are all the things that can’t be seen – the culture of achievement, the excellent relationships, and the way that everyone feels their head has time for them.

No wonder that, for the past three years, inspectors have deemed the school ‘outstanding’.

All this is thanks to Kevin’s superb leadership, which pupils, parents, staff and governors describe as proactive, approachable and, above all, fun.

He makes each pupil feel important from the day they arrive in school and uses pioneering initiatives and research programmes to push learning forward. The school has worked, for example, with the Huddersfield Early Excellence Centre Research, to review how it works with younger children.

Pupils always feel their voice is heard in school. “He talks to us about how we want to do things,” says one. “And he cheers us up,” says another.

Kevin is also an outstanding leader to staff, and on the wider stage. He has had experience as a leadership consultant, and is well-known for training staff who go on to higher things. He also helps shape the national Primary Strategy and advises the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit.

“It is a true honour to work with him and for him,” says Ysanne Boddington, assistant head.

Message Board

Please leave a messsage for Mr Kevin Harcombe

• CONGRATULATIONS!!

  Well done Kevin. Such a great achievement and SO very well deserved! Redlands is a fantastic school and it is down to your hard work and commitment! VERY exciting!

  Posted: October 21, 2007 at 22:10 PM | Author: annon

• Well done!

  Congratulations, Kevin! This is an outstanding achievement and you should feel very proud. I had involvement in the awards in judgng the Scottish entries and know how high a standard we had north of the border. Well done to you and your school.

  Posted: October 21, 2007 at 22:10 PM | Author: Fiona Taylor

• congratulations!

  Well done Kev! Hilx

  Posted: October 22, 2007 at 08:10 AM | Author: Hilary Bremner

• You're are amazing!!!

  I knew you would do it! I am absolutely thrilled. How was Mary poppins? love, Sheila x

  Posted: October 22, 2007 at 09:10 AM | Author: Sheila

• Congratulations from a former neighbour

  Hello Kevin, can't say I'm an avid follower of the 'Teacher of the Year' award, but I did happen to be watching Breakfast TV this morning. Hope you are well and may you continue to inspire. All the best, Peter

  Posted: October 22, 2007 at 09:10 AM | Author: Peter Speers

• FANTASTIC

  Well done Kev. You are so special. Enjoy every second. Dee Smith

  Posted: October 22, 2007 at 16:10 PM | Author: Dee Smith

• Congratulations!

  Well done, you deserve it Redlands is a great school with a wonderful atmosphere.

  Posted: October 22, 2007 at 17:10 PM | Author: Su & Toby Bishop

• Congratulations

  Well done, Kevin. You rally deserved to win, I'm so pleased for you. Make the most of your year of glory and enjoy it. Once again, many congratulations. Sue (East Midlands regional winner 2007)

  Posted: October 23, 2007 at 16:10 PM | Author: Sue Morrison

• Congratulations!

  Well done on your award - it was great meet you, albeit briefly, at the awards. Enjoy your success!

  Posted: October 24, 2007 at 12:10 PM | Author: Andy Bell

• Liverpudlian in London

  Kevin, thanks for inviting Briony and I to share your very special moment. Thank heavens that the adjudicators can assess quality provision, Ofsted inspectors cannot see further than the data.

  Posted: October 28, 2007 at 16:10 PM | Author: Bill Woods

• What a star you are

  Hi Kevin What a star you are!!! I am really pleased you managed to clinch the title and I hope you had a really lovely weekend. Also on breakfast TV as well! I shall have to get the red carpet out the next time we meet. Look forward to seeing you soon.

  Posted: October 29, 2007 at 08:10 AM | Author: Jane Noble

• Congratulations!

  Hi Kev. saw you on Sunday and then on breakfast t.v. Many congratulations I feel very honoured to be able to strum with such a superstar.See you soon I hope,Rog

  Posted: October 29, 2007 at 08:10 AM | Author: Roger King

• Very many congratulations

  Kevin, Very many congratulations on your award of headteacher of the year. It is great for all of us when one of our own is recognised in this way. Very well deserved and well done.

  Posted: October 29, 2007 at 09:10 AM | Author: Janet Sheriton

• A well deserved win!

  Kevin I thought I would add my congrats to the many you have no doubt already received. A well deserved win! Though I suspect you are looking forward to tomorrow's return to school with some degree of trepidation, given the 'decoration' the school received after you won the local awards - what on earth will they do this time .... Well done! Penny

  Posted: October 29, 2007 at 10:10 AM | Author: penny davis

• Well deserved

  Congratulations Kevin. It couldn't have happened to a nicer bloke!! Well deserved. Pass on any useful tips. Rachel.x

  Posted: October 29, 2007 at 10:10 AM | Author: rachel mardenborough

• Well done

  Hi Kevin, I spotted you in The Guardian 'Teaching Awards' Congratulations! Best Wishes, Julie McBride

  Posted: October 29, 2007 at 10:10 AM | Author: Julie McBride

• Very well deserved

  Many congratulations and I'm sure very well deserved. love from all at the big house

  Posted: October 29, 2007 at 10:10 AM | Author: Kerry Williams

• A fantastic achievement

  Dear Kevin We are all delighted at the news of your award. This is a fantastic achievement and a worthy recognition of all your hard work at Redlands. I watched the programme on Sunday and have read the profile in today's Education Guardian. It is great to see how the school has progressed under your leadership - my memory is from the OfSTED inspection that I led back in January 1998 when it was judged to be providing a 'sound quality of education'. I hope you don't mind, but I have added a short postscript to my latest primary update, due to go out later this week. Again, thanks for all you do for not only the children in your school, but in the wider primary community of Hampshire's children. With all good wishes Trevor

  Posted: October 29, 2007 at 10:10 AM | Author: Trevor Walker

• Congratulations

  Dear Kevin Just been reading about you in the local press.... CONGRATULATIONS on officially becoming the 'Greatest Primary School Headteacher of Great Britian' Those of us who have had the pleasure of working for you have known that for a long time! I am really pleased for you, you deserve the acknowledgement.

  Posted: October 29, 2007 at 10:10 AM | Author: linda allen

• Where do you go from here?!!

  Hi Kevin Congratulations on your award - Head teacher of the year! Well done - great news! We watched the BBC programme - Abi was very excited to see teachers and children she recognised from her work experience at Redlands. I was excited to see some of it was filmed in the library! So what next - where do you go from here?!! Well done! Jan

  Posted: October 29, 2007 at 10:10 AM | Author: Janet Smith