Ken Gibson (headteacher)
Sir Ken Gibson | |
|---|---|
| Occupations | Headteacher, Teacher |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Known for | Headteacher of Harton Academy, Jarrow School, Academy 360 |
| Children | 4 |
| Honours | Knighthood (2013), Honorary Doctorate from University of Sunderland (2016) |
Sir Kenneth Gibson is a British former headteacher and former secondary school teacher.
Background
Gibson attended East Boldon Infants School in South Tyneside, where he was taught by his mother, Helen, who was also a teacher.[1]
Career
Gibson began teaching in Kirkby in 1979 and moved to Harton Academy in 1983, where he became headteacher of the school in 2003.[2] Under his headship, the school received an OFSTED rating of Outstanding in 2006. The school was also rated Outstanding in its subsequent OFSTED inspection in 2013.[3]
In 2009, Gibson spoke of his pride at having Joe McElderry as an ex-pupil of his school, after McElderry went through to the last four of the X Factor.[4]
In November 2010,[5] Gibson became head of Jarrow School in addition to Harton Academy; he went on to successfully turn Jarrow School around, after the school's teaching was rated as inadequate.[6] The improvement of Jarrow School took place partly because Jarrow School formed a partnership with Harton Academy as part of a national scheme.[7] In 2012, he also became the head of Academy 360, another school, in Pennywell, after an OFSTED inspection report of the school was published.[6]
In 2021, he moved to Executive Headteacher of the broader multi-academy trust of which Harton Academy was a part.[2] In 2022, he lodged a formal complaint with OFSTED, saying that the inspection body's inspection of Harton Academy had a problem in the inspection process.[8]
As of 2019, Gibson was Vice Chair of Education at Education Mutual,[9] a provider of Staff Absence Protection for multi-academy trusts and schools.[10]
Honours
In 2013, Gibson received a knighthood for his work in education;[5] he was the first person to have been knighted by the then Duke of Cambridge, Prince William.[11]
In 2016, Gibson received an honorary doctorate from the University of Sunderland for his services to education, partly because he had recently considerably improved two secondary schools.[12]
Personal life
Sir Ken is married to Lady Lisa Gibson and has four children, Michael, Claire, Olivia & Luisa, plus two grandchildren, Rose and Saylor.[6]
References
- ^ Sunderland, University. "'Super-head' honoured for his services to education". University of Sunderland Alumni. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Harton Academy | Important Update from Sir Ken Gibson". harton-tc.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
- ^ enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk, Ofsted Communications Team (2024-01-04). "Find an inspection report and registered childcare". reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
- ^ "South Shields backs X Factor Joe". 2009-11-26. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
- ^ a b "Head teachers recognised in honours". BBC News. 2013-06-14. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
- ^ a b c https://www.pressreader.com/uk/sunderland-echo/20131018/281590943297386?srsltid=AfmBOoqcDA4a1g2cinc8S1i2Qn_NISZhqZ6uLPhLgjaXFmMM29YkZTBg. Retrieved 2025-08-23 – via PressReader.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Weatherall, Nicola (2013-02-26). "Jarrow School improves after Ofsted report". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
- ^ "Headteacher lodges formal complaint with Ofsted and questions inspection process after 'unfair' judgement". Shields Gazette. 2022-06-20. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
- ^ Mutual, Education (21 October 2019). "(1) Education Mutual on X: "Vice Chair of Education Mutual..." X. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ^ Mutual, Education. "(1) Education Mutual (@EducationMutual) / X". X. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ^ Davies, Caroline (2013-10-17). "Prince William makes debut standing in for Queen to give out knighthoods". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
- ^ "Super-head receives university honour for his services". Shields Gazette. 2016-07-06. Retrieved 2025-08-23.