Lauren Bean

Left: 2009

Director of Ethos, Leeds Academy

Name: Lauren Bean

Achievement: Director of Ethos

Year of leaving school: 2009

I started Canon Lee in 2004 with below average SATS results. I am dyslexic and I struggled in school but refused to tell anyone about my dyslexia because I was embarrassed. I wanted to prove to everyone that I could pass my GCSEs and study A Levels, I knew this was extremely aspirational but I didn’t want to do anything else. I collected my results and I couldn’t believe what I was reading (5 As, 2 Bs and 4 Cs). 

I joined All Saints Sixth form in 2009 and failed first year of A Levels. I was devastated. I had admitted I needed extra time to process the exam questions and give detailed answers. I re-sat my exams in the January of my second year and I managed to pass them all and went onto complete my A Levels in the June. I managed to secure a pass at Edge Hill University to study Design Technology Education with QTS, throughout my time at university I went from strength to strength and left with a first class honours degree. 

For the last five years I have worked at Leeds East Academy in Seacroft. I have had a number of different leadership posts including Head of Year 7 & 8 and most recently I have accepted a job as Direct of Ethos and Values working alongside my schools senior leadership team to develop students’ attitudes to learning. 

If I look back ten years I would have never thought I would be working as a teacher and own my own house. I spend my summers travelling, so far I have been to Thailand, Vietnam and America.