DEN Meetup Guest Speker, Wahid Zaman, Headteacher at LaPage Primary School, talked about his journey to headship.

1. Wahid Zaman
THE STORY OF ME : DIVERSE EDUCATORS NETWORK FRIDAY 31ST JANUARY 2014

2. Childhood and Education
u Born in Halifax.
u Second of 7 children.
u Six sisters.
u Went to Beech Hill Primary School.
u Heath Grammar School; Crossley Heath Grammar School. 1980-87
u Salford University 1987-92
u Articled Teacher Scheme : Bradford 1993-1995

3. So what’s in a name?
u I’ve had two official names!
u Registered as Whahid Zaman on birth certificate but as Wahid Zaman in
school.
u Officially changed name to harmonise variant spellings.

4. Some other names I’ve been known by:
u Immigrant
u Wog
u Paki
u Coon
u Nigger
u Black
u Funny Coloured
u Mad Mullah
u Ayatollah

5. What defines the authentic me?
u Father of 5 children.
u Husband.
u Son.
u Brother.
u Friend.
u Care for the community.

6. Teaching Experiences
u Halifax Mosque/Madrassah voluntary teaching.
u Voluntary in schools Beech Hill; Warley Road; Queens Road.
u Training in Heaton Middle School and Frizinghall First School.
u Classteacher, Copthorne Primary School, Bradford.
u Class and subject teacher, Manarat Al-Sharkia, Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
u Curriculum Co ordinator, KS2 leader, Assistant Headtecher, Parkinson Lane Community
Primary, Halifax.
u Deputy Headteacher, Greenmount Primary School, Beeston, Leeds.
u Deputy Headteacher and Acting Headteacher, Thornton Primary School, Bradford.
u Headteacher, Atlas Primary School. Bradford.
u Headteacher, Lapage Primary School. Bradford.

7. Other professional work
u Lectured science and maths to ‘Teachers of the Future’.
u Seconded work with National Strategies as a Consultant Head.
u Member of SACRE.
u Former governor at children’s primary school.
u Former trustee of Schools Linking Network.
u Lead for achievement strand BPIP.
u Board member for Teaching Schools Alliance.
u Member of ‘Health and well being of school age children’ group.

8. How I overcame challenges from
within and outside.
u Moral purpose and moral outrage.
u Belief in self worth.
u Knowing when you’re ready for more.

9. Minority within a majority.
u In 1993 there were only 3 primary BME headteachers in Bradford.
u In 2014 there are a grand total of 4 Primary BME headteachers in Bradford.

10. The joys of being a Headteacher.
u Ability to be an advocate for suppressed voices.
u Knowing the impact you have on families and lives.
u Constructing order for some where there is chaos.
u The privilege of moulding lives.