Deputy Headteacher

Tim Mathias

Having grown up in Weston-Super Mare, I initially moved to Plymouth to study sports management at the university. I was fortunate to combine study with playing semi-professional rugby. After completing my degree, I was offered the opportunity to play professionally alongside working as a community sports coach.

This was my first step into education, providing PE lessons for primary schools and the special schools in the city, a role that I really enjoyed, and I was always the first to offer to work in the special and alternative education sector.

After suffering a sports injury, I decided to go travelling. I explored much of South East Asia before playing rugby in both Australia and New Zealand. It was playing in New Zealand that brought me back to Plymouth in 2006, as I was given the opportunity to play professionally in the city.

I first started working for ACE in 2009 as a Teaching Assistant and have grown with the organisation. Setting up the Pastoral Team, where I worked closely with multi agency partners, mainstream schools in the city and developed my skills in safeguarding and behaviour management. I joined the leadership team in 2016 as a Senior Leader responsible for behaviour and attendance and I completed my NPQSL in 2019.

As Deputy head I am very fortunate to play a key role in shaping and designing an educational offer that allows the most vulnerable pupils across the southwest to succeed in an inclusive trauma informed school.

I represent ACE on several multi agency panels including the Operational Child Exploitation group, and the Secondary fair access Panel.

Outside of school I still very much enjoy rugby and running. If I'm not doing either of those then I'm exploring the local beaches and moors with my wife and our dog.