We are delighted to have appointed Toby Martlew to the position of Q1E Executive Head for Belleville Primary School. Toby is a qualified teacher with substantial experience in educational leadership. He was appointed after a very thorough interview process which included Local Parent Governors, Q1E Trustees, Headteachers, members of the Q1E Trust team and Belleville Senior Leadership team.  

Toby Martlew was Principal (Headteacher) of Ark Oval Primary Academy, a large primary academy in Croydon where he raised standards significantly and ensured a stable, thriving community of pupils and staff. For the last three years, Toby has been working full time for Ofsted as one of their lead inspectors (HMI).

During his time with the Ark Academy Network, Toby was part of school improvement teams who supported school improvements in other schools and provided mentoring to new Headteachers, supporting their career development. He also has experience of leading Safeguarding and SEND provision, and experience as a school governor and a multi-academy trust Trustee. 

Toby’s role will be to continue our drive to provide a ‘quality first’ education for all children. He will work closely with Belleville’s Headteacher, senior leadership and staff team, local Governors, Trustees, and the Q1E Trust team to provide greater strategic direction for the school, support and develop our ongoing evaluation and improvement plan, and increase Belleville’s engagement within both the wider education community and its local community.

Toby Martlew says: “I am delighted to be joining the Belleville and Quality First Trust family. The school’s relentless commitment to providing the best possible education for all pupils, rooted in nurture and a broad, enriching curriculum, drew me to this role. Meeting the wonderful pupils and dedicated staff confirmed that this was where I wanted to be. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to contribute to this community and to help secure a future in which we can flourish together.”

Toby will officially start at Belleville at the beginning of Summer Term 2 to ensure a full handover period with John Budden throughout the second half of the summer term. We will be arranging opportunities for parents and carers to meet him and ask any questions that you may have in the summer and autumn terms.