Meet Simon Camby

Navigate appoints former headteacher to client director role

At Navigate, we pride ourselves on taking a partnership approach to our work with schools and local authorities and it is crucial that we have firsthand experience of the issues that they are facing, which is why we are delighted to have appointed Simon Camby , a former headteacher, as our new client director.

Simon joins us following a headship at a school in Leeds, which in the space of two and half years went from being in difficulty to a “good school with outstanding features” according to Ofsted. Prior to that, he was a school improvement adviser with Education Leeds and an education consultant. He has also previously held a headship position in Bradford, West Yorkshire and he began his teaching career in Cambridgeshire primary schools.

His school background means that Simon complements our existing team and brings a breadth of frontline experience to the permanent appointments division. He will be also be responsible for leading on Navigate’s school improvement work with local authorities, supporting them in meeting the needs of the Schools White Paper, as well as assisting associates placed as interim leaders in education and ensuring that quality of service is maintained.

Simon said: “Navigate works in partnership with clients in order to deliver practical solutions which make a real difference. It is this ‘working in partnership’ rather than simple delivery which attracted me to the company and although not working directly on the frontline, the role is about making a real difference to young people – this is central to all we do.

Essentially nothing’s changed since I started teaching. I believe that children and young people have the right to the best possible opportunities when they are at school. And wherever I work, that’s the bottom line.”

Peter Addison Child, Director, Navigate, said :"Simon is a valuable addition to our team. He will bring a fresh insight into all areas of our work and ensure we continue to provide the best possible advice and support to the education sector."