Meet John, our brilliant Alps Educational Consultant

Introducing our brilliant Educational Consultant, Dr. John Roe. Prior to joining Alps, John has worked in education for 22 years as a science teacher, head of department/faculty and pastoral lead and was Director of Radyr Sixth Form in Cardiff where he gained extensive experience of using Alps to raise student achievement. 

You may have met John at Conferences, listened to his webinars or read his insightful blogs and guides. Earlier this month we sat down with John to find out more about his fascinating career background, how Alps supported John during his roles within schools and what advice he would give aspiring Educators.  

Hello John, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your career background?  

After studying chemistry at university, I embarked on a career in teaching. During my teaching career, I worked as a head of department, head of faculty and for ten years as the Director of Radyr Sixth Form in Cardiff.  I have also worked as a Post-16 Development Officer, supporting schools to raise standards across five local authorities in South Wales.  

So far, what have been your biggest achievements at Alps?   

Over the last year, I have been involved in delivering Champions webinars, group feedback meetings and training sessions and am very proud of the feedback I have received. In April, I created the Alps Explorer programme which is a series of online tutorials covering all aspects of using Alps and Alps Connect. I am thrilled that this has proved popular with our schools and colleges and that it has become an integral part of the support we provide through our Alps Champions resources. 

What have you learned, or how have you grown in your role since working for Alps?   

Having worked in the Welsh Education sector previously, I have really enjoyed developing my knowledge and experience of other sectors. I joined Alps at an incredibly exciting time for the company with major updates taking place to our platforms such as the introduction of KS4 and KS5 performance measures areas, the new Strategic Analysis section and our client benchmarks. Having been a customer of Alps for over 10 years and knowing the impact Alps can have as an improvement tool, it has been such a privilege to work closely with our product development and engineering teams. I have loved being part of the design and creative processes that are key to developing products that supports teachers and leaders across the sector. 

What is your favourite thing about working at Alps?     

Alps is an incredibly supportive and team-focussed environment. I love my current role as it is so varied and rewarding. I get the opportunity to support schools, colleges, local authorities, MATs and other groups both in the UK and internationally to raise standards and to help students reach their full potential. 

What advice would you give aspiring Educators?    

Working in education can be extremely rewarding and demanding. To support students’ effectively, it is vital teachers look after their wellbeing and take time to rest and recharge. For me, spending quality time with my family and friends and taking my lovely dogs for walks is crucial to my health and wellbeing during busy periods. 

Can you tell us a fun fact about yourself?   

When I was 6 years old, I made headlines and appeared on national news programmes when a lorry crashed into my house in the early hours of the morning. What made it more embarrassing is that I slept through the entire ordeal! 

Interested in joining the ever-growing Alps team? Click here to view our latest career opportunities.