Dear Watford St John’s Church of England Primary School Community,

It is a privilege to serve as the CEO of the Poppy Academy Trust, a family of three schools including Watford St John’s, working closely together to provide the very best education and care for every child. Our other two schools are based just a short distance away in Radlett, and together we share a commitment to excellence, inclusion and community.

I have been part of the Trust since 2014, first as Headteacher, then Executive Headteacher, and since 2020 as CEO. I began working with Miss Pyatt, the Governors and the leadership team at Watford St John’s in 2022, during a time of significant change for the school. In 2024 we were delighted to welcome Watford St John’s formally into the Poppy Academy Trust. While our most recent Ofsted inspection identified some areas for improvement, these were already key priorities within our development plan, and I am so proud of the progress the school has made since joining the Trust.

Our vision is clear: we want Watford St John’s to be the first choice school in Watford, a place where every child is known, valued and inspired to flourish. Our staff have the highest aspirations for the young people in their care. They are deeply nurturing and compassionate, and they approach everything they do with love and respect, which lie at the heart of our school’s ethos.

I am typically at Watford St John’s on Tuesdays, although you will often see me here on other days too. My time is shared equally across our three schools, and I also run leadership development programmes across Hertfordshire and London for aspiring headteachers and senior leaders. As a qualified executive coach, I work with school leaders outside our Trust to support their professional growth.

Before leading the Poppy Academy Trust, I spent ten years teaching and leading in Camden. Outside of work, I am a wife and mother to two secondary-aged daughters, and I love spending weekends walking in the fields and woods of Hertfordshire.

If you are considering Watford St John’s for your child, I warmly encourage you to book a parent tour. Come and experience our wonderful school community for yourself; I am sure you will see why we are so proud of it.

Best wishes,
Alice Aharon
CEO, The Poppy Academy Trust

Message from the CEO