Over the last 20 years, Justin Gray has been a Headteacher in three primary schools and a University postgraduate programme leader. Most of his professional life has been spent working in the Ladywood area of Birmingham, however his last headship was in Dudley, working in a drb Ignite Trust school. Knowing the commitment of drb Ignite to children’s attainment and aspiration, regardless of background, Justin had looked for a vacancy with the Trust and was delighted to be appointed to The Bromley Pensnett Primary School in 2021. Since retiring, in 2024, he has delivered the NPQH while also volunteering in a Special Needs Resource Base, attached to a drb Ignite Trust primary school, where he has continued to learn and develop professionally.
Justin is a Member of the Create Partnership Trust, Chair of the Greet Primary School Local Advisory Board; Chair of the Bishop Challoner College Designations Committee; a member of the Bishop Challoner SCITT Strategic Board; External Examiner at Wolverhampton University primary ITT courses; an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Authority and a member of the Chartered College of Teaching. He has delivered research papers at national and international conferences on a diverse range of topics including trainee teachers’ perceptions of race, managing change and developing a large-scale primary school garden without spending any money.
Outside of education, he has three adult children, plays cricket for Belbroughton CC in the Worcestershire League and is a season ticket holder at Birmingham City FC.