Mr W Smith

Mr W Smith is the Executive Headteacher of The Charles Dickens School and Sandwich Technology School.

Immediately prior to joining CDS in June 2019, Mr Smith was KCC’s Principal School Improvement Advisor and had been Principal of The Folkestone Academy, the largest school in Kent, leading that school to an Ofsted ‘good’ grade for the first time in October 2015. Taking over CDS with the school still in Special Measures, Mr Smith has led the school to a very secure ‘good’ grade in March 2023, and the school’s best ever results in 2022, 2023 and 2024. The school was identified by Schools Week as the 8^th most improved school in the country with above average rates of Pupil Premium in 2023. CDS has been the highest performing school in East Kent by progress in 2023 and 2024, and by attainment in 2024 and 2025. Mr Smith was invited to join the DFE’s Headteacher Round Table focusing on the performance of disadvantaged pupils. 

Our mission, “Expect, Believe, Achieve”, is focused on social mobility; securing excellent outcomes which increase opportunities and improve pupils’ life chances.