Francis Bray

Francis is the Headteacher at Waterside Academy and formerly the Deputy Headteacher of Forest Gate Community School from 2019 to 2022, which was judged to be Outstanding under the latest EIF framework in 2020. He also worked at Cumberland Community School for 7 years, between 2012 and 2019. Francis is an experienced leader having worked in Croydon, Tower Hamlets, Islington, Newham and now Hackney. 

Under Francis' leadership, the progress results of Waterside Academy have significantly transformed in a short period from -0.20 in 2022 to 0.77 in 2023. As a result, Waterside Academy is the 47th most improved school in the country for progress and the most improved school in Hackney. Francis has pledged to transform Waterside Academy into the highest-performing secondary schools in Hackney.