Ian Waller speaks to Emma Cooper, the new headteacher at Roundhill Primary School
At Roundhill Primary School, new headteacher Emma Cooper wants every child to see the world as their classroom. Whether it’s catching a public bus into Bath to learn how timetables work, reading with the school’s friendly cockapoo Heidi, or inviting parents to join real lessons to see learning in action, Emma is determined to make education hands-on, inclusive and full of real-life experiences.
“I want our children to leave Roundhill as confident, curious individuals who believe they can make a difference,” she said. “That means giving them a strong academic foundation but also the independence, resilience and community spirit that come from learning beyond the classroom.”
Emma brings two decades of experience across mainstream and specialist settings, shaped by a belief in what she calls a ‘relational approach’ — putting relationships and wellbeing at the heart of learning. After training at Bath Spa University, she began her career at Oldfield Park Infants before being seconded by the local authority to help establish what became the area’s autism support service. In that role she supported families, nurseries and primary schools, delivered staff training across the South West through the Autism Education Trust, and worked closely with Fosseway School to improve inclusion in mainstream classrooms.
She later helped open The Mendip School from the ground up, moving through senior teacher, assistant head and deputy head while the school grew from 18 pupils to more than 150. “I’ve always believed that when children feel safe, known and valued, self-regulation and self-esteem grow — and academic outcomes follow,” said Emma.
At Roundhill, she has formed a new senior team with deputy head Richard Welsh and special educational needs coordinator Vicky Heslop. The trio has prioritised visibility and connection, greeting families on the playground every morning and afternoon to build relationships from day one.
Early priorities are set out in a clear school improvement plan. “We’re focused on a high quality, ambitious curriculum taught through strong classroom practice and on making sure every child’s needs are met so they move confidently to their next stage,” said Emma. “We want to nurture aspirations from the moment children join us. Whether a four-year-old dreams of being an astronaut or an 11-year-old wants to be a vet, our job is to help them see that future and take steps toward it.”
Community links are central to her plans. The school is developing partnerships with local organisations and services and encouraging curriculum-rich trips that make the most of Bath’s on-the-doorstep opportunities. Where possible, the team is using public transport and community transport schemes to keep costs manageable so more children can learn beyond the classroom.
“A recent city visit saw Year 4 travel on the public bus,” said Emma. “The £2 fare instead of a £12 coach seat meant we could focus on learning rather than logistics. Children bought their own tickets, checked timetables, spoke to the driver, found their seats and behaved considerately in a busy public space. Those are real-world skills — independence, confidence, oracy — that support classroom learning and open up more affordable trips across the year.”
Roundhill will also introduce termly parental engagement sessions where families are invited into real lessons to see teaching and learning in action. “Parents often get presentations,” said Emma, “but we want them to experience what phonics or maths actually looks like here and to feel fully involved in their child’s learning.”
The school’s much-loved therapy dog, Heidi, has joined the team too, supporting calm starts to the day, providing regulation breaks and, at times, a quiet listener for pupils building confidence. Staff say she helps create the warm family atmosphere Emma wants the school to embody.
Emma measures success in human terms as well as academic ones. “Happy, confident, independent children with high self-esteem and real ambition for life after primary school — that’s what we’re working for,” she said. “Alongside that, a happy, confident staff with a strong curriculum and high expectations and parents who feel informed and genuinely part of the Roundhill community.”
“Roundhill sits in a wonderfully diverse part of Bath,” she added. “We want to be right at the heart of that community — a place where every child belongs, thrives and looks to the future with pride.”
