Joy Ballard

{{short description|British head teacher|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}

{{Infobox person

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1966}}

| nationality = British

| alma_mater =

| occupation = Head teacher

| employer = {{ubl|Willows High School|Ryde Academy}}

| known_for = Educating Cardiff

}}

Joy Ballard (born 1966) is a retired British head teacher. She has been prominently featured in the media discussing the potential for improvement in schools and issues with the British education system.

Ballard grew up in Southampton on a council estate, and became notable as the former head teacher of Willows High School in Cardiff.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/joy-ballard-head-of-willows-high-school-in-cardiff-and-star-of-new-channel-4-educating-series-on-her-10449171.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220617/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/joy-ballard-head-of-willows-high-school-in-cardiff-and-star-of-new-channel-4-educating-series-on-her-10449171.html |archive-date=17 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Joy Ballard: Head of Willows High School in Cardiff and star of new Channel 4 Educating series on her never-say-die attitude|work=The Independent|last=Garner|first=Richard|date=10 August 2015|access-date=29 October 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-34137570|title=Educating Cardiff head Joy Ballard takes over at Ryde Academy|publisher=BBC News|date=23 September 2015|access-date=29 October 2017}} She starred in the television documentary series Educating Cardiff for her role in making Willows High School one of the most improved schools in Wales during her three-year term as head teacher.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/30396764/educating-series-on-channel-4-heads-to-wales-for-first-time|title=Educating... series on Channel 4 heads to Wales for first time|work=BBC Newsbeat|last=Kelsey|first=Rick|date=9 December 2014|access-date=29 October 2017}} In August 2015, she became the head teacher of Ryde Academy on the Isle of Wight. The Hampshire County Council had been overseeing education on the Isle since 2013 because of concerns over the school's former sponsor, Academies Enterprise Trust (AET), and their lack of regard for the "welfare or education of students or staff."{{cite web|url=http://www.islandecho.co.uk/ryde-academy-governors-resign-aets-actions/|title=RYDE ACADEMY GOVERNORS RESIGN OVER AET'S ACTIONS|publisher=Island Echo|date=September 7, 2017|access-date=29 October 2017}} Ballard improved the exam results of the school in twelve months as head teacher.{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-08-25/how-educating-cardiffs-joy-ballard-went-from-cleaner-to-high-flying-head-teacher|title=How Educating Cardiff's Joy Ballard went from cleaner to high-flying head teacher|work=Radio Times|publisher=Immediate Media Company|date=25 August 2015|access-date=29 October 2017}} In addition to her role on Educating Cardiff, she has been featured on This Morning{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/thismorning/hot-topics/education-cardiff-joy-ballard-paul-hennessey|title=The Educating team turn their sights on Cardiff|publisher=ITV|work=This Morning|access-date=29 October 2017}} with Eamonn Holmes, and was interviewed on Capital FM radio.

After her stint at Ryde Academy, Ballard retired in September 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-10 |title=Renowned head 'retires' as school launches search for new leader |url=https://www.countypress.co.uk/news/24574264.isle-wight-school-ryde-academy-joy-ballard-retires/ |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=Isle of Wight County Press |language=en}}