She co-ordinates the HA2cando group of schools in the London borough. The cluster has 12 schools including Rooks Heath High School, where Coates is based, a special school and 10 first and middle schools.
Last year, eight schools took part in the colourful carnival event, which is the centrepiece of a local show run by a community organisation and features dance displays and dramatic costumes.
But the aim is to get the whole cluster involved and open it up to more community groups working with children and young people including supplementary schools, Cubs and Brownies.
Each school has a carnival co-ordinator who could be a teacher or member of support staff. They attend regular meetings to plan the event and pick the all-important theme. The theme last year was Trade Winds, which tied in with the anniversary of the abolition of slavery, explains Coates.
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