Specialist Leaders of Education (SLEs) The SLE Role

• Specialist leaders of education (SLEs) are outstanding middle and senior leaders who have the skills to support individuals or teams, in similar positions, in other schools. They understand what outstanding leadership practice in their area of expertise looks like and are skilled in helping other leaders to achieve it in their own context.

• The SLE role is designed to help raise standards and improve the quality of school leadership through school-to-school support and peer-to-peer learning. This new designation recognises the important role that senior and middle leaders play in improving schools and outcomes for children.

• As teaching schools across the county we each have a number of SLEs who work with us to support other schools. Their details and specialisms are listed in this booklet. SLE Vision

• To proactively seek opportunities to work alongside and empower leaders in other settings, using our expertise to identify ways to develop capacity and improve outcome for young people in a variety of contexts. Providing a fresh pair of eyes, we aim to use a combination of coaching, mentoring, modelling, training and facilitating, adapting our style and approach depending on the context.

• To evaluate the effectiveness of our support, sharing practice and experiences in order to develop our own expertise and promote excellence. Name of SLE : Tim Connole

Current Role : Deputy Headteacher – seconded full time to Association of Secondary Headteachers to lead on CPD and ITT for Gloucestershire secondary schools

Current School : Cirencester Deer Park

Key Stage / Age Range / Subject Specialism : 11 – 18; Leadership of CPD, NQT and ITT

Tim is currently seconded to act as Managing Director of Adfecto. Within this role Tim coordinates secondary professional development across Gloucestershire including the NQT programme for the county and programmes aimed at improving teaching and leadership. As Deputy Head at Cirencester Deer Park Tim led on all aspects of CPD. This included developing Master’s programmes with the University of Gloucestershire for NQTs and for educational leadership and working with a group of universities to develop the Master’s in Teaching and Learning.

Tim has worked with several schools in special measures to improve teaching and leadership, including working on action plans, participating in learning reviews and joint lesson observations. Currently training as an Ofsted inspector which is bringing a new dimension to potential support.

Tim also leads on initial teacher training with GITEP. This includes working with schools to develop the School Direct route into teaching. Tim was previously Internal Assessor for the University of Bath Geography PGCE programme and has worked with schools across the SW to develop their ITT provision.

Tim is also a chair of governors at a primary school and has run a number of training sessions for governors on performance management and governors’ role in school improvement.

Availability : Full time secondment means no timetable and potential flexibility on availability. Name of SLE : Sue Gifkins

Current Role : AHT and SENco

Current School : Rowanfield Junior, Springbank Primary and seconded to Rowanfield Infants 2014/15

Key Stage / Age Range / Subject Specialism : Primary/SEN (middle school trained)

Sue has many years’ experience as a SENco, holds a Masters in SEN and the National Accreditation for SENco. She has supported schools with a variety of SEN concerns over short and long term, including a year working in a primary School in Special Measures. Following a successful OFSTED, the school was graded good. Effective SEN provision and support staff management was a clear strength. Sue continues to support a number of schools, some of which are aiming to move from good to outstanding. With expertise in the New Code, she is currently working with an aspiring SENco, whilst providing a number of training events for schools. She manages and leads a large team of HLTAs and TAs, including developing a performance management handbook and systems linked to a cohesive CPD programme.

As well as providing training to outside agencies on relevant SEN issues and planning in-house training, Sue has facilitated training for staff by sourcing quality providers.

She is an associate member of the British Dyslexia Association and previously spent two-three years in Shire Hall as an SEN Casework Officer.

Availability : Details available on request Name of SLE : Liz Oakley

Current Role : Head of Year 3, Curriculum Team Lead, Teaching and Learning Coach Current School : Rowanfield Junior School

Key Stage / Age Range / Subject Specialism : KS2 7 -11 years old

Liz is the current Head of Year 3 at Rowanfield Junior School with a lead in planning, assessment and intervention across the year group. She is currently the curriculum team lead at the school and has supported other primary schools with the development of their curriculum, monitoring strategies and skills based teaching. In a previous position, Liz was Mathematics lead and developed the subject on a whole school level from EYFS to Year 6 as well as liaising with Year 7 colleagues on transition mathematics and closing the gap strategies. Liz has supported teachers in a range of settings with planning and teaching strategies used to target all children and to close the gap for slow/stuck learners. She has also delivered training in closing the gap for reading and writing. As part of the National College NPQML Liz has also undertaken action research into closing the gap for children and advised staff on practical resources and strategies. Liz has also joined the Gloucestershire Learning Alliance Teaching and Learning Team as a Teaching and Learning Coach. This role includes mentoring both individuals and groups in all areas of their development in order to strive for Outstanding teaching and learning.

Availability : Details available on request Name of SLE : Liam Hinkley

Current Role : Deputy Headteacher, Olevi Facilitator and Coach, School-to-School leadership support partner Current School : Rowanfield Junior School and Springbank Primary Academy

Key Stage / Age Range / Subject Specialism : EYFS, KS1, KS2 4 -11 years old

Liam has works across the Gloucestershire Learning Alliance, comprising of three large primary schools. Prior to this, he worked within the local authority to develop online learning in Gloucestershire, successfully developing and embedding this as a key tool for learning and home engagement in infant, junior and primary schools.

As the core of his work is a keen understanding of quality first teaching, frequently called upon for deployment on National Support School projects, including an acting headteacher position in a school in special measures. This school is now out of category and graded ‘good’ in the subsequent OFSTED. He continues to support a number of schools in the region, plans and delivers training and is a facilitator and coach.

Liam is passionate about how ICT and computing can prepare students to work safely, creatively and collaboratively in a rapidly changing world. As well as working with a number of schools through a local authority secondment, he has led workshops at regional conferences, including the SWgFL ICT conference. He has also developed blogging as a means to generate motivation and purposeful writing opportunities in schools.

Liam holds NPQH, is part of the senior leadership team of the Gloucestershire Learning Alliance and continues to work within the Odyssey Teaching School Alliance to lead the SLE programme.

Availability : Liam is available to discuss any development needs for the school, either to focus on SLE specialism – online learning – or to broker support on behalf of our highly skilled SLE team. He is also able to offer more information on the wider spectrum of school-to-school support and CPD available. Name of SLE : Katherine Fey Current Role : Head of Additional Studies, Co-ordinator of Teaching & Learning Current School : Pate’s Grammar School

Key Stage / Age Range / Subject Specialism : KS3-5 / Economics, Business

Katherine’s previous roles have been as a Head of Department in both school and Sixth Form College settings, a co-ordinator of Teaching and Learning and a member of the extended SLT at Pate’s Grammar School.

Katherine has an MSc in Educational leadership with a focus on leadership for innovation. Her work with Google in California enables her to bring experience of leadership in the best of industry together with over 20 years in education to inform her work.

She has recent experience in driving sustained improvements in Assessment for Learning techniques to raise pupil achievement, resilience and independence. In addition, she has had significant impact in working collaboratively to develop the Teaching and Learning strand of the School Development plan. Ensuring a strong vision of excellence and a range of practical strategies to support new and experienced colleagues to develop their own practice through training, advice and support.

She has been instrumental in leading improvements in differentiation amongst pupils in a high achieving Grammar School. Training designed and led in the last 2 years includes that on questioning, differentiation, creating the right classroom environment, metacognition, formative assessment, and enhancing skills for learning. Katherine also organises regular TeachMeets locally.

As an SLE she specialises in improving Teaching and Learning. More specifically: Assessment, Provision for the Gifted and Talented and Post-16 Education. Name of SLE : Martin Doidge

Current Role : Director of Finance & Administration

Current School : Cirencester Deer Park School

Key Stage / Age Range / Subject Specialism : School Business Management, Academy Conversion, Assessment Data

Martin is a qualified accountant with 12 years experience working in secondary education after a previous career working at senior level in business and is currently Chair of the Gloucester Association of School Business Managers. As well as being a very experienced school business manager Martin is also the lead timetabler and assessment data analyst for his school. Martin has experience of working with Governors, senior leadership teams and middle managers to improve financial control and performance, improve understanding and analysis of assessment data, provide innovative ways of presenting information, and converting to academy status. For the last three years Martin has also been a trainer for Adfecto (the training and development arm of Gloucestershire Association of Secondary Heads) providing training for Governors and senior leaders on academy conversion, assessment data, performance related pay and financial efficiencies.

Availability : Details available on request Name of SLE : Alison Walker

Current Role : Director of Assessment and Intervention

Current School : Rowanfield Junior School

Alison has been teaching for 22 years, which has included 3 years teaching in both Africa and Australia and across all years from Reception to Year 6.

She is currently the director of Assessment and intervention and a Pupil Premium teacher. Until last year Alison was the NQT induction manager for both Rowanfield Junior School and our Partner school, Springbank Primary Academy. Alison was also deployed to support NQT’s in , Gloucester and Bishops Cleeve.

Over the last 5 years she has supported 16 different NQT’s in a wide range of settings.

Alison has developed a set of personal skills which allows her to develop each NQT to their full potential whilst pursuing a rigorous tracking of their standards. Her motivation has always been about developing people – staff and students - to be the best they can be.

Whilst at RJS Alison has supported schools to enhance their teaching and learning to raise their attainment levels.

Her current role as the director of Assessment and intervention involves tracking and monitoring interventions for each cohort, target setting and Pupil Premium precision teaching. She has designed and implemented a new system this year to support class teachers with children formally school action or school action plus. This has been very successful and is driving whole school monitoring of all vulnerable groups.

Availability : Daytime; Monday – Friday. After school; Tuesday only. Name of SLE : Cariad Lewis Current Role : Deputy Headteacher Current School : Bishops Cleeve Primary Academy Key Stage / Age Range / Subject Specialism : Non-Teaching Specialism – Performance Management, ITT, Teaching & Learning, EYFS, KS1 & 2

Cariad is currently the Deputy Headteacher at Bishops Cleeve Primary Academy. She has a responsibility for assessment and data as well as performance management and ITT. She has taught in both KS1 and KS2 and has a passion for creativity in teaching & learning.

Cariad is a Gloucestershire Local Authority Moderator for KS1 assessment and used to run CPD sessions for staff in schools at their request as a GlosEd Leader. She has facilitated and delivered training for all staff at all levels in many areas such as phonics, AfL, using Talk for Writing and assessment led teaching. She continues to support the planning and delivery of the Gloucestershire NQT training program.

Cariad is a qualified coach and facilitates the OLEVI OTP and ITP programmes. Her passion for Initial Teacher Training and quality cpd for all allows her to manage effective induction programmes for training teachers, students and NQTs in her setting and others. As part of this she is an active coach and mentor to both individuals and groups in all areas of their development in order to strive for Outstanding teaching and learning.

Availability : Cariad is available to discuss any areas and support needed as detailed above upon request. Name of SLE : Elaine Turner

Current Role : Specialist Leader of Education for Mathematics

Current School :

Elaine has been teaching Mathematics for 14 years and was appointed Head of Faculty for Mathematics in 2006.

She has taught in a selection of Gloucestershire and schools, most recently & Sixth Form Centre in Chepstow and The Castle School in Thornbury. Both schools are large comprehensives with successful sixth forms. She has taught KS3, GCSE, Additional Maths, A level Maths and Further Maths, so has extensive subject knowledge for all stages.

During this time, she developed the quality of written feedback provided by her team and particularly focused on “knowing the student” in terms of data. Electronic seating plans driven by SIMS data have proved very successful. As leader of a large faculty of 17 staff, Elaine has extensive experience of lesson observation criteria and is able to provide constructive, developmental feedback for Mathematics lessons. Support for newly appointed subject leaders is a particular strength.

Elaine joined Dene Magna in 2013 and was appointed as a Specialist Leader of Education for Mathematics earlier this year. The recent changes to the primary curriculum and teaching to level 6 at KS2 is an area in which Elaine can give detailed support for teaching & learning initiatives, assessment for learning and subject knowledge development.

If you would like to attend a network meeting hosted by Elaine at Dene Magna School or would like to use any of the services Elaine can provide, she can be contacted by email at [email protected] Name of SLE : Janet Ray

Current Role : Business Management

Current School : Dene Magna School

Janet has worked within secondary schools as a Business Manager for the past 6 years. The role is very diverse and offers lots of opportunity to explore different approaches to the non- educational services and provisions that are bought into schools.

Sometimes time doesn’t permit you to become an expert in all fields, therefore, creating working groups or mentors for specific projects can help:

- Academy Conversion - Project Management - Financial Procedures - Premises Management - Premises Cleaning - School Catering - Health and Safety in school

If Ijanet can be of any assistance either directly to specific schools, or as part of a bigger project remit, please contact her on 01594 545312 or mail on [email protected] Name of SLE : Paula Le Maréchal

Current Role : Head of Modern Foreign Languages and International Co-ordinator

Current School : Dene Magna School

Areas of Expertise - Raising achievement in Modern Foreign Languages – in the classroom and at leadership level - Modelling outstanding MFL teaching, engaging and motivating learners to progress - Promoting a coherent approach to wider learning skills (literacy, numeracy, analysis and memorising) - Target language use within the MFL classroom - Developing and encouraging positive attitudes towards foreign language learning and speakers of foreign languages - Supporting ITT students within MFL - Creating and developing a whole school approach to the International Dimension - Creating and developing International and Primary Student Ambassadors - Supporting newly appointed or aspiring middle leaders - Extensive experience of OFSTED lesson observation criteria Currently Working with schools within the University of Gloucestershire’s ‘Stepping Up’ Programme. Working on a whole school approach to Pupil Premium spending focussing on KS4 students, analysing data to ensure needs are met and progress is in line with their peers. If you would like to attend a network meeting hosted by Paula at Dene Magna School or would like to use any of the services Paula can provide, she can be contacted by email at [email protected] Name of SLE : Darin Williams Current Role : Director of Communications Faculty at Newent School Current School : Newent School Darin Williams is the Director of Communications Faculty at Newent School. Until recently, he was Head of English at Dene Magna School for seven years. In that time he developed the department's approaches to Formative Assessment, particularly in the areas of checking, understanding and responding to written work. He has also pioneered approaches to "Flipped Learning", homework and accelerated learning. He has been a Lead Teacher for AFL, as well as presenting courses for the GITEP scheme, ADFECTO and the SSAT.

In addition to this, he has delivered training on student engagement, ICT, tracking progress, leadership strategies and behaviour management. He has also mentored new Heads of Department in other schools. Darin is currently working on systems to replace the recording of Levels at KS3 and building "Flipped Learning Networks" across the County. He is also continuing my research into the effectiveness of different types of homework, as well as building a coaching environment in his new school.

If you would like to attend a network meeting hosted by Darin at Dene Magna School or would like to use any of the services Darin can provide, he can be contacted by email at [email protected] Name of SLE: Jamie Watts Current Role: Head of Year, 6th Form / Head of Psychology

Current school: Key Stage / Age Range/ Subject Specialisms: Post-16 Education, Leadership of Curriculum, Behaviour and Discipline, Psychology Jamie has been a Head of Department for 10 years, leading a team of teachers who have consistently sustained positive added value and outstanding results.

As part of the sixth-form team she works with students, staff and parents to create a positive learning environment where individual learning plans and high expectations of both behaviour and academic achievement contribute to student success.

Her previous career has included teaching Mathematics at KS3 and 4, as well as lecturing in Management at the University of Stirling (at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, including contributing to the MBA) and in Management at the London College of Printing (at both HND and degree level). These experiences have provided Jamie with an insight into the specific needs of students in sixth form as they seek to bridge the gap between GCSE and further study or employment.

She has led initiatives into driving improvement through the use of AfL, managing transitions, as well as developing and sharing new mechanisms for student voice. She is particularly interested in how good curriculum design, coupled with consistent behaviour strategies, can raise student engagement and attainment.

As an SLE she specialises in improving Post-16 Teaching and Learning, specifically through managing transitions, curriculum design, positive behaviour management and learning partnerships. Name of SLE: Christopher Reynolds Current Role: Deputy Head Academic

Current School: St Edward’s School Key Stage/Age Range/Subject Specialism: KS3-5/Geography

Chris’s previous roles have been as Head of Department at two previous schools. Before taking up his current role as Deputy Head Academic, Chris was a member of the extended SLT, a coach of teaching staff and a lead member to a very active Teaching and Learning committee.

Chris has recent experience in leading an Outstanding department and has worked closely with Heads of Department sharing best practice. Chris has lead on numerous whole school initiatives to raise achievement. Strategies have included; assessment for learning focused on developing skills at KS3 for GCSE; teaching and learning strategies for KS5; developing engaging starters and plenaries.

Chris is a skilled coach and is experienced observing and working with teaching staff to develop classroom practice. He has presented at Teach Meet events and county Geography network meetings on various aspects of Teaching and Learning. Through his role as SLE, Chris has worked extensively with another humanities department reviewing classroom practice and the strategic development of the faculty. He has also worked with schools helping to prepare for provision of KS5 Geography and quality assure Controlled Assessment. Currently Chris is redesigning the curriculum at KS3 & 4 in light of governmental reform and working with Heads of Department to share best practice for support strategies across the curriculum.

As an SLE, Chris specialises in Leading an Outstanding Department, Teaching & Learning, Assessment, Transition from Middle to Senior Leadership. Name of SLE: Charlotte Sturge During Charlotte’s time at the Crypt she has been a key Stage 3 Science Co-ordinator, Head of Biology, Head of Science and is now an Assistant Head.

She has used tracking systems in all these areas to enhance pupil performance, and through this she has seen an increase in exam results. She has led whole school inset in this area.

She has also worked closely with the Prince’s trust, developing a bridging the gap project and for the last two years Charlotte has organised a Summer School at Crypt which has proved to be very popular. This has been developed to help pupils make the transition between GCSE and A-Level.

Charlotte is now developing a new assessment system throughout the school focusing on how the use of assessment enhances teaching and learning. As a member of the teaching and learning group for many years, she is constantly reviewing her practice.

Charlotte has been both a coach and mentor to other colleagues within the school for many years. Name of SLE: Phil Stanlake Phil is a very experienced teacher who has carried out a variety of roles throughout his career. He started as a PE teacher, then become Head of PE before moving onto becoming an AST. This allowed Phil to work in several schools with the remit of teacher and department improvement. He then moved on to become a member of SLT with the main responsibility for the schools science and MFL specialisms.

As his role grew over the last seven years Phil’s main responsibilities have been teaching and learning, performance management, teaching standards, closing the gap, GCSEs and line managing ITT, History, MFL, Music and Science. Phil’s experience in these areas has helped drive forward standards in the classroom and ultimately improve results.

For the last two years Phil has taken the primary role in leading the Crypt Teaching School Alliance. This has afforded him to work with other secondary schools as well as developing opportunities for cross phase work. Name of SLE: Andrew Sargent Current Role: Head of English Current School: Ribston Hall High School Key Stage / Age Range / Subject Specialism: KS3 – 5 / English

Having been a successful middle leader in different schools, Andrew has an enormous amount of relevant experience in collaboration and developing common solutions within a school environment.

Having experience as a middle leader in a school placed in Special Measures, the time of intense scrutiny and urgent refocus of leadership has given him an invaluable insight into effective leadership strategies. Working with SLT on a number of effective collaborations brought the school out of Special Measures within a year.

Completing the Middle Leadership Development Programme at his current Grammar School has developed his skills and abilities in leadership. He is aware of what constitutes outstanding practice and is able to inspire others to be outstanding. Regularly delivering effective teaching and learning INSET sessions, Andrew is committed to developing staff in order to raise attainment.

His extensive experience of coaching staff in a range of school environments has been effective in engaging and motivating staff to reflect on and make positive changes to their practice.

As a SLE he specialises in improving Teaching and Learning within English Departments. Name of SLE: Rachel Bolton Current Role: Training Manager and Induction tutor Current School:

Rachel has formerly been a Head of MFL for over twenty years in two comprehensives and one grammar school in Gloucestershire.

She is currently Training Manager and Induction tutor at Crypt, a role she has developed over the past five years whilst still teaching French at all three key stages. She has had significant impact in preparing new staff for the challenges they face when starting their teaching career.

Formerly Rachel has been involved with county training for primary MFL as well as teaching it herself in four schools in the Stroud area.

Currently Rachel co-ordinates some joint training sessions for the Gloucester city schools’ trainees who are working with GITEP and the University of Gloucestershire. New Training Manager and mentor support is also offered. Name of SLE: Clare Medcroft Current School: The Crypt School Clare joined The Crypt School after teaching in a mixed comprehensive school environment for 5 years and has been in post 12 years.

Keen to implement further progress to her department Clare observed, worked with and learnt from other heads of leading departments within her own school and made trips out to other schools. This gave Clare invaluable insight into effective leadership strategies.

Clare now offers support to other Heads of Departments and has worked with many other schools. Her department is a leading department within her school at GCSE, AS and A level. Clare is constantly monitoring her own practise and that of her students (ensuring teaching and learning strategies are at the forefront of minds) so the success of students remains reliable.

Clare has experience in effective ways to improve student tracking, monitoring and progress at both Key stage 4 and 5 in Art Education. Name of SLE: Paul Beech Current Role: Mathematics Subject Leader, Grange Primary School; GLOSEd leader for Maths. Current School: Grange Primary Key Stage / Age Range / Specialism: KS2 / Mathematics

Paul is an experienced key stage 2 practitioner, with specific emphasis on the higher end of the primary age range. He is a member of the Senior Leadership Team at Grange Primary School, leads mathematics across the whole school, and currently teaches a year 6 class. He has over 15 years experience as a class teacher.

Paul is a GLOSEd leader, and has carried out work for the Local Authority in running courses, developing the skills of class teachers and supporting subject leaders. He has led a number of staff meetings and CPD sessions across the county to develop staff knowledge and pedagogy.

In recent years, he has worked extensively within his own school and others in the county to develop rapid recall and mental calculation skills and the approaches to using and applying and problem solving. In doing this, he has hosted a number of model and discussion lessons, and has worked with staff and pupils to develop strategies and approaches in this area. He is currently supporting the introduction and development of collaborative and co- operative problem solving in a number of settings.

As a Mathematics Specialist Teacher, Paul is particularly interested in addressing children's misconceptions in the perceived ‘tricky’ areas of maths, as well as aiming to improve the mind-set of pupils. Paul’s specialisms for his SLE role are improving Teaching and Learning and developing effective subject leadership in Mathematics. Please do contact us if you would be interested to know more about how one of our SLEs could support your school.