Professional Networks
Improving educational outcomes is vital for us all. The only ways we can achieve this is by increasing the quality of our teaching workforce. We invest heavily in supporting and developing all of our teachers. We do this through a range of ways, including regular collaboration between teachers from across our schools.
These networks are led by either our own teachers, or other nationally or internationally know leading figures in their subjects. This means that our leaders and teachers are receiving the highest quality of training and support. This in turn is helping improve not only our teachers, but the outcomes our pupils achieve.
Our leading experts include:
John Sibbald
Computer Science
John has nearly thirty years of experience teaching and leading in North Manchester secondary schools. He spent 10 years working at the North West Manchester City Learning Centre researching the effective use of new and emerging digital technologies and how these impact on teaching and learning.
He joined the team at Manchester Communication Academy in Harpurhey to lead on the development of a new Computing Curriculum and digital strategy before taking up roles with the Tute Education Ltd, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Manchester City Council and The University of Salford to develop digital strategies, quality remote learning and digital skills.
William Evans
Music
William is a senior lecturer in Music Education at Manchester Metropolitan University and the Royal Northern College of Music as lead in PGCE Music Education. He has a special interest in ICT in Music Education and has delivered many sessions for the Royal College, Open University and Music teachers nationwide.
William entered into the HE sector after spending time in the secondary classroom developing the first specialist arts college in the northwest. He has an interest in learning outside of the classroom and research interests in whether the the idea of being ‘gifted’ in anything exits.
Mark Enser
Geography
Mark has been teaching geography for 19 years in a range of schools and he is currently Head of Geography and Research Lead at Heathfield Community College in East Sussex. He is also a TES columnist and author of several books including Powerful Geography and The CPD Curriculum.
Mark has worked with several national organisations, including: University College London on the new National Professional Qualifications Teach First on the National Tutoring Programme, Oak National Academy on the remote geography curriculum, and Ofsted as part of the geography working group.
Paul and Julie Boyd
Design and Technology
With over 20 years in experience in education, both in schools (including senior leadership roles) and as a senior lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, one of Paul’s passions is STEM and new and emerging technologies.
Julie is an award-winning teacher with extensive experience teaching D&T, as well as working in senior leadership roles leading teaching & learning. With 30 years in education Julie is known for her work raising the achievement of boys, her innovative teaching methods, and her work as an author of KS3 and GCSE textbooks.
Janet Palmer
PSHE
Janet was an HMI for eleven years and the National Lead for PSHE. Prior to joining Ofsted, she was a secondary school teacher, a PSHE local authority adviser, and worked for seventeen years in higher education responsible for teacher training in the social sciences, PSHE and citizenship. She also led on a Diploma in Pastoral Education, a Post Graduate Certificate in PSHE and citizenship, provided bespoke PSHE training for the police and school nurses and organised regional and national PSHE conferences.
Carol Murray
Computer Science
Carol Murray has over 20 years of experience in numerous educational establishments as a teacher, Advanced Skills Teacher, Assistant Principal, and the Director of a Training School. She is currently a consultant involved with many educational institutions, including a Subject Matter Expert for the Greater Manchester Computing hub, Lead Facilitator and content creator for the National Centre of Computing (NCCE), Coach Champion, Mentor, Lecturer in Secondary and Further Education (Computing), STEM Ambassador and a Barefoot Computing Ambassador.
Victoria Rigby
STEM Education
Victoria is an enthusiastic STEM Education consultant working from early years to ‘A’level in a variety of settings, engaging pupils, teachers and industrial/business partners in professional learning. Throughout her career she has held many roles from an advanced skills teacher, senior leader in schools, local authority adviser and part of a national school improvement team with national strategies.
Her work takes her across the UK supporting leaders and teams to develop outstanding STEM education as well as writing and delivering ongoing professional development materials for national organisations.
Amjad Ali
SENDCO
Amjad Ali is a teacher, trainer, TEDx speaker and Senior Leader. He has spent his teaching career working in challenging and diverse schools. He is trained as an Advanced Skills Teacher in Teaching and Learning. Amjad has delivered CPD to all sectors in education from Early Careers teachers to Executive/Head Teachers and CEOs.
Jamie Edmondson
Computer Science
Jamie has 20 years primary and secondary teaching experience. Through his consultancy business ‘JEcomputing’, he shares his wealth of knowledge and experience to help others with successfully improving their computing provision and use of education technology across the curriculum. As part of the DfE funded National Centre for Computing Education programme’s, Jamie supports SLT, subject leaders and teachers with realising their whole school vision for computing. .
Kate Campbell-Green
Music
Kate studied at the University of Glasgow and Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama before taking on roles for BBC Scotland and the Scottish Opera before returning to Manchester to undertake her PGCE with Specialist Instrumental Teaching at Manchester Metropolitan University and the Royal Northern College of Music.
Her teaching experience includes various music services as well as mainstream secondary and primary schools in the North West. She has been an examiner for A Level Composition with the AQA and a Professional Mentor for the PGCE in Secondary Music with SIT for 7 years.