SKAPE TEAM

I am an experienced Secondary School teacher who has taught Technology from ages 11-18, from 2010- 2023. I have worked in a management position as Head of Food and Textiles, working closely with a team of people developing ideas, delegating work  and creating Programmes of Study. As part of this management role, I have been responsible for writing  schemes of work, evaluating data and implementing improvement strategies, training newly qualified teachers, supporting staff, completing neurodevelopmental referral forms for SEN children, compiling risk assessments and reporting  any safeguarding concerns. Although Food Preparation and Nutrition (Food Technology) and Textiles is my specialism, I have also taught Graphics, Resistant Materials, Product Design and Electronics. This includes both GCSE and A Level. 

As part of my pastoral work with students, I have delivered the PSHE curriculum to Year 7 students through to Year 11. From 2013-2015, I taught Science and English within a withdrawal group for students who struggled to access mainstream education due to poor  behaviour choices. This was alongside my main Technology role. In this role I gained much experience in supporting and nurturing disaffected students, helping to improve both their engagement and their mental wellbeing, and  thus improving learning outcomes. Although not my official role within my previous employment, I have often worked with children with extremely challenging behaviour which has led to me  continuously evaluating and improving my behaviour management practice.

I have extensive experience in planning and running school trips, including completing all the necessary admin, working closely with colleagues, and facilitating the events.  I have also been an examiner for AQA from 2015-2023, something which has  afforded me much experience of exam preparation and mark schemes. I have run a number of competitions for young people such as  Futurechef, Robotics and Bake Off. I have worked as part of a focus group to investigate how to increase engagement of boys in KS3 and 4.  I have run CPD sessions for Technology teachers, focussing on the  use of smart materials in lessons and I have developed a wide network of links to other professionals and colleagues such as those who work in STEM (e.g. robotics), art,  literature, sports and a variety of outdoor activities. 

In 2019, I opened Little Aprons Cookery Club, which teaches children practical cooking skills and the theory knowledge that underpins it. As part of the business, I work closely with local charities, running sessions for children from disadvantaged backgrounds to improve their independent  cooking skills and their knowledge of healthy eating. 

I am an experienced Primary School teacher who has taught full time in schools from 1992 to 2019. Over those years, I have implemented and created many new initiatives and developments, from teaching and supporting student teachers, to leading the school in a number of areas, and winning national awards (both as a school and on a personal level). I have taught from Foundation Stage to Year 6, with much experience in upper KS2 and the SATs, but also throughout KS2. I have worked as a Deputy Headteacher, working closely with a large school community. I have taught for many years in a Primary School that has a large intake of pupils with SEND and so have much experience in how to support, nurture and integrate children with varied and complex needs. I am used to working as part of a multi-disciplinary team of professionals, including non-teaching professionals, such as physiotherapists, speech therapists, social workers, occupational therapists and medical experts. 

I have completed a huge variety of training, such as Safeguarding procedures, Team Teach, behaviour management, managing pupils with a variety of Special Needs including complex medical conditions, teaching Growth Mindset, and much more on all curriculum areas. I have become known for creative, innovative and challenging teaching. I have won Science Teacher of the Year Award, a national award sponsored by the AstraZeneca Science Teaching Trust and the Association for Science Education and I am also a Fellow of the Primary Science Teaching Trust, a body that supports and embeds excellence in science education. I have worked as the Science Leader for many years and have worked across the authority (Stockton-on-Tees) to support and develop other teachers. I have also been the Mathematics Leader in school and have supported new staff when taking over the role.I have worked as the Primary Science Quality Mark Hub Leader (Stockton area) for several years and so have supported, advised and facilitated schools achieving awards in excellence in science teaching and learning, and gaining their bronze, silver or gold awards. I have also led my own school in their application and facilitated them earning their own gold award for their Primary Science Quality Mark. 

I have delivered workshops at various teacher conferences, for instance the North Tyneside Primary Science Conference, The Science Learning Centre (at Pity me, Durham) the annual ASE conferences (held at various Universities across the country) the National TES Conference (Earl’s Court, London) and internationally (The Science on Stage Festival at Slubice/ Frankfurt Oder, a European platform for science teachers). I have taken part in an international teachers’ visit (to the USA) and have visited a variety of schools in San Francisco to collate and share ideas across global borders. I have been KS leader for several years and I am able to support and develop staff to ensure pupils are happy and making their best progress, as well as a pastoral leader and am able to support and nurture to help everyone achieve their goals. 

I have been the School Training Centre Co-ordinator for several years, leading and managing the ITT (Initial Teacher Training) provision based at school, in partnership with Durham University and a cluster of schools attached to my own. This has involved me delivering lectures to student teachers on campus, seminars back at school, visiting, observing lessons and supporting all students in the cluster, along with reviewing their portfolios and signing off assignments. In this capacity, I have worked largely in the wider school community, developing and training staff in other schools and forging warm and long-lasting relationships with those schools. I have worked closely with outside agencies, such as the Durham University Ambassadors into Schools Project; 

I recognise the value of having high quality visits and visitors into the school/centre and have led annual events such the Space Day, with a visiting expert. I have always organised and facilitated a Science Week each year, exploring new and enriching activities to broaden the children’s learning experiences. I have run a variety of clubs for children (and adults) such as art, printing, Manga drawing, gardening, knitting, crocheting, pottery, origami, kite making and flying, cookery, science experiments, making and launching rockets, revision and higher-level enrichment. 

Over the last few years, I have been involved in teaching young children how to cook through my work with Little Aprons Cookery Club. On a weekly basis, we take classes of children and teach them how to make a variety of dishes, such as how to make their own pasta, soups, bread, pizzas, and a whole variety of cakes.  In addition, we teach a variety of crafts (from how to make a ‘chatter box’ to winter bird feeders) and run special holiday classes that are often themed. I also tutor pupils getting ready for their SATs exams and work closely with the English and Mathematics test papers, and in particular with reasoning skills. Over the years, I have gained a wealth of knowledge, experience and skills, and always strive to use this to enrich the learning experience of the pupils and to ensure that both their education and well-being remain paramount at all times. 

I have a sports background and have played basketball at a national level, being part of a team that has won several awards and trophies. I have worked and gained qualifications in coaching and officiating in schools, helping to nurture young pupils to have a good work ethic, achieve their full potential and work well as a team. I recognise that a strong academic performance underpins sporting achievement. 

I also have many years’ sales experience, having worked in the motor trade and leisure industry. During this time, I have prepared for and attended many events and exhibitions, something that has given me a lot of experience in management and planning, including for the largest independent leisure dealer in the country. I have also held management positions within the company, helping me to develop skills in not only working with and supporting staff, but more importantly with developing robust and respectful relationships with the public. I have continued to be involved in business management over the years, planning and developing, analysing the market, ordering, designing, and purchasing both current and future stock. I have gained much experience in accountancy, tax planning, administration procedures and developing public relations, both on a business footing and in a more personal way, working at the ‘chalk face’ of the business in direct contact with people. 

For the past 8 years I have owned and ran two successful business.  My current business utilises some of the latest technologies in the gaming industry and I am passionate about the use of technology in education delivery. Over the past 2 years, my business has seen me collaborate with a local college supporting projects within the E-Sports and Game Design Programmes, and I have also worked directly with third sector organisations offering work placements to young vulnerable adults. 

As the Business Manager for SKAPE, I have an keen interest and passion for researching and developing uses for new, emerging and immersive technologies, which can enhance both business and education opportunities. 

As a Psychology Postgraduate, my previous experience includes working within NHS and third sector mental health settings in various clinical, supervisory and management roles, as well as within a postgraduate education teaching role. I have worked with people from the ages of 16+ initially within a clinical support role, and then within a therapeutic capacity within the mental health sector. This included working for an Early Intervention in Psychosis Service, and then within Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Programmes. After completing an accredited University Training Programme with Distinction, I qualified as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) in 2015 and worked as a Senior PWP from 2016. My role as a PWP involved assessing for common mental health problems such as depression and anxiety disorders and delivering low intensity psychological treatments (based on cognitive behavioural therapy principles) to support people in their recovery, by developing the necessary self-help skills to overcome such problems and achieve their goals. These treatments included psychoeducation, behavioural activation, values based behavioural activation, goal setting, medication education, worry management, problem solving, graded exposure, sleep hygiene and cognitive restructuring.  

I have also completed University training in anger management, behavioural activation combined with physical exercise, and motivational interviewing to support problematic drinking, whilst working within a military charity as a PWP, and then Lead PWP.  Whilst working as Lead PWP I carried out monthly data reporting on service performance, lead in service development and was responsible for developing and overseeing the workplace trainee PWP programme as well as supervising trainee and qualified PWPs. I was also involved in research studies and acted as the service point of contact for working collaboratively with the University Research Team to ensure smooth transition from research protocol into service delivery. I have also completed training with leading experts in the field of compassion focused therapy (CFT) in CFT informed practice, as well as completing training in Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT). 

During my last PWP role, my work focused more on supporting people living with long-term chronic health conditions experiencing a common mental health problem, and I completed a University Certificate in Postgraduate Professional Development with Distinction (Approaches to Long Term Conditions for Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners). I worked jointly with the Long Term Conditions Lead in establishing an integrated care pathway with the Diabetes Service and co-developed, delivered and evaluated a bespoke Psychoeducation/Therapy course for people living with diabetes and a mental health problem. I also worked as the Diabetes Champion for the service and lead the multidisciplinary pathways with the Diabetes Care Team. 

My experience within a teaching capacity includes working as a part time university lecturer in mental health (alongside clinical practice roles) at a local University on both the PWP training course (PgCert) and Approaches to Long Term Conditions for Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (UCPPD). Other teaching roles included developing and facilitating psychoeducation courses, leading on the workplace PWP trainee schedule, supervision of both trainee and qualified PWPs and delivering continued professional development workshops to staff. I have also completed training in Motivational Interviewing (APT) and attended multiple expert lead seminars and workshops on the assessment and treatment of common mental health problems including depression, generalized anxiety disorder, specific anxiety disorders, phobia’s, PTSD and OCD. Throughout my PWP career I have gained a wealth of experience working with a diverse range of people, supporting a wide range of mental health needs, and developed skills in leadership, supervision, performance management, outcome reporting and service/policy development. 

As Health, Safety and Wellness Lead for SKAPE, I am passionate and committed to ensuring safe practices within the Centre, as well as supporting the mental and physical wellbeing of both students and staff.

I have over 14 years experience as a Secondary School teacher and have made a significant impact in education, starting as a house leader before becoming the head of department for over a decade, specialising in food and nutrition.

As an AQA food preparation and nutrition exam marker for more than 10 years, I was promoted to team leader two years ago, showcasing expertise and leadership in the field. I am passionate about student engagement and I have organised numerous competitions, including James Martins 'Make it with Mince', Future Chef, and the 'Tunnocks Teacake Challenge'. 

Beyond the classroom, I have led school visits to Ullswater and have developed effective strategies for teaching, learning, assessment and personal development. With a commitment to inclusivity, I have also successfully worked with students from diverse backgrounds including those with SEND and disadvantaged students.