The Lead Subject Tutors (ID 1351)

• Jo Bridgeman
  Art & Design LST
  Jo Bridgeman

  Jo was previously an AST in Art and she is currently a SLE for teaching and learning at Lift Greensward Academy. She has organised a range of programmes to help improve teachers and move them towards a grade 1. This has included running a 2-1 programme and an outstanding conference.

  These have had a continued positive outcome on improving teaching across her school. She is now a lead practitioner and part of a teaching and learning action group within the school, and she is involved in delivering training sessions and helping support staff to improve their knowledge of what makes a lesson outstanding.

  Jo has been a Lead Subject Tutor for MEITT for 11 years, and this has very much helped to improve the subject knowledge of art trainees in Mid Essex. She is also the Professional Tutor at Lift Greensward Academy, and is also the ITT Co-ordinator there.

• Ben Agombar
  Geography LST
  Ben Agombar

  Ben is the Head of Geography at The Ongar Academy, where he has been part of the team since 2023.

  Prior to this, he worked in several schools across East London and Essex, holding a range of roles including Careers Lead.

  With over three years of experience mentoring Early Career Teachers in both Geography and History, Ben is passionate about supporting the professional growth of new teachers. Ben's approach to mentoring is grounded in collaboration, trust, and honest dialogue. He believes that the most effective development happens through supportive coaching and practical advice that builds confidence and encourages reflective practice.

  Ben's goal is to create a positive and open environment where trainees feel empowered to grow, take risks, and flourish in the classroom to become exceptional practitioners.

  Many of Ben's mentees are thriving in the classroom, with one ECT who won an award of Highly Commended New Teacher of the Year from The Pearson Teaching Awards.

• Carly Dobson
  Health & Social Care LST
  Carly Dobson

  Carly is a dedicated educator, bringing 25 years of teaching experience to her current role as Teaching and Learning Leader for Health and Social Care at Greensward Academy. She has been instrumental in raising the profile of the subject through curriculum development and innovative teaching.

  Since joining Greensward Academy, she has taken on various leadership roles, including Key Stage 5 Teaching and Learning Leader in PE, ECT Coordinator and more recently, Instructional Coach on the Steplab Coaching Programme. Carly has introduced new qualifications, mentored early-career teachers across a range of subjects, led CPD initiatives whilst consistently driving improvement in teaching and learning.

  With a strong background in mentoring, Carly is looking forward to supporting Health and Social Care trainees in improving their subject knowledge to aid their professional growth and development.

• Cathy Priest
  Science LST (Chemistry)
  Cathy Priest

  Cathy studied Natural Science at Cambridge University before training to be a secondary science teacher; she worked as anoutstanding science teacher for 20 years in the UK andabroad, taking on leadership roles within departments; KS4 leader, head of Biology and head of Physics.

  She has mentored many trainee science teachers and is passionate about helpingthem reach their potential and understand how science operates as a subject. During her teaching she completed a Masters in Educational Research looking at teacher job satisfactionand well being and had been a team leader for exammarking for the International Baccalaureate.

  For the last 5 years she has worked for the Cambridge based, Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, as the training lead, in the youth and schools' team where she develops and delivers teacher training on integrating science and religion in the school curriculum. This has given her the opportunity to work with 100's of different trainee teachers and 10's of different PGCE programmes.

• Dan Andrews
  Science LST (Physics)
  Dan Andrews

  Daniel graduated with a master's degree in Physics from The University of Southampton in 2018. From there, Daniel trained to be a teacher through MEITT at Chelmer Valley High School; The school that he had previously attended. While training, he was awarded 1of 100 Institute of Physics Scholarships awarded across the country.

  Since qualifying, Daniel has worked at Chelmer Valley High School and in 2022, He took a role as Assistant Head of Sixth Form. A year later, he moved on to roles as Head of KS3 Science and Head of EPQ.

  He has also taken a keen interest in working with trainees. He has been mentoring trainees since 2021 and runs a core training session on the use of technology in the classroom. Daniel is the Assistant LST for Science focusing on the Physics curriculum from KS3 to KS5.

• Dan Chapman
  History LST
  Dan Chapman

  Dan is the Head of History and More Able Lead at Brentwood County High School where he has worked since 2018 after completing his training with Mid Essex ITT. He has had numerous roles within the school since his qualification, including a student mentoring position.

  Dan has spent the last six years mentoring and sub-mentoring trainees in both History and Sociology, and has supported students in achieving highly during their training and ECT years. He finds that the best approach to good practice is to work collaboratively and discuss experiences in the classroom in order to improve skill going forward.

  Dan took over as Lead Subject Tutor in 2023 and is looking forward to continuing to support future trainees at Mid Essex ITT, and play a role in their development to give the same support he received himself.

• Emma Hodgson
  Media Studies LST
  Emma Hodgson

  Emma graduated from the University of Lincoln with a BA Hons in Media Production in 2011. Whilst at university she undertook a work placement as part of her dissertation research at Ideal World Television channel, and was subsequently offered a permanent role at completion of her degree. She then worked there for the next 2 years in the role of a live studio floor manager.

  In 2013, Emma decided to change career paths and enrolled on the School Direct Teaching programme through The Cambridge Partnership based in Sawtry, Cambridgeshire. From this she gained QTS and a PGCE from the University of Bedfordshire.

  Emma then took her first teaching role at Hedingham School & Sixth Form in July 2014 and has remained there since, being promoted to Leader of Media and Photography in September 2018. The department currently offers GCSE Media Studies, A level Film Studies and the Cambridge Technical in Digital Media.

  Emma is passionate about encouraging independent thinking within students, and enjoys the challenge of mentoring trainee teachers, as it constantly makes her develop and improve her own practice.

• Gareth Edwards
  Physical Education LST
  Gareth Edwards

  Garethis a teacher with 24 years' experience. He started at Colchester Sixth Form College after getting his Bachelor of Education degree at De Montfort University. He joined Alec Hunter in 2001 and progressed through various roles including leading the Gifted & Talented programme. He became Head of PE at Alec Hunter Academy in 2006, and has enjoyed the role ever since.

  This experience as a subject leader will enhance the development of the new generation of PE teachers. He has seen through multiple ECTs who have gone on to lead departments or have joined leadership groups in schools, and has found that role rewarding and self-developing in the process.

  This is Gareth's third year as PE LST and is looking forward to supporting the new batch of trainee teachers.

• Glenn Bracher
  Design & Technology LST
  Glenn Bracher

  Glenn is the Curriculum Lead of Design & Technology at Beauchamps High School, where he has worked since qualifying through Mid Essex ITT. He studied Art & Design: Graphic Media at the University of Essex, and draws on this creative background to design engaging curricula, develop innovative projects, and encourage students to think imaginatively about problem-solving. Starting as the sole D&T teacher, he rebuilt the subject from a non-functioning department into a thriving area of the school, leading on curriculum planning, assessment, and resourcing.

  He has mentored trainees and supported colleagues into their ECT years, finding the process rewarding and invaluable for his own development. This is Glenn's first year as Lead Subject Mentor for D&T, and he is looking forward to supporting the next generation of teachers across the partnership.

• Joe Claflin
  Drama LST
  Joe Claflin

  Joe is going into his fourth year as Head of Drama at Hylands School and has 8 years' experience in theatre education and teacher development. Throughout his career he has equipped numerous trainees with the practical skills, subject knowledge and pedagogical confidence to thrive within the teaching industry, all of which have gone on to have successful careers as drama teachers and heads of department.

  Prior to becoming a teacher and head of department, Joe graduated at the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA) completing the BA (Hons) course in Professional Acting in 2012. Here, he learnt a huge variety of skills and techniques for collaboration and performance as well as tools and strategies from professional directors, actors and teachers with years of experience in all aspects of the industry from theatre, film and television. He is passionate about, and continues to instil, techniques, devices and exercises he learnt as a student at LAMDA into his teaching and mentoring which are always discussed with trainees as tools to develop their practice.

  Upon graduating from LAMDA, he worked consistently as a professional actor for 6 years, mostly in film and television before training as a teacher. His industry experience, and colleagues he continues to still collaborate with within the industry, has also allowed him to keep up to date with current subject knowledge for drama which is beneficial to his teaching and mentoring practice.

  With a background in professional performance and directing, combined with extensive experience in secondary education, he specialises in curriculum design, inclusive practice, and fostering imaginative, student-centered learning environments. He is hugely passionate about developing reflective practitioners and supporting trainees in becoming resilient, responsive, and innovative drama educators.

• Kitt Garner
  Music LST
  Kitt Garner

  A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, Kitt has extensive experience both within music education and in wider school leadership. A former secondary senior leader, Kitt holds the National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership (NPQSL) and the National Professional Qualification for Leading Teacher Development (NPQLTD), and is currently undertaking his National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH).

  A former Head of Faculty, Head of House, and Music Subject Leader, Kitt is currently the Head of Southend-on-Sea Music Service (Music on Sea). In this role, he is responsible for delivering the vision and aims of the National Plan for Music Education across the local authority. This includes instrumental/vocal and whole-class music tuition, ensembles, large-scale events, as well as providing primary/secondary curriculum support. Furthermore, as an experienced GCSE Moderator and A-Level examiner, Kitt was also for a number of years a Musical Futures 'Champion Teacher,delivering CPD to primary and secondary colleagues and presenting at national conferences including the Music and Drama Expo and the Music Learning Revolution.

  Kitt's greatest motivation as both a teacher and leader has always been developing others, and he is particularly passionate about working with new teachers. An experienced teacher educator, Kitt previously held whole-school responsibility for Initial Teacher Trainees and Early Career Teachers—a role that saw him work cross-trust, facilitating half-termly CPD events aligned with the Early Career Framework.

  Kitt was delighted to join the MEITT Team in September 2025.

• Laura Neale
  Maths LST
  Laura Neale

  Laura is the Director of KS4 Achievement at Lift Greensward. Passionate about professional development, she has successfully coached team members to reach their full potential and has collaborated with a range of training providers over the years.

  With over a decade of teaching experience both in the UK and internationally, Laura has held several leadership positions in secondary education, including Key Stage Leader, Deputy Head of Department, Director of Maths and most recently Director of KS4 achievement at Lift Greensward.

  Before transitioning into education, Laura built a successful career in Finance, spending ten years in London's Investment Management industry. She worked in various roles, primarily as a Financial and Data Analyst, where she developed strong analytical and project management skills that continue to inform her approach in education leadership.

  Laura holds a PGCE and a BSc (Hons) in Mathematics, Statistics, and Computing (Management Science).

• Lindsey Abbott
  Dance LST
  Lindsey Abbott

  Lindsey Abbott started her teaching career as an LSA in the SEND department at Hylands school in 2003. 

  Her route into full time teaching was diverse as she started as an unqualified instructor to launch GCSE Dance into the school curriculum. Her teaching career was established through study through open university and gaining QTS Dance in Education based at Chelmer Valley High School (CVHS). She remained at the school, working alongside PE and Creative Arts departments. 

  As Head of Dance she trained as an examiner for GCSE Dance and travelled across Essex assessing the subject.  She also led INSET for PE staff on delivering Dance activities in the core PE curriculum. 

  Lindsey keeps abreast of changes in the subject through her network of local Dance schools and peers. As a lifelong learner, she is excited by the opporunity to share essential skills and embed core content for both practical and theory elements of the course.

  Lindsey enjoys the development of physicality and actively seeks opportunities to share her passion for movement through her fitness business Shimmy ‘n' Groove fitness ltd by choreographing and delivering group exercise in the community and at local gym facilities. 

  Lindsey is looking forward to sharing her knowledge and experience of teaching and learning with the trainees and watching them develop their skills to achieve high standards in their chosen subject. 

• Melissa Dunne
  English LST
  Melissa Dunne

  Melissa attended the University of Maynooth in Ireland obtaining a double honours degree in English and French Literature with a minor in Photography. Melissa has taught English and Media at Hedingham School since 2009. From 2012, she introduced Photography as a subject to the Sixth Form.

  Melissa was previously the LST for Media but has switched to English as she has more of passion for this subject. She was second in department for English for four years before moving on to her next role.

  She has been a head of year for eight years as well as the deputy safeguarding lead. Her main interest is promoting student voice where she has established a peer-mentoring system, run the Jack Petchey Speak Out as well as student council.

• Regine Binder
  Business Studies LST
  Regine Binder

  Regine is currently teaching Business Studies at GCSE and A Level at Hedingham School and Sixth Form. Before moving to England, Regine completed an apprenticeship in women's tailoring, and in 2001, she graduated with a BA (Hons) in Communication Studies with English Literature from Anglia Polytechnic University in Cambridge and holds a PGCE from the University of Greenwich.

  Her early career included roles in sales, customer service, project management, and IT support, all of which gave her a practical and diverse understanding of the business world. In 2006, she founded and successfully ran her own bridal and lifestyle business for 13 years, developing extensive experience in retail leadership, financial planning, customer service, and staff management.

  Regine began her teaching career in Modern Foreign Languages at Hedingham School through Mid Essex ITT. In 2024, she transitioned to the Business Studies department, where she now uses her strong vocational background to deliver engaging and relevant lessons. As a Lead Subject Tutor, Regine is passionate about supporting trainee teachers, nurturing reflective practice, and helping them build confident, evidence-informed teaching in the Business Studies classroom.

• Richard Pryke
  Computing LST
  Richard Pryke

  Richard Pryke graduated with a first-class honours degree in Computer Science from the University of Essex in 2019, before completing a PGCE in Computing at the UCL Institute of Education.

  He went on to spend nearly half a decade teaching Computer Science full time at Colchester Royal Grammar School, named East Anglia's State Secondary School of the Decade, where he also served as a boarding parent and as the Teaching and Learning Champion for the subject.

  Richard now leads the Computer Science department at Notley High School, where he is overseeing the implementation of a new and ambitious curriculum. His leadership spans the strategic development and support of Computer Science across Key Stages 3, 4 and 5.

  Throughout his career, Richard has taken on a wide range of responsibilities. He led the design of a comprehensive support programme across all key stages, which contributed to a marked improvement in student outcomes, most notably a significant increase in GCSE uptake and a substantial rise in A level enrolment.

  He has also championed enrichment through bespoke extracurricular opportunities, including Mechatronics and Robotics clubs. Most recently, two student teams successfully completed the European Space Agency's Astro Pi Challenge, with their code running on the International Space Station. Richard is passionate about the development of Computer Science education at all levels.

  He has mentored both experienced teachers retraining in the subject and trainees from a variety of backgrounds. He remains committed to his expertise and enthusiasm to support the next generation of Computer Science educators.

• Sarah Claydon-Cressey
  Social Sciences LST
  Sarah Claydon-Cressey

  Sarah is Head of Sociology for KS4 and KS5 within the Social Sciences Faculty at Plume Academy, where she also serves on the Quality of Education Team. With experience across both pastoral and curriculum roles, she completed the NPQLTD with the Best Practice Network in 2024, further strengthening her leadership in teaching and learning development.

  For the past five years, Sarah has been an ECT Induction Tutor and a more recently a mentor for Mid-Essex ITT. Her enthusiasm for working with trainees and Early Career Teachers is evident in her supportive, developmental approach and commitment to nurturing emerging talent in education.

  In 2025, Sarah stepped into the role of Lead Subject Tutor at Mid-Essex ITT, and she is excited to continue championing the growth and success of trainee teachers through high-quality mentoring and professional guidance.

• Zahra Tyler
  Religious Studies LST
  Zahra Tyler

  Zahra graduated from Sussex University with a Philosophy and Literature BA (hons). She has been teaching RE for over 10 years, and joined Hedingham School and Sixth Form in 2021 as Leader of RVE at Hedingham School and Sixth Form. Before joining Hedingham, she taught at St Mary's Catholic School in Bishops Stortford. Teaching in both the faith and non-faith sector has given her a breath of knowledge of the various ways to RE is taught in school.

  Zahra loves teaching, and sharing her passion for learning with the students in her classroom and was really exhilarated to have the opportunity, when joining Hedingham to completely rewrite and develop the curriculum for KS3.

  Zahra is always interested in pedagogy and the art of teaching, and having had great tutors and mentors in her own early days, training teachers and mentoring has always been a keen interest of hers. She is the ECT mentor at Hedingham and she said: "ITTs and ECTs are the life blood for the future and a it is huge privilege to be part of their training.

• Zainab Nawaz
  Science LST (Biology)
  Zainab Nawaz

  Zainab graduated with a first-class degree in Biological Sciences from Essex University in 2013 before completing her PGCE in Science.

  After her training year she worked at Moulsham High School, where she also studied as a student! Zainab has been responsible for many roles through out her time at the school. She has been a lead for the ‘Outstanding teacher program' and has led a whole-school role as ‘Teaching and Learning' Ambassador for the school.

  Zainab is extremely enthusiastic about Science and has mentored many trainees. She is looking forward to using her experience and passion of teaching and Learning to continue supporting trainees in their training year.

• Sheila Greatrex
  MFL LST
  Sheila Greatrex

  Sheila is Head of Spanish at Notley High School and prior to this role was a Head of Year for 7 years at the same school. She is enthusiastic about the opportunities that learning MFL brings to students and believes that our role as teachers is vital in creating enjoyment and enabling success for the students.

  She has always been interested in languages, and after a year spent in France at the age of 18, she pursued a degree in French with Spanish at Newcastle University for which she got a First Class degree. After a few years of teaching English abroad (in Spain, Italy, Chile and Ecuador), she realised her passion was in teaching and she relocated to the north east to train with Teach First. After finishing her two years with Teach First, she returned back down south and studied a Masters in Educational Leadership during her first year at Notley High School.

  Now, she is looking forward to dedicating her time to support trainee teachers and is excited to see them develop and grow.