The Professional Tutors (ID 1352)

• Jo Bridgeman
  Lift Greensward PT
  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.

• Adam Smith
  Notley High School PT
  Adam Smith

  Adam Smithholds a BSc (Hons) in Sport Science, awarded in 2002, and completed his PGCE in Physical Education at Loughborough University between 2002 and 2003. In 2023, he undertook a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) course in Science, which enabled him to transition into his current role asLead Practitioner in Scienceat Notley High School.

  He began his teaching career in 2004 in Epping and has since held a range of senior roles, includingHead of PE,Specialist Leader in Education (SLE)for PE and ITT,Lead Practitioner,Senior Lead Practitioner, andAssistant Headteacher. These positions involved responsibility for Initial Teacher Training (ITT), Early Career Teachers (ECTs), educational visits (EVC), enrichment, year group senior leadership, and line management of the faculty's.

  With over a decade of experience supporting the development of new teachers, he has worked extensively across SCITT, PGCE, and School Direct pathways. He has acted as mentor, coordinator, and trainer — delivering subject-specific training to PE trainees at the University of East London (UEL) and providing mentor development for the NELTA partnership. As aVisiting Fellow for Ambition Institute, he also delivered ECT and mentor training to all ECTs and mentors in his previous trust.

  He finds it deeply rewarding to guide both students and teachers through their development and takes pride in helping others grow into confident, reflective practitioners. Passionate about improving the quality of teaching, he continues to drive forward professional learning and curriculum development in his current science lead practitioner role.

• Angela Gibbons
  Plume Academy PT
  Angela Gibbons

  Angela graduated with a Modern Languages and Linguistics degree before starting teacher training with MEITT in 2000.

  Since qualifying, she has taught in two different schools and held different roles including Head of Spanish, Director of Global Studies, Assistant Vice Principal and SLE.

  Angela's passion has always been developing teachers for the future and her current role is ITT and ECT lead at Plume Academy.

• Anthony Robinson
  Hylands School PT
  Anthony Robinson

  Since graduating in mathematics in the early 80s, Anthony has predominantly taught maths in five decades! During this period, he has worked in a variety of secondary schools within Essex, and had the fortune to develop a career in several Leadership teams along the way.

  Now at Hylands School, Anthony's key focus is his passion for teaching and helping new colleagues; he enjoys mentoring trainees and ECTs, and strives to provide a first class service to all new recruits to the profession.

• Ellie Gosling
  Brentwood County High School PT
  Ellie Gosling

  Ellie studied for her bachelors degree in Psychology at Loughborough University. Her time here reaffirmed her love of teaching and she returned to Essex after obtaining her degree to train with Mid Essex ITT.

  She was placed at Brentwood County High Schooland received phenomenal support from her mentor and professional tutor and gained a teaching position before she began her B placement at Gable Hall School.

  She has remained at BCHS since qualifying as a teacher. In her 7 years she has held numerous roles, including lead teacher of Psychology, head of year (years 8-11) and senior leadership secondments.

  From September 2024 she will be Assistant Headteacher responsible for teaching and learning. Her role includes developing and sustaining a T&L framework as well as implementing a CPD programme to facilitate this. She will also be developing and monitoring a quality assurance programme across the school. She will continue in her role as induction tutor to our ECTs at our school, as well as welcome ITTs.

• Ginny Warren
  Helena Romanes School PT
  Ginny Warren

  Ginny is currently the ITT Coordinator and ECT Induction Tutor as part of her role as Assistant Headteacher of Teaching and Learning at Helena Romanes School in Great Dunmow.

  She joined the school in May 2024 and teaches in the Humanities department. Prior to joining HRS, Ginny was Teacher Development Lead at Cranbrook School in Kent where she was also Head of Classics for over 7 years. In the role she was responsible for implementing an instructional coaching programme to all staff, as well as personally mentoring numerous PGCE students over the years and acting as the induction tutor for ITT students from Teach in Kent, the University of Sussex and the University of Kent.

  Ginny graduated from Exeter University with a degree in Classical Studies before continuing to the University of Cambridge where she did her PGCE at Homerton College in Classics with Latin. Ginny also has a NPQ in Leading Teacher Development from Ambition Institute.

  Ginny has always been passionate about teacher development at all levels and firmly believes that all teachers can improve their practice regardless of their levels of previous experience. She particularly loves working with new teachers and training the next generation of inspiring teachers.

• Helen Price
  The Ramsey Academy PT
  Helen Price

  Helen graduated with a degree in History from Royal Holloway, University of London, in 1997, and then qualified as a Teacher of History (with RE as a second subject) in 1998, from the University of Sussex.

  In her time as a teacher, she has worked in five different schools, with multiple roles, such as Head of History, Head of RE, Head of Humanities Faculty, Whole-School Literacy Co-ordinator, and now an Assistant Headteacher at The Ramsey Academy, where she has worked since 2015.

  Throughout her career, teacher training has always been a huge interest, so she has always taken opportunities to be a mentor, and has previously been the Lead Subject Mentor for History.

  Helen enjoys all aspects of delivering teacher training, and regularly delivers Core Training sessions for Mid Essex ITT, as well as leading the Early Careers Framework across her school's trust and region.

  Helen is currently the Professional Tutor and the Induction Tutor for ECTs at The Ramsey Academy, Halstead, where she is also Assistant Headteacher of Teaching and Learning.

• James Macallan
  Moulsham High School PT
  James Macallan

  James studied Biochemistry at Nottingham University and graduated in 2009, after spending some time researching Malaria he undertook teacher training in 2011. James has experience working in Essex and East London with various leadership roles in Science, including as an Associate Assistant Headteacher. He is currently the Assistant Headteacher for the Quality of Education at Moulsham High School.

  James has mentored various ITTs and ECTs over the years and takes great pleasure in seeing the growth of new teachers as well as finding out about their innovative approaches to teaching and learning.

• Jo Broughton
  Chelmsford County High School for Girls PT
  Jo Broughton

  Jo is currently ITT Coordinator at Chelmsford County High School for Girls. She began teaching at CCHS in 2002 and has had a wealth of experience working across multiple subjects and departments during this time. Alongside leading the school's ITT provision, she is a Teacher of Drama and a former Head of Drama.

  Prior to working at CCHS, she has had a range of teaching experiences, both nationally and internationally. Jo has worked as both a subject teacher and SENDCo in grammar, comprehensive, independent and primary settings; her wealth of working in a range of different educational systems is advantageous to the student teachers she currently works with. She has also taught across all the Key Stages of education, from Foundation to Key Stage 5.

  In her role as ITT Coordinator, Jo supports trainees in leading CCHS's in-house Professional Studies Programme and acts as a lead mentor, offering guidance and advice around all aspects of teaching practice.

  She is a graduate of Homerton College, Cambridge, in both Education and Drama, and has been teaching for over thirty years. She continues to maintain a passion for working with young people and enjoys the challenges and opportunities this brings.

• Jo Howse
  Chelmer Valley High School PT
  Jo Howse

  Jo Howse started her teaching career as a GTP based at Chelmer Valley High School (CVHS). She has remained at the school, having been given a range of opportunities in her time there.

  She was promoted to Head of Drama only two years after she became a fully-qualified teacher.

  Having been recognised for her outstanding teaching practice, Jo was selected to lead the Improving and Outstanding Teacher Programmes, facilitating the course to teachers from a range of Essex schools. She was also selected to form the Teaching and Learning Group at her school, and she was influential in changing the school's teaching and learning policy. She has also led whole-school INSET for staff on different topics, including SMSC and Challenging the Most-Able.

  Jo keeps abreast of changes in her subject and is part of the Chelmsford Drama Network, meeting regularly to discuss specifications, share ideas and resources, and to seek development opportunities. She regularly organises enrichment activities, such as workshops, performances and theatre trips and tours.Jo is also a member of National Drama and continues to teach Drama and Performing Arts to a full range of ages and abilities.

  Jo has been the Professional Tutor at CVHS since May 2023, supporting trainees (and mentors) from across all subjects through the training year. She has excellent relationships with staff across the school and works closely with the mentors to ensure that trainees based in school are given a positive, effective, and supportive training experience.

• Jonny Williams
  Honywood School PT
  Jonny Williams

  Jonnyjoined Honywood School as a Historytrainee in September 2013, after serving seven years in the British Army with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment.

  Before joining the Army, he graduated from Northampton University, where he studieda combined course ofHistory and Law.

  Jonny took over as Subject Leader for Business Studies in 2016 and then became an Associate AssistantHeadteacher in 2019, which saw him absorboverarching responsibility for curriculumdesign, development, interventions and outcomes across the Scienceand Industry subjects.

  He then became an Assistant Headteacher at Honywood in 2022, and as well as continuing to be responsible for Science and Industry, he is now also responsible for the Peer Mentoring Programme, ITT, as well as supporting the STEM Lead and Tutoring Programme Lead, and overseeing ECTs.

• Julia Beeney-Brown
  The Sandon School PT
  Julia Beeney-Brown

  Julia is currently the Professional tutor at The Sandon School. She is the ITT Coordinator as part of her role as Associate Assistant Headteacher and Head of Middle School for Year 9,10 & 11. She joined The Sandon School in April 2020 and teaches in the Design and Technology department. Prior to joining The Sandon School, Julia was Assistant Head of Year at The King John School and a Head of Year at Kings College in Surrey. Julia started teaching in 2009 and has worked in the Pastoral support side of Education since completing her NQT year.

  Julia was awarded her PGCSE form Bath University in 2009 while completing a SCITT course in Bournemouth and Pool . This followed the completion of her Ba Hons Degree in Fashion and Textiles at Bournemouth University. It was while supporting other younger students in her old school as part of the community focus part of her university programme that she developed her passion to teach. Julia also has a NPQ in Leading Behaviour and Culture from UCL.

  With over 15 years experience supporting and developing students well being and academic success, Julia felt it was time to expand her experiences. This saw her become part of the teaching and learning group at The Sandon School and supported in running training for whole staff. This saw a passion for a new focus in transferring her skills to help new teachers enter the education sector helping to support and inspire the next generation of teachers.

  Julia is looking forwards to supporting the ITTs through their journey to becoming passionate teachers in their subject specialisms.

• Keeley Hillman
  Hedingham School and Sixth Form PT
  Keeley Hillman

  Keeley graduated with a degree in Natural Sciences with Education from Brunel University in 1993 and has been teaching full time ever since, later gaining her NPQH from The Institute of Education in London in 2008.

  Keeley joined The Deanes School after graduating as an NQT and, once an established teacher, took on various roles including Gifted and talented coordinator and finally Head of Science. Teaching A Level Biology was always a long-term goal, so she coupled her role with some experience at SEEVIC college this enabled her to move to the Head of Science role at Weston Favell Upper School in Northamptonshire (13-18) with its large sixth form. Here she was promoted to an Assistant Head role in order to support the school with its transition from 13-18 upper school to 11-18 school across two sites.

  After meeting her husband, Keeley made the move back to Essex and started an Assistant Head role at The Gaynes School (focusing on data and assessment) and became a staff governor. This was followed by a Deputy Headship in Harlow.

  Realising that the element of her job that she enjoyed the most was her teaching, Keeley made the decision to take the Leader of Science role at Hedingham in 2013. In 2016 she moved to her current Assistant Head role, which also includes HR, staff well-being, EVC and the line management of various learning areas (including of course, Science). She has been an examiner and team leader for Edexcel GCSE Science for many years and has successfully completed her NPQ in Leading Teacher Development (LTD) with Teach First.

  Throughout her roles, Keeley has always mentored trainees, early career teachers and those moving to middle leader roles and has been the Professional Tutor and ECT Induction Co-ordinator at Hedingham since 2019.

• Louise Woolnough
  Alec Hunter Academy PT
  Louise Woolnough

  Louise graduated from the University of Southampton with a degree in History, before taking a year out to work in London in the Insurance Sector.

  Later, she graduated from the University of Roehampton with a PGCE in Secondary History Teaching and began a teaching career in two very different London schools as a successful History Teacher and Head of History.

  After teaching for many years in London, Louise relocated back to her home town in Essex, and took up a position at Alec Hunter Academy as the Head of Humanities. Within a couple of years, Louise was appointed Associate Assistant Headteacher and then Assistant Headteacher.

  Her roles on the Leadership Team at Alec Hunter have been varied, ranging from a short stint in Pastoral, Timetabling, Collective Worship and running events. However, her main role continues to be developing Teaching and Learning and Staff Development through CPD.

  She also leads on Early Careers Induction and is Professional Tutor for Initial Teacher Training at Alec Hunter Academy.

• Sarah Robinson
  Beaulieu Park School PT
  Sarah Robinson

  Sarah completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Essex in 2009 and started her teacher training with Mid Essex ITT in September 2009. Her main placement school was Brentwood County High School (BCHS) and after completing her training year, she worked there as a Science teacher.

  In 2012 she became Head of Biology, followed by Head of Science in 2015.

  In 2019 she left BCHS to join the new Beaulieu Park School in the first year of the Secondary school. Here, she set up the Science curriculum from scratch as Head of Science.

  Since September 2023 she has been lead practitioner and a member of SLT at Beaulieu, and her role includes working with teachers across the school to help improve their practice. Sarah's current role has a big teaching and learning focus.

• Suzanne Keyworth
  Mayflower High School PT
  Suzanne Keyworth

  A BSc Geography graduate of Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London, completing a PGCE at IoE, University of London, Suzanne has completed over 30 years of secondary school teaching experience in Greater London and Essex.

  Suzanne has been Head of Geography for over 20 years. She has always had a keen interest in supporting and developing trainees and newly qualified teachers, beginning with mentoring trainees from IoE whilst working in Dagenham. Having moved to Essex she has performed the role of Lead Subject Mentor for over ten years with various teacher training providers and has acted as NQT Induction Tutor.

  Currently in addition to teaching Geography, is the Induction Tutor for ECTs at Mayflower High School.

• Rachel Marsh
  The Ongar Academy PT
  Rachel Marsh

• Karuna Shaunak
  Shenfield School PT
  Karuna Shaunak