School Improvement Leads
STEVE CLARK
TEACHING AND LEARNING LEAD
- Steve is the Teaching and Learning Lead for schools in the western area of the Trust.
- He has been a teacher since 2008. He has overseen a number of subjects whilst in the role, including leading English where he redesigned the literacy curriculum, overseeing school improvements in writing, reading and grammar.
- Steve has most recently been in the role of Pupil Premium Lead where he became a champion for disadvantaged pupils, working with teachers to develop quality first teaching, and LSAs to ensure interventions were effective and well delivered.
- Steve is also an SLE. In this role, he has coached colleagues in other schools to develop and model good practice and effective leadership. Additionally, he has worked with the LLA to provide support as part of their teacher-training programme.
HOLLY COULL
TEACHING AND LEARNING LEAD
- Holly is one of the Trust’s Teaching and Learning Leads. She works across RISE to develop and deliver CPD, provide instructional coaching and works as part of the Educational Improvement Team.
- She has experience of teaching and leading in a range of settings across Leicestershire for the last 15 years. Her experience includes Maths Mastery Specialist, Specialist Leader of Education and Headteacher.
- Through these roles she has led Teacher Research groups, delivered research-led CPD and worked collaboratively with teaching staff and leaders across Leicestershire and Rise MAT.
ALEX McLUGASH
TEACHING AND LEARNING LEAD
- Alex is the Teaching and Learning Lead for the Trust, operating mainly in the East of the county. He works closely with schools to ensure consistent pedagogical approaches are used, aiming to drive pupil progress and outcomes.
- Alex has previously worked as an Assistant Headteacher as well as leading Key Stage Two, Literacy and Computing in a large primary school. He has successfully driven both reading and writing improvements across the school, as well as supporting subject leaders in all other areas of the curriculum.
- As a year 6 teacher, Alex has consistently achieved excellent outcomes in the KS2 SATs and writing.
- Reading for pleasure is one of Alex’s passions. He successfully led a Reading for Pleasure Teacher Research group through the Open University, guiding a large group of teachers through evidence-informed and research-backed best practice to encourage children to love reading.
- Alex has a keen interest in data, having led pupil progress meetings across KS2 for the past 5 years; he is also a designated safeguarding lead.
- He has achieved an NPQML and NPQSL and is currently undertaking his NPQH with the Education Development Trust.
FRAN WARD
TEACHING AND LEARNING LEAD
- Fran is a Teaching and Learning Lead.
- She works with other teachers and leaders across the Trust to help make sure that everyone agrees on what good teaching and learning looks like in our schools.
- Fran has been teaching since 2007. She has taught and led in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 and is Deputy Headteacher at Christ Church and St Peter’s Primary School.
- Fran has experience of leading Maths and English and is a specialist leader of education.
CHARMAINE AINGE
TRUST LEAD - READING
- Charmaine is responsible for improving the quality of teaching and learning within her specialist area of reading across our family of schools, and works closely with the central team, and the senior leadership team in order to achieve this.
- She organises and delivers half termly network meetings which provide teachers from across the Trust with access to high-quality, focussed and relevant CPD, and is available to provide school-to-school support within her specialist subject.
- Charmaine qualified as a teacher in 2014, having previously worked within the financial sector.
- She has led English in her current school since 2015.
- Charmaine has applied to undertake her Church of England Professional Qualification for Head Teachers and holds professional qualifications in finance and management which she achieved in her previous job.
RACHEL ASHFIELD
TRUST LEAD - EYFS
Rachel has been teaching since 2009 after receiving a First Class Honours in Primary Education.
She has previous experience of leading early years across a 3 form entry infant school and worked within Warwickshire leading cluster group meetings.
She took part in a ‘Closing the Gap’ project within Warwickshire focusing on improving children’s early communication skills.
Rachel is currently EYFS co-ordinator, SENDCo and Maths leader at Blackfordby St Margarets.
SARAH EVANS
TRUST LEAD – WRITING
- Sarah is the Trust Lead for Writing and is currently the Assistant Head at Christ Church and St Peter's Primary School in Mountsorrel.
- She works with the central team and all staff across our schools to ensure that pupils get the best quality teaching and outcomes in writing.
- Sarah is a qualified teacher- teaching full time in year 6- and has been teaching for 14 years, she has led on English for 9 of those.
- She is currently a Specialist Leader in Education with a focus on English.
CLAIRE MULHERN
TRUST LEAD – MATHS
- Claire is the Trust Lead for Maths and Headteacher at St Peter and St Paul CE Academy in Syston.
- She supports maths leaders to stay at the forefront of the latest research and ensure the best possible outcomes for children in maths.
- Claire has worked as a maths consultant for the last two years, working with schools across Leicestershire to deliver high-quality maths CPD through the Affinity Teaching School Alliance and Inspiring Leaders Teacher Training.
- She previously led maths for 10 years in three contrasting primary schools.
- Claire has recently supported three schools through a maths deep dive under the new Ofsted framework and tweets @CMulhernMaths.