Wider Education Improvement Leads
RACHEL ASHFIELD
EYFS SUBJECT LEAD
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 BARTLAM
PHONICS SUBJECT LEAD
- Sarah is the Trust Lead for Phonics and has worked at Barlestone CofE Primary since she qualified 14 years ago.
- She currently teaches year 6 as well as being Senior teacher and SENCO.
- Sarah has completed the NPQSL with a study focus on phonics and is currently undertaking the NASENCO.
- Training in Sounds Write in 2021 has enabled Sarah to implement the scheme with much success at Barlestone and supports other schools within the Rise family with implementation of the scheme and successful outcomes in many recent OFSTED inspections.
- Reading has always been a passion for Sarah and any spare moment she has is spent reading!
CHARLOTTE CAHILL
SEND CLUSTER LEAD
- Charlotte is the SEND Cluster Lead for the Trust, operating mainly in the East of the county.
- She completed a degree in Psychology, followed by a PGCE specialising in teaching children ages 3-7 years.
- Charlotte has taught children from Nursery to the end of Key Stage 1 in a range of city and county schools.
- Charlotte has been a SENDCo since 2015 and gained a Commendation in the National Award for SEN Co-ordination (NASENCo) in 2017.
- She is passionate about ensuring all children achieve their best and become confident individuals living fulfilling lives.
STEVE CLARK
TEACHING & 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.
NIKKI COPELAND
RE SUBJECT LEAD
- Nikki has been teaching for over 14 years and has taught across all year groups.
- She has previously been a ‘Lead RE’ teacher for Leicestershire Diocese and has worked in partnership to strengthen RE and Collective Worships across Leicestershire schools.
- She has previous experience of leading RE across the Vale cluster group meetings and developing professional expertise amongst all staff.
- Nikki is currently EYFS and RE co-ordinator at Waltham-on-the-Wolds Church of England Primary School.
HOLLY COULL
TEACHING & 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.
BEN CUTLER-THOMAS
BEHAVIOUR & INCLUSION LEAD
- Ben is an experienced Behaviour and Inclusion Support Mentor, supporting both children and their families using a range of guided and independent activities to develop and build positive relationships, which supports a longer outcome in the behavioural development and regulation.
- Before joining Rise, Ben worked in a number of educational settings in a variety of roles. This has provided him with a wide range of skill sets, which he has been able to develop further and adapt independently.
- Ben is a fully qualified Thrive Approach Practitioner and qualified in 2020
ANNA DYSON
HISTORY SUBJECT LEAD
- Anna has been teaching for 15 years since qualifying from Leicester University with a PGCE, Science specialism in 2008, prior to that she studied for a degree in History.
- She has taught for the majority of her teaching career in inner city Leicester schools teaching across KS2 before moving to Tugby, where she is the Deputy Head, DSL and Year 5/6 teacher.
- As a year 6 teacher, Anna has achieved excellent outcomes in the KS2 SATs and writing. She leads on Literacy, PE and History and previously led on Science, French and RSE.
- Anna is currently completing her NPQSL and additionally taking part in the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion network ran by the Trust.
- She works closely with the curriculum development lead in designing and creating an ambitious and diverse history curriculum: writing units, leading CPD and promoting the curriculum across the academy.
PAUL GALVIN
SCIENCE SUBJECT LEAD
- Paul has been teaching since 2006 and has worked in City and County schools.
- He has held a variety of roles in schools and has experience at teaching/management levels.
- Paul has an analytical background, with a maths degree and a previous career in risk management in banking.
- He has a deep fascination with all things to do with science.
EMILY LLOYD-TREWICK
SEND CLUSTER LEAD
- Emily is a Cluster SEND Lead for the Trust and works mostly in the West of the county.
- Having studied English Language and Literature at University, Emily then went on to train as a Secondary English Teacher.
- As a SENCo, Emily has driven strategic development of provision for pupils with SEND and embedded strategy to embed the graduated response.
- Emily has completed the National Award for SENCo and is currently undertaking her NPQSL and is entering the final stages of a Master's Degree in 'Educational Leadership'.
ALEX McLUGASH
TEACHING & 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.
CLAIRE MULHERN
MATHS SUBJECT LEAD
- 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.
DYLAN MURPHY
SEND CLUSTER LEAD
- Dylan is one of our SEND Cluster Leads at Rise, working primarily within the West Cluster.
- He has taught within every primary phase from EYFS to Key Stage 2 and is passionate about children with SEND making good progress, both academically and holistically.
- Dylan has been a SENDCO and Inclusion Lead in Nottingham for over 5 years and has achieved the National Award for SENCO. Through these roles, Dylan has developed systems to support children with SEND and Pupil premium, some of which have been utilised across a number of schools.
- Dylan is an Evidence Lead in Education and a Specialist Leader in Education, this has enabled Dylan to deliver CPD on behalf of Derby Research School and coach colleagues from other schools to develop their SEND practice.
- He is SEND reviewer trained which has supported him in reviewing the SEND practice in different settings. This work has supported Dylan in making learning accessible for all children through the use of reasonable and smart adaptations.
TYSON OLIVER
ART & DT SUBJECT LEAD
- Tyson is the Art and Design Technology Lead for the Trust and has been a teacher at St Peter and St Paul CE Academy in Syston since 2014, where he has worked to develop a carefully sequenced art and design curriculum.
- He works closely with the curriculum development lead to support the collaboration of teachers in designing an ambitious Art and Design Curriculum, one that ensures pupils are equipped with the skills to create their own works of art and their own design projects. Also, one that aims to give children a broad knowledge of how art contributes to our cultures.
- He is also a moderator for the Arts Award programme of study.
LAURA SHARPE
GEOGRAPHY SUBJECT LEAD
- Laura is the Trust Lead for Geography, supporting colleagues to develop the curriculum and providing CPD through network meetings and newsletters.
- She works at Viscount Beaumont's CE Primary, teaching EYFS, which she thoroughly enjoys.
- Laura received awards during her time studying Geography by the University of Leicester for her research into gentrification in New York and for her dissertation looking at children's sense of place.
- While completing her degree, she also worked for the University's outreach programme around Leicester city schools to promote the subject and encourage pupils to study the subject and to pursue careers within geography.
- Laura is passionate about geography which is reflected in her pursuit of travelling to a variety of countries around the world; exploring cultural practices and experiencing differing landscapes.
LOUISE SMITH
TEACHING & LEARNING LEAD
- Louise is a Teaching and Lead for the Trust, developing and delivering CPD and instructional coaching.
- Louise has had experience in a variety of settings including small rural primaries and large city schools, leading English in three of those organisations with a heavy focus on writing and developing the English curriculum
- Her previous roles and experience include KS2 Phase Lead, English Lead, Oracy Lead and ECT mentor
- Louise is also an SLE and has co-led Leicester City's "Closing the Gap," writing project, working with colleagues across the city to improve pupil outcomes.
JO SWINBURN
TEACHING & LEARNING LEAD
- Jo is Teaching and Learning Lead for the Trust
- She has worked in Education for over 20 years, teaching across both KS1 and KS2. She has experience teaching in a range of settings including a large inner-city school and a special school. She has a passion for Mathematics and has been involved in leading and coaching in this subject area throughout her career.
- Jo has worked at The University of Derby as a Senior Lecturer in Mathematics within the Initial Teacher Education Department and also has experience as an Advanced Skills Teacher.
- She has a Master's degree in 'Special Needs' and has completed the NPQLT.