Associate Consultants

Sue is a leadership consultant for THEP. She was Headteacher at Hatton School and Special Needs Centre in Redbridge from 2002 until 2016. Hatton School grew to be a large primary special school with a sizeable outreach service providing support for pupils with SEND. During her Headship she was active in developing and extending an inclusive approach to supporting SEND pupils through working in partnership with headteachers and the Local Authority. Sue also sat on a range of strategic groups including the schools funding forum (which she chaired for 3 years), Local Children’s safeguarding board, high needs block funding review committee and the PAN London Autism group.

Sue’s current roles include School Improvement Advisor to a number of Redbridge schools and the facilitation and delivery of training for SENCO’s and governors on local and national initiatives. Sue is also the independent chair for the Redbridge Education Partnership. Her main responsibilities are to support the group in shaping their vision for the future of Redbridge Schools, establish systems and processes to ensure effective communication and to develop partnership working with a range of stakeholders. Sue is currently supporting an independent provider in developing a Special school for pupils with complex needs in Essex.

John is the former Head of the New Rush Hall Group consisting of 6 special education units working with children experiencing social, emotional and/or mental health difficulties (SEMH). He oversaw 8 ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted judgements across the Group and 5 consecutive outstanding Challenge Partner judgements.

John has been awarded an OBE and Honorary Doctorate for services to Special Education, is a National Leader in Education and an Apple Distinguished Educator. 

He has been an advisor to the House of Commons Select Committee and a member of several DfE working parties.

Brenda has 20 years’ experience of delivering outstanding teaching, leadership and Professional Development in diverse secondary schools across London.

Brenda has also worked with schools as a Consultant, Coach, Facilitator and training provider. In recognition of her achievements, she was awarded the 2016 Rising Stars Award in Education and Academia.

Matthew has worked in special schools for 30 years in both rural and inner city settings and with children with severe and profound learning difficulties and those on the autistic spectrum. 

During his 20+ years as Deputy Headteacher and Headteacher at Stephen Hawking School in Tower Hamlets, the school achieved 3 outstanding inspections and grew from one to two sites. 

Matthew has an MBA and an EdD (Doctor of Education), has achieved the NPQH and the NPQSI and has carried out Ofsted inspections.

Martin Tune was Head teacher of Bonner Primary School for 23 years and has recently retired, allowing him to join THEP. Despite Tower Hamlets being one of the most deprived areas in the UK, Bonner School has achieved above the national average for the attainment of Key Stage Two children for twenty years.

He has regularly worked as a consultant on national education policy initiatives. He has worked as a National Leader in Education and is currently working as a Local Leader in Education to support and challenge other local schools. He is Chairperson of the Teach East London Teaching School Alliance, a cross phase alliance of seventeen schools committed to school improvement through effective partnership working. 

He is a strong believer in achieving school improvement through schools working together and learning from each other in a cooperative and collegiate manner. He has worked on school improvement structures and methodology in the UK and internationally and is currently involved in working with schools in Norway and Denmark. He received a CBE for services to Education in 2008.

Steve Wilks is Director of Educational Leadership Support. He was Headteacher of Oaks Park High School in Redbridge from January 2001 until his retirement in August 2016. As Headteacher of Oaks Park, Steve oversaw the development of the school from its opening in 2001.

Steve’s current roles include working as a consultant for ASCL, where he is involved in Headteacher recruitment and support for school improvement and professional learning, a Leadership Coach with Ambitions School Leadership and an ambassador for Leadership Matters. He works with the Educational Development Trust on the school peer review programme and has been working with schools this year on middle leadership programmes and the NPQSL.

Steve’s particular areas of expertise are School Finance, Sixth Form, Curriculum and timetabling and Data analysis.