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.

Rob is the Trust Leader of the Inspire Partnership, a group of 9 schools based in Croydon, Greenwich and Medway.  He is also the author of ‘A Manifesto for Excellence in Schools’ which tells the story of his school’s improvement journey from inadequate to outstanding in just 16 months.  

Rob is an NLE and senior partner with Challenge Partners. He has experience of school leadership in a range of contexts, including special measures and schools serving a high proportion of disadvantaged pupils.  He is also a member of the ASCL Council as a primary representative.    

Rob is a regular blogger and tweeter and is always keen to share resources to support school improvement.  You can follow Rob from @carpenter_rob or download materials from his website www.robcarpenter.org.uk.  He is always happy to share his thoughts and ideas.

Nigel is a highly experienced school leader with 35 years in education and 20 in senior roles. He has been the principal of a large standalone secondary academy in West London for the last eight years and is an experienced and practising Ofsted inspector.

Nigel has recently become an educational consultant and continues to inspect, state and independent schools in London.

When Nigel assumed his headship, he knew that the school needed rapid and transformational school improvement, following a poor Ofsted judgement. He quickly established a vision for excellence, based on moral integrity and putting children and young people at the heart of his improvement plan.

Consequently, his school is now one of the borough’s leading secondary schools, highly over-subscribed and a school of choice for families in the area.

Nigel has been chair of his London borough’s headteacher association and has offered bespoke strategic support to a range of school leaders.

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.

John has held several leadership roles in London schools including as a deputy headteacher with responsibilities including curriculum development and planning, CPD and teaching, learning and assessment.

John has led Ofsted inspections of several schools in London and the East of England and has been Ofsted's National Lead for modern languages. In this role, John regularly reported on the status of languages to the All Party Parliamentary Group.

He has been an independent education consultant since 2018 and has focused on supporting schools with the evaluation of their modern languages provision, assisted with languages curriculum planning and has quality assured the work of modern languages departments and teams.

Jay has accrued 25 years of teaching and leadership experience in five comprehensive schools that varied significantly in location, size and culture. He has been a senior leader for 14 years including six as a Secondary Principal in two schools, most recently at Manor School Sports College (2017 -2021) where he also had responsibility for leading the Nene Education Trust (NET) staff development and leadership programmes. He is a fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching and achieved the NPQH in 2008.

Jay has a particular interest in teaching and learning, curriculum, leadership development and well-being. He has created #NEDTalks, a half termly education networking conference and is an influential member of the Educating Northants steering group; a teacher-led organisation promoting education, recruitment and CPD in Northamptonshire and beyond.

As the founder of Meraki Education, Jay provides organisational improvement, leadership development, corporate wellness and coaching within and beyond education.

Maggie has worked as a teacher and in senior leadership roles in education for over 40 years. She was latterly Director for Leadership Development and Research at the National College for School Leadership and Interim Chief Executive. She currently works with partnerships of schools, Multi Academy Trusts and local authorities on Collaborative School Improvement.

Maggie trained as a mindfulness teacher at the Oxford Mindfulness Centre and has integrated this into her current work, supporting leaders to thrive and flourish in the complex and demanding role of school leadership.  Her most recent work in this area, alongside free resources for school leaders can be found at www.empoweringleadership.co.uk.

Colette is an Executive Head of three schools in Peterborough. She has been a Headteacher for almost 20 years with eleven of those as an Executive Head. Two of her schools have very high levels of deprivation and EAL, creating many opportunities to look at learning and teaching differently. Being creative with the education for these children has resulted in two high performing schools, with standards at the end of KS2 showing excellent progress and attainment. Colette is passionate about giving all children an opportunity to shine and ensuring they have the academic success they need to thrive and flourish.

Peter started his career in education as a secondary science teacher before enjoying a series of leadership roles including being head of an initial teacher training partnership.

He then joined Ofsted as an HMI leading inspections of primary and secondary schools and initial teacher training partnerships.

Since being back in schools Peter has held several successful senior positions in four multi academy trusts including director of teaching school, director of education and CEO. In this time he has also consulted as an education adviser to the DfE, Future Academies, Kent and Ark and was Head Consultant to Challenge Partners.

Esther has worked in secondary education for 38 years, with 25 years of experience as a senior leader across 4 schools, including 3 headships. From 2011–2022 Esther was the Headteacher at Central Foundation Girls School in Tower Hamlets.
Esther has chosen to work in inner city schools across her career, championing students with high levels of deprivation and those with diverse backgrounds, working on projects to develop and extend opportunities and enhance progress and achievement for all students. The successful work of her school in this area has been published in SSAT journals and in the Annual Parliamentary Review.
Developing leadership at all levels has been key to the success of her school. During her time as Head at Central, she supported and advised other schools and their senior teams across boroughs, and mentored new Headteachers. She has also worked with the SSAT and THEP on peer review programs, chaired the Secondary Heads Group in Tower Hamlets, and was an active member of the Schools’ Forum.

Zoe has 38 years of experience in education, most specifically within diverse and economically deprived communities. Her practice as an inclusive and aspirational educator was consolidated and embedded in her 12 years as Head of Hermitage primary school.

Throughout her professional career, Zoe has been committed to collaborative support to bring about sustained school improvement. She has worked as part of the pilot peer review team for THE Partnership and has extensive experience of leading cross-phase peer reviews. She has sought partnerships with like-minded educators, most recently working with ITT institutions in the US and Denmark.

Zoe has served as a member of THE Partnership’s Headteacher Reference Group, as a mentor on the Future Leaders programme and as a trustee on the Hermitage River project.

Lynn’s professional career started in the City of London where she became assistant director of an independent broking house.

In 2001, having completed a Psychology degree, she began working in education welfare as a senior practitioner in Newham. Subsequently, she was a team manager in Redbridge where she successfully developed effective procedures and interventions to improve attendance and reduce absence in partnership with schools.

Lynn has been a representative on a Multi-Agency Public Protection panel and has participated in a variety of government steering groups.

She also has a diploma in cognitive behavioural therapy and a professional qualification in Training the Trainer.

Lynn is founder and director of Education Welfare Advisory and Support Services Ltd (EWASS) and Education Welfare Advisory and Safeguarding Services Ltd and has worked with a number of Tower Hamlets schools on education welfare and safeguarding issues.

Ian first became a Headteacher in 1993 and went on to serve in the role at five different primary schools: from successfully tackling a school in special measures to helping a school in challenging circumstances become outstanding. He has worked as a Local Authority advisor across phases including nursery and schools with children’s centres. He has a wide-ranging set of experiences in matters of partnership and school improvement. As a Headteacher, he had experience of working across Catholic, Anglican and non-denominational schools and a range of experiences in different educational contexts. He became a school improvement partner in 2007 and worked with schools in both Tower Hamlets and Newham. As a local authority officer, he led on assessment, school development planning and systems as well as supporting schools causing concern.

Currently he is focusing on coaching and training school leaders as individuals and as teams.

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.

Ogugua is a Senior School Adviser to a range of schools across London and the South-East of England. She also advises schools in the Caribbean and supports and challenges a range of nursery, primary and secondary schools/academies. Her work includes (but not limited to) supporting school/academy self-evaluation processes, developing leadership strategies for senior leaders and governors and identifying strategies to improve the quality of education for pupils and young people.

Ogugua has worked in primary and secondary school settings and has over 30 years’ experience in senior leadership positions in London schools. She is currently involved in extensive education research and holds an MBA, EdD (Doctor of Education), NQPH, NPQSI and is a current practising inspector.

Diana has over 20 years’ experience leading secondary education, including six as a successful Headteacher in a London secondary school; She works at the cutting edge of leadership development and is known as a resilient school leader, skilled in urban leadership under challenging circumstances. Diana has substantial success in developing school-wide models that strategically enhance the quality of teaching and learning across the curriculum and can couple sound strategic vision whilst giving clear operational direction. She lectures on a MA in Educational Leadership for a UK university. Diana is also a lead school inspector, with developed expertise scrutinizing school-wide leadership systems.

With a proven track record of developing leaders via bespoke training programmes, Diana also founded The Academy of Women’s Leadership specialising in supporting women to grow the leadership cultures of their organisations and to flourish as leaders established in confidence. She has established capability in mentoring and supporting leaders facing challenging circumstances and change. She is the author of Courageous Leadership, a humorous book that gives school leaders’ strategies for shaping their leadership experience.

Sue is a highly experienced senior leader having been Headteacher of a large girls’ comprehensive school in London for seventeen years. Prior to that she was Deputy Headteacher in a large mixed comprehensive school, also in London.

Sue became a National Leader of Education in 2013 and her school was designated a National Support School and also a Teaching School. This meant that Sue has been involved extensively  in  school to school support work.

Sue has been working as an Ofsted Inspector since 2016 and is currently a lead Ofsted Inspector in the East of England.

Sue's particular areas of expertise include leadership, science, mathematics and the achievement of disadvantaged students.

Nicole is currently the Director of the Seven Kings Learning Partnership (formerly the Seven Kings Teaching School Alliance) which comprises 21 schools committed to improving life chances for children through school improvement.

Her work focuses on strategic leadership and delivery of professional learning programmes, leading collaborative work between schools and school-to-school support She has particular expertise in developing a coaching culture, leading the development of ECTs, formative assessment, ‘Feedforward’ and the Pedagogy of Progress.

Nicole has had various roles in her 20+ years in education - as an Advanced Skills Teacher, Lead Practitioner and Specialist Leader in Education and supporting and developing teachers and leaders in primary, secondary, all-through and special schools. She has been coaching for over 15 years and is currently completing the ILM Level 7 in Executive Coaching and Mentoring, coaching a variety of middle and senior leaders and headteachers in three different boroughs.

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.

Kim is a qualified Executive Coach having completed the Professional Certificate of Coaching course at Henley Business School and is a member of the Association for Coaching. He also has an MA in Educational Management.

Kim has 35+ years of experience in education including 8 years as a Headteacher.  He is an education Trustee within the Vanguard Learning Trust in Hillingdon with responsibility for monitoring academic outcomes within the Trust. 

In 2019, Kim established Mainsail Consulting, a coaching and consulting company which aims to support organisations and individuals through accredited executive leadership coaching, professional mentoring and strategic improvement work.

Kim is extremely keen on sport, was a member of a team that swam the Channel in 2020 and is a regular park runner and cyclist. 

Neil has worked as a teacher, Headteacher, inspector, corporate training director and leadership coach.  He has been a researcher at the National College, a Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Education and a Visiting Lecturer at Loughborough University and Brunel University. As one of the first National Leaders of Education, he has worked extensively in people development and school improvement.

He has coached on five continents and is passionate about the power of coaching to transform both individuals and organizations everywhere.  In 2010, Neil was awarded the CBE in recognition of his services to education at home and abroad.  In 2016, he was also honoured by The Royal College of General Practitioners for his contribution to medical education.

He now enjoys working as a leadership coach, coach trainer and writer. Currently, he is engaged in designing and delivering coach development programmes in a variety of contexts - locally, nationally and internationally.  Most importantly, he is an ardent life-long learner committed to 'living a coaching lifestyle' and has written a book with that title in 2017.  His third book is due to be published in 2022.

Liz has 30 years' experience in geography teaching and teacher education in the UK and internationally. Liz is geography consultant for THE Partnership’s Geography and History Curriculum project.

She is particularly interested and experienced in working with schools, both primary and secondary, in reviewing and redeveloping their geography curricula to ensure excellent progression, rigour and challenge tailored for their unique context.

Martin was Headteacher 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.

Martin has regularly worked on national education policy initiatives. He has been a National and a Local Leader in Education. He is Chair 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.

Nick has run an independent organisational consultancy, Intelligent Action, for the past 30 years, specialising in providing development for leaders who wish to create cultural change and improvement in their organisations.

He has worked mainly in the education and humanitarian sectors but also has experience with commercial and governmental organisations. He has trained and coached educational leaders in the UK, Estonia, Finland and the Netherlands. He has worked extensively with international organisations such as Médecins sans Frontieres, the United Nations Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue in Geneva.

His background is in education with experience as a youth worker, director of a centre for young people not succeeding in the school system and adviser to schools and colleges.

Throughout his consulting career, Nick has worked in some amazing London schools supporting and coaching school leaders.  Recently this has involved running extensive coaching programmes for school leaders and leadership teams to help deal with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.