Specialist Leaders of Education
Specialist Leaders of Education (SLEs) are outstanding middle and senior leaders who have the skills to support individuals or teams in similar positions in other schools. Each one has undergone a rigorous selection process and training and has extensive experience in their areas of expertise.
Please view our SLE directory below, click here to download a PDF version.
Mr Phil Rimmer
Executive Headteacher / Headteacher of Hawkley Hall High School
Specialism:
Experience:
Phil Rimmer, Hawkley Hall High School
Assessment, Leadership of curriculum, Closing the gap.
Phil is Executive Headteacher for the Trust. He has co-ordinated, and led, the support for more than twenty schools; the impact of which has been as great as a 23% increase in 5A*-C including English and mathematics. Phil co-ordinates aspects of school improvement areas across the Trust which includes: senior and middle leadership support and development, student progress, SLE deployment for school-to-school support, curriculum planning, quality assurance, ARR, SEFs/SDPs and pastoral. He also co-ordinates leadership and subject networks within the Trust and is the line manager of the teaching & learning, English, maths and safeguarding/SEN members of the RLT school improvement team.
Mr John Fiddler
Name and School
Specialism:
Experience:
John Fiddler, Hawkley Hall High School
Assessment, Closing the gap, Maths, Support for most able pupils
John, who is an assistant headteacher, has been teaching GCSE mathematics for nineteen years. He became Head of Mathematics at Hawkley Hall High School in 2006. He is also the Executive Head of Mathematics for the Rowan Learning Trust (RLT). In 2011 he was appointed as Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) within mathematics. In his current role he is responsible for student progress. As a National Support School (NSS), Hawkley Hall High School has provided specialist mathematics support over the past four years. John has focused on developing leadership within mathematics faculties, improving teaching and learning within mathematics, implementing effective strategies in raising student attainment and implementing and developing data analysis systems. John has supported over ten mathematics faculties during this period. The outcomes have resulted in significant improvements in the mathematics A*-C figures which therefore have contributed significantly to the individual school’s 5 A*-C including English and mathematics measure along with 3 and 4 levels of progress within mathematics.
Rochelle Conefrey
Headteacher at Kirkby High School
Name and School
Specialism
Experience
Rochelle Conefrey, Kirkby High School
Assessment, English.
Rochelle was appointed as Head of English of Hawkley Hall High School in 2007 and then assistant headteacher in 2013. She initially oversaw an improvement in English results from 57% in 2007 to 82% in 2013. She is a member of the senior leadership team of the Rowan learning Trust (RLT) with responsibility for cross-trust teaching and learning. In addition, she is a Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) and a trained facilitator of both the Outstanding Teacher Programme (OTP) and the Improving Teacher Programme (ITP). She has a breadth of experience in supporting colleagues in other schools, using her developed coaching skills in many ways. In total, and to varying degrees, she has supported nine schools in her work as SLE. The focus of this work is to develop leadership skills, working closely with newly appointed heads of faculty and ultimately to help schools to improve student progress and consequently to raise attainment. She was also an original member of the Hawkley Hall Teaching and Learning Programme writing team and has taken part in senior leadership development which focuses on encouraging people to take on group goals as opposed to individual goals.
Michelle White
Name and School
Specialism:
Experience:
Michelle White, Hawkley Hall High School
Leadership of continuing professional development (CPD), Drama, Initial teacher training (ITT) and newly qualified teacher (NQT) development
Michelle has been a teacher of drama at Hawkley Hall High since 2009. In 2011 she became acting Head of Drama for one year. In 2015 she became a lead practitioner of teaching and learning, which is her passion. She is a trained facilitator for the Olevi Improving Teacher Programme (ITP), Outstanding Teacher Programme (OTP), Outstanding Teaching Assistant Programme (OTAP) and Power of Coaching courses. She has responsibility for the training programme for recently qualified teachers (RQTs), aiding their induction into the school community. Michelle is very interested in whole staff development and facilitates training in action groups, supporting teaching and learning, throughout the year. She is currently facilitating a teaching innovation group that will create action research with potential impact on whole school practices. Michelle has also worked to review and develop the whole school feedback and marking policy, bringing it in line with current Ofsted guidelines. Michelle was appointed as Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) in 2015.
Jeanette Rigby
Assistant Headteacher / Executive Head of Inclusion, Safeguarding and SEND
Name and School
Specialism:
Experience:
Jeanette Rigby, Hawkley Hall High School
Safeguarding & SEN
Jeanette has worked in education for twenty years. She started at Hawkley Hall High School in 2005 as a pastoral leader. Teaching PSHE, Jeanette went on to become Head of Inclusion and Executive Head for SEND and safeguarding across the Trust and is Special Leader in Education (SLE), supporting other schools in developing SEND provision. She has a wealth of experience working with children, young people and their families; in particular, those with special educational needs and looked after children (LAC). Since 2008, Jeanette has been the designated safeguarding lead. She also facilitates level 1 safeguarding training, designated safeguarding lead training and safer recruitment training across schools in Wigan and surrounding areas. Jeanette facilitates training of the designated person for child protection for Wigan Safeguarding Children Board (WSCB).
Jeanette is a keen ambassador of continued professional development for staff (CPD). She has been the lead professional in developing the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Programme (OTAP), designed to improve knowledge and understanding of how children learn. Jeanette’s relevant qualifications are a foundation degree (FDA) in teaching and learning in secondary education and BA (Hons) in teaching, learning and mentoring. She is currently completing an MA in special educational needs (SEN) and inclusion.
Victoria Crawford
Name and School:
Specialism:
Experience:
Victoria Crawford, Hawkley Hall High School
English
Vicky has been an English teacher at Hawkley Hall High School since 2007. In 2011, she became English KS3 Co-ordinator before taking up her current role as Assistant Head of the English Faculty. She is also a Specialist Leader of Education. Vicky has supported other schools to develop the new KS3 and KS4 curriculums. In 2012 and 2015, she successfully led the school to achieve the Basic Skills Quality Mark. She has also led a whole school initiative as a facilitator of the Hawkley Hall Teaching and Learning Programme.
Emma Jones
Name and School:
Specialism:
Experience:
Emma Jones, Hawkley Hall High School
English
Emma has been teaching English at Hawkley Hall High School since 2006. During this time she has been Head of KS3 and KS4 English and she is currently Head of English leading an outstanding faculty and she is executive Head of English across The Rowan Learning Trust. She has been part of the leadership team that has directly contributed to a rise in English GCSE results, which have been above 80% since 2011. Part of her responsibility has been to develop leadership skills within the faculty, to improve teaching and learning, to develop new KS3 and KS4 curricula and to mentor School’s Direct trainee teachers and NQTs. During her time at Hawkley Hall High School, she has led whole school initiatives on developing collaborative learning and literacy across the curriculum and is a facilitator of the Hawkley Hall Teaching and Learning Programme. She is also a Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) and supports other schools using her developed coaching skills and her knowledge as a GCSE examiner.
Natalie Robinson
Name and School:
Specialism:
Experience:
Natalie Robinson, Hawkley Hall High School
Maths
Natalie has been a teacher of mathematics at Hawkley Hall High since 2008. In 2013 she became a lead practitioner of mathematics, before taking up her current role of Assistant Headteacher & Executive Head of Maths for the Rowan Learning Trust. Natalie has a passion for teaching and learning, and is a trained facilitator for the Olevi ITP and OTP courses. She has also developed and delivered a training programme for recently qualified teachers, aiding their induction into the school community. Natalie has extensive experience supporting colleagues, both at Hawkley Hall and through school-to-school support at other schools, and has developed processes to embed change and improve the quality of teaching. Natalie has also coordinated support work with local primary schools, developing staff confidence and knowledge of teaching at level 6, and worked to review and develop the whole-school feedback and marking policy, bringing it into line with current Ofsted guidelines. Natalie was awarded SLE in 2015.
Pete Smith
Name and School:
Specialism:
Experience:
Pete Smith, Hawkley Hall High School
PE
Pete has been at Hawkley Hall since 2001 and has held numerous positions in school. He has been a Head of Year and Head of Key Stage, ensuring students achieve their potential across all subjects through tracking, behaviour management and intervention. In 2011, he was appointed Head of Physical Education, consistently achieving GCSE results over 75% A*-C. Along with the excellent GCSE results, he has also developed provision within local primary schools in order to deliver quality lessons at KS2. Pete is also a team leader for Edexcel GCSE Physical Education and has delivered CPD to other schools, resulting in increased theory grades within the schools he has worked with. Pete is now an associate leader and forms part of the senior leadership team at Hawkley Hall; his main responsibility is to ensure quality assessment takes place at KS3 and to explore life after levels. He has helped deliver staff CPD and teaching and learning as part of the team that developed the Hawkley Hall Teaching and Learning Programme. Pete is also a trained facilitator for the Outstanding Teacher Programme (OTP) and the Improving Teacher Programme (ITP). Pete was awarded SLE in 2015.
Matt Klinck
Name and School:
Specialism:
Experience:
Matt Klinck, Hawkley Hall High School
Leadership of continuing professional development (CPD), History, Initial teacher training (ITT) and newly qualified teacher (NQT) development, Behaviour and discipline
Matt is currently a senior deputy headteacher at Hawkley Hall High School with core responsibility for both teaching and learning and continued professional development (CPD). He has experience of course design for different facets of teaching and learning, middle leadership, trainee and NQT programmes. He has delivered units on lesson observation and effective feedback to middle leaders in two local schools and one in Greater Manchester. He has also developed a package to support the implementation of collaborative learning for CPD in a local secondary school. Matt has facilitated the Outstanding Teacher Programme (OTP), contributing to the delivery for two cohorts. Between 2011 and 2013, he facilitated three cohorts for the Middle Leaders’ Development Programme (MLDP), made up of middle leaders from primary, secondary and further education settings. He is an online facilitator (OFAT) currently facilitating online modules for the National Professional Qualification for Middle Leadership (NPQML) on behalf of the Outstanding Leaders’ Partnership (OLP). Matt was awarded SLE in 2015.
Andy Walker
Name and School:
Specialism:
Experience:
Andy Walker, Kirkby High School
Drama
Andy Walker started working at Hawkley Hall High School in 2010 as a teacher of drama. In 2013 Andy was appointed as Head of Drama at Kirkby High School and has contributed to raising the profile of the Creative Arts Faculty in Kirkby High School. Andy is a trained facilitator of The Rowan Learning Trust Teaching and Learning Programme promoting challenge and engagement and improving the quality of written and spoken feedback across school. Andy is also a member of the working parties responsible for reviewing and developing whole school marking and homework policies at Kirkby High School, designed to enable staff and students to make progress together whilst meeting OFSTED guidance. He was appointed as Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) in 2015.
Mandy Turner
Name and School:
Specialism:
Experience:
Mandy Turner, Kirkby High School
Maths
Mandy is currently a senior leader at Kirkby High School (KHS) with responsibility for student voice, teaching and learning and pupil premium. As part of her current role, she has implemented a whole school electronic student voice system. This is proving to be a valuable tool for driving whole school improvements. Mandy has led the introduction of the KHS Teaching and Learning Programme and is working with heads of year as a route into closing the gap on pupil premium.
Mandy has been teaching mathematics since 2005 and was appointed as an Advanced Skills Teacher in 2009. As part of this role, Mandy led initiatives that have significantly improved teaching and learning across the school. She has supported local primary schools with diagnostic testing and APP.
Mandy has always had a passion for teaching and learning and mathematics. She has recently introduced an innovative new curriculum for KS3 mathematics and has provided CPD for teaching the new concepts. She has facilitated sessions for heads of department across the borough on the topical Shanghai mathematics programme, aimed at driving forward excellence in practice.
Mandy completed her NPQSL in Jan 2015 and became an SLE in June 2015.
Michael Fletcher
Name and School:
Experience:
Michael Fletcher
Michael has recently been awarded the status of Specialist Leader of Education (SLE). He is currently in his third year of teaching Year 6 at Marus Bridge Primary School. In his previous two years of teaching in Year 6, results have been of an outstanding standard and in more recent times were ranked within the top 200 schools in the country (30% above national average RWM – 2016 SATs). Michael is Lead Practitioner for Teaching and Learning and also Upper Key Stage 2 Leader. Leading on various aspects of teaching and learning, he has a whole school impact by promoting and implementing effective strategies including: differentiated input to develop a pupil led provision; prior learning and catch up interventions to address misconceptions and problem based learning to encourage active progress in all lessons. His areas of expertise include teaching and learning in numeracy/literacy, humanities and the delivery of effective and personalised CPD programmes/training. As well as this, Michael is a teacher governor and humanities subject leader in which he further demonstrates his impact by raising attainment across the curriculum.
Ross Aldridge
Name and School:
Specialism:
Experience:
Ross Aldridge, Marus Bridge Primary School
Maths, Teaching and Learning
Ross has recently been awarded the status of Specialist Leader of Education (SLE). Presently, he is in his tenth year of teaching at Marus Bridge Primary School. Ross became Deputy Headteacher in September 2016, having spent five years as a member of the Senior Leadership Team with responsibility for Upper Key Stage Two and mathematics. Ross has a passion for mathematics, reflected in his accreditation as Maths Specialist Teacher (MaST) in 2014 as well as consistently high attainment, culminating in 78% of pupils gaining level 5 maths in 2015. Additionally, during his tenure as Year Six teacher and UKS2 leader, he oversaw improvements in attainment and progress that ensured Marus Bridge ranked highly amongst the elite primary schools across the country. Overseeing teaching and learning, Ross works with staff across school to ensure monitoring and CPD provision is worthwhile and impactful, as well as promoting and nurturing future leaders.
Darby Pell
Name and School:
Specialism:
Experience:
Darby Pell, Hawkley Hall High School
Music
Darby has been Head of Expressive Arts at Hawkley Hall High School since 2009. He has recently qualified as a Specialist Leader of Education (Music) and has taken great pride in helping to develop the Expressive Arts team into an outstanding faculty. Darby has a passion for music education, drawing upon 18 years of classroom teaching experience, and many years in the music industry. He has developed stimulating, engaging and challenging schemes of work, developed the use of music ICT within the classroom, and achieved outstanding results at both KS3 and KS4; GCSE music results are consistently above national average, and have hit 100% A* to C grades on several occasions. Darby, alongside the expressive arts team, has helped raise the profile of art, drama and music within the school, and established a tremendous reputation for the arts, within the local community.
Jane Mulqueeney
Name and School:
Specialism:
Experience:
Jane Mulqueeney, Westleigh Methodist Primary School
Early Years
Jane is an Assistant Headteacher and has been involved in school leadership for a number of years. She has developed outstanding teaching practice and leadership skills throughout Early Years as a Nursery and Reception teacher; an experienced EYFS Leader and Qualified Teacher for the Westleigh Start Well Family Centre. As a result, she has worked across a wide range of settings and with a range of partners to have a positive impact on schools within her own Trust and the wider community. As co-lead for the Leigh, Lowton and Golborne Family Centre, she is actively involved in driving improvements within the locality and across the maintained and private sectors; leading moderation within the cluster and developing new projects and initiatives with a focus on parent engagement to strengthen relationships, improve outcomes and school readiness. Jane has also successfully introduced two year old provision into school settings; giving her a full breadth across the Early Years Foundation Stage.
Elloit Costas-Walker
Name and School:
Specialism:
Experience:
Elliot Costas-Walker, Leading Learners Multi Academy Trust
Teaching & Learning
Elliot became Teaching & Learning Lead for Leading Learners Multi-Academy Trust in 2017, having previously spent five years as a member of the Senior Leadership Team in an Outstanding Primary school with responsibility for Schools Direct/NQTs, Sports Premium with P.E and Teaching & Learning across school.
Elliot is currently responsible for the Teaching and Learning across 3 schools in very challenging category 5 and 6 areas in Bradford and an Outstanding school in Wigan. He has a proven-track record of supporting schools in various contexts and has been instrumental in the rapid improvement of attainment and progress outcomes. His passion is driving School Improvement work alongside quality first Teaching & Learning in the classroom.
Elliot is passionate about providing NQTs with a quality induction year to ensure their skills and talents are nurtured in order to have an impact on the next generation of children. His NQT programme develops NQTs across a number of schools and his expertise is utilised in the school-to-school support for all NQTs in Wigan Local Authority.
Kirsty Walters
Name and School:
Specialism:
Experience:
Kirsty Walters, Fred Longworth High School
Drama Specialist
Kirsty has been a teacher at Fred Longworth High School for eighteen years. She is a Drama specialist .Her book, ‘Learning about Social issues through Scripts for Learners aged 11-16’ was published by Routledge in 2014.
Kirsty has been in post as an Assistant Head teacher with responsibility for Teaching and Learning for three years. This role has involved collaboration with teachers from across the Primary and Secondary sector. She is passionate about sharing good practice and is keen to seize every opportunity to collaborate with others.
Kirsty’s previous role as a Lead Practitioner with responsibility for teaching and learning has enabled her to undertake outreach work in the form of training and collaborative planning. Her role has also included having responsibility for ITTs and NQTs.
Nine years ago Kirsty gained experience of teaching in two primary schools as a freelance Drama teacher, which was extremely valuable in providing experience of other Key Stages. Her work in Primary schools provided an opportunity to work on the planning and delivery of cross-curricular projects aimed at inspiring and motivating students across KS1 and 2.
Ian Barry
Name and School:
Specialism:
Experience:
Ian Barry, Byrchall High School
English, Literacy, Teaching and Learning
Ian Barry is a Director of Learning at Byrchall High School with responsibility for English and literacy across the curriculum. The school has celebrated its most successful results to date in English under Ian’s direction as Head of Faculty. He joined the school in January, 2015 as a Lead Practitioner.
He contributes significantly to school inset days, twilight events and staff development: facilitating sessions and follow-ups on higher-order questioning, pedagogy and practice, literacy and assessment at the point of learning. These skills are firmly rooted within the English faculty, as noted during the school’s recent Ofsted inspection. He works with local feeder primary schools to promote reading beyond the classroom and support writing at greater depth. He was a guest speaker at last year’s primary school conference in Wigan.
Prior to joining the teaching profession, Ian enjoyed a successful career as a Head of Service and Special Projects Manager in the Local Government Housing sector and attributes much of his success within Education to his previous work experience.
Clare Lynch
Name and School:
Specialism:
Experience:
Clare Lynch, Three Towers Academy
Behaviour/Emotional Literacy/Mental Health
Clare is an assistant Head teacher at Three Towers Alternative Provision Academy and has held this role for the past 7 years. Her role involves responsibility for young people with medical needs, mental health problems, all outreach teaching and vocational training. Previous to this she was a centre manager at “The Phoenix Centre” Pupil referral unit. Clare was appointed as a specialist leader of education in May 2018.
Clare has supported schools with behaviour initiatives, especially with high risk pupils, and pupils experiencing medical needs, including mental health, in recent years, but previously supported predominately secondary schools as part of Wigan LA Behaviour Support Team.
Claire Arstall
Name and School:
Specialism:
Experience:
Claire Arstall, Three Towers Academy
SEN, Behaviour and discipline, Attendance
Claire has been Assistant Headteacher & SENDCo at Three Towers AP Academy since April 2013 and previous to this was lead teacher/assistant centre manager within one of the small PRUs - The Beechwood Centre.
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