Our People

Carolyn Roberts is Headteacher of Thomas Tallis School, a 11-19 community comprehensive school in London of over 2000 students. She read Theology at King’s College London followed by a PGCE at Birmingham and MA at Durham. She taught in Birmingham, Leicestershire, Durham, London, and Sunderland before becoming the first Headteacher of St Hild’s CE School in Hartlepool and then of Durham Johnston in Durham City. She moved to Tallis in 2013. Carolyn was a member of ASCL Council for nine years, for four of which she was Honorary Secretary. She chaired the broad-based Ethical Leadership Commission which ran between 2017 and 2019. She is a Founding Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching and has been PTI Co-Director since 2019. Carolyn is co-author of Knowledge and the Future School (2014) and wrote Ethical Leadership for a Better Education System (2019). A regular speaker at conferences and on radio and television, she has also contributed to the Sunday Times and the Guardian.

Dr Hugh Rayment-Pickard MBE joined The PTI as Co-Director in 2023. He is one of the founders of education charity IntoUniversity overseeing its growth from a local project to a national charity now, with a turnover of £11m and helping 45,000 young people every year. Prior to this Hugh worked for the Diocese of London. He has a PhD in the philosophy of religion and has written several books in this field. For several years Hugh was a tutor in philosophy at Goldsmith’s, University of London.

Oliver Blond is the Chief Executive of the School Partnerships Alliance, a charity which supports cross-sector partnership work in state and independent schools for the benefit of children throughout the education system. Previously, he was a Headteacher for seventeen years in both the state and independent sectors, leading the Henrietta Barnett School in Barnet, and Roedean School in Brighton. He is the Academic Director and a founding member of the PTI, and has been closely involved with the charity since 2001. He is an English and Drama teacher by training.

Professor Dame Alison Peacock is the Chief Executive of the Chartered College of Teaching. Prior to joining the Chartered College, Dame Alison was Executive Headteacher of The Wroxham School in Hertfordshire. Her career to date has spanned primary, secondary and advisory roles. She is a member of the Royal Society’s Education Committee, a peer member of the Teaching Schools Council and a trustee of both the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors and of Teach First. In March 2015, Alison was appointed by the Department for Education as a member of the commission on assessment without levels and she is co-author of Creating Learning without Limits (2012). She was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Brighton in 2014 and in May 2015 was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant of Hertfordshire.

Sarah Mitchell is Director of School Improvement for Primary and Safeguarding for Haberdashers Academies Trust South, working across nine primary and secondary schools in South London. Prior to taking on this role she was a primary Headteacher, leading schools in Croydon and Bromley. Sarah is a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching, and works with primary schools nationally to develop rigorous, subject specific curriculum.

Melanie Ferron-Evans is Headteacher at Ysgol Rhiwabon, an 11-16 comprehensive school in Wrexham, North Wales. She began her teaching career in 1988, teaching in Wales, England, Japan and South Africa. She has experience of leading a successful English Department in two school before progressing to senior leadership and Headship. Ysgol Rhiwabon has been part of the PTI for over a decade and Melanie credits many of the school improvements in the school to the PTI’s excellent support for teachers. Melanie believes that investment in regular, quality CPD, based on the PTI ethos, is an essential part of school improvement, supporting the very best outcomes for all students.

Patrick joined the PTI in 2008 as Business Development and Operations Manager, and was appointed Senior Operations Manager in 2011 and Chief Operating Officer in 2013. He is responsible for marketing, IT, HR and the office management of the charity. Previously to his role at the PTI, Patrick worked for Barclays plc and BOC Gases, where he was a commercial graduate trainee. He read Chemistry at the University of Bristol, and in his spare time enjoys cycling and playing cricket.

Danielle joined the PTI in 2014 and leads on a range of different events for teachers and school leaders. Prior to joining the PTI, Danielle attended the University of Manchester, spending a year at the University of California as part of the Study Abroad programme.

Claire Clark joined the PTI in 2015 as Finance Assistant, and in 2021 she was promoted to Accounts Manager before being appointed as Company Secretary in 2022. She is a Chartered Accountant with over 15 years’ experience, and before taking a career break to raise her two sons, worked at various companies including Liberty and Homebase. Claire read Mathematics at St Hugh’s College, Oxford.

Kirsty joined The PTI as an intern in February 2021 and is now Programmes Manager in the Core Programmes team, leading on Subject Enrichment Residentials and the Department Development Programme. Prior to The PTI, Kirsty studied Philosophy and Sociology at the University of Manchester.

Clare O’Sullivan was an English teacher, AST and Deputy Headteacher for over 20 years working closely with the PTI as course designer for NTSDs and the English Residential Course. In 2018 she was seconded by the PTI as Head of Education Strategy and Development, establishing the Primary Hub model, developing leadership CPD and launching the Subject Leadership Certificate, including an international stream; leading to joining the PTI full time as Head of Educational Strategy, School Development and Membership in 2023. Clare is a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching and passionately believes that teachers should remain curious about their chosen subjects.

Nick joined the PTI as an intern in June 2021 and is now Programmes Manager, with strategic oversight of Primary Hubs. Prior to The PTI, Nick read Politics and International Relations at the University of Aberdeen. He then completed a Master’s in International Development at the University of Edinburgh.

Ellie joined the PTI as the Events Intern in June 2022 and is now Programmes Coordinator in the Core Programmes team. Ellie leads on New Teacher Subject Days as well as working on a range of other events and programmes. Prior to joining The PTI, Ellie studied History and American Studies at the University of Nottingham.

Natasha joined The PTI in 2022 as Development and Communications Co-ordinator before being promoted to Development Manager in 2023 and is now working in the Core Programmes team as Programmes Manager, responsible for The PTI’s CPD programme. Prior to joining, Natasha worked in Communications for Local Government for 4 years. She studied Performing Arts at the University of Winchester and continues to have a passion for musical theatre and the arts.

Jasmine joined The PTI in June 2023. Prior to The PTI, Jasmine studied Law with International Relations at Royal Holloway, University of London.

Heloise joined The PTI as Programmes Assistant in June 2023 before being promoted to Programmes Coordinator in July 2024. Prior to this, she studied for her bachelor’s degree in History at Queen Mary University of London before achieving a master’s degree in History from UCL.

Alice joined The PTI as Programmes Coordinator for the New Programmes team in July 2024. She previously studied Anthropology at the University of Roehampton, before undertaking a Master’s degree in Psychological and Psychiatric Anthropology at Brunel University.

Daisy joined The PTI in September 2024 as Programmes Assistant for the Core Programmes team. Prior to The PTI, Daisy studied Psychology and Criminology at the University of Westminster.

Eve joined the PTI in September 2024 as Development Assistant. Prior to this, she read History at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and worked at IntoUniversity as an Education Worker.

Madeleine joined The PTI as Senior Fundraising Manager in 2025, having worked in the third sector for over a decade, mainly in Trusts and Foundations fundraising. She read Philosophy at University College London, followed by a M.A., then Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Birkbeck, University of London.

Jacqueline Pierce is Assistant Head, Curriculum at Gordon’s School, an 11-18 comprehensive state boarding school in Surrey. She first joined Gordon’s in 2004 as Head of History and, prior to that, was working at Ashburton Community College in Croydon. Before becoming a teacher, Jacqueline worked in retail management and the retail banking sector in both Devon and Norfolk, something she was pleased to leave behind in favour of a teaching career in 1999. Jacqueline has been involved with the PTI since 2007 in a variety of roles from one-day CPD events through teacher leader and is now the Associate Department coordinator for History.

Jo Newman has been Head of Junior School at North London Collegiate since 2003 and a primary teacher for some 30 years. Before taking her current role, she was Head of Fairseat, the Channing Junior School and prior to that was Deputy Head, Key Stage 1 at North London Collegiate where she was also a class teacher for a number of years. She began her teaching career in the Preparatory Department of Haberdasher’ Aske’s Boys School, Elstree. She has a BEd in Geography and Education from Homerton College, University of Cambridge.

Gary Bainbridge second in department at Kenton School, where Art & Design is a core subject. All students select one Art endorsement to study at GCSE from Art, Photography, Ceramics, Graphics and Textiles. Gary has turned around the results of the Photography course and has helped to set up or revive darkrooms in three different schools across the North East. As a practicing artist, Gary makes comics, artist’s books, illustrations and drawing challenges.

Penny Rundle is currently Head of Art and DT at Rosebery School where she has fulfilled several leadership roles before returning to her first love of teaching Art and Design. Her vision for Art at Rosebery is one where technique and contextual understanding supports the development of personal confidence, creative expression and adventure in the process making. She is also passionate about the power of professional coaching and has worked in number of schools with colleagues as a Lead Coach.

Alec Laing is Senior Lead Practitioner on the Leadership Team, Specialist Leader of Education for Technology and County Advanced Skills Teacher.

​Caroline Lloyd is Head of D&T at Wymondham College.

Stuart Higham is Head of Department at The John Warner School.

Lucy Aminzade has been Assistant Headteacher at Plashet School in Newham since April 2023. Prior to this role, she worked at Loxford School for 13 years. For nine of those years, she was the Curriculum Team Leader for English and oversaw English across the six Trust schools from 2020. She has worked with The PTI in various roles for many years.

Graham Pidgeon joined Radnor House as an experienced and highly regarded Head of English from Maidstone Grammar School for Girls. A graduate of the University of Sussex, Graham has significant experience at leading a high performing English Faculty with outstanding results and significant numbers electing to study English Literature at A-Level and degree level. Originally a member of the Government’s Fast Track to Leadership programme, Graham has continued with his professional leadership development having recently completed training at the National College of School Leaders and taken responsibility for Literacy Co-ordination across the school. He is also an English Subject Leader for The PTI, delivering subject knowledge and pedagogical training to newly qualified teachers.

James Maclntyre has taught in a variety of state schools as a Director of English, as well as a teacher of Media Studies and Drama. He has led CPD on literacy and vocabulary development, alongside being a mentor of new teachers. James is interested in research and has completed an M.Ed. in Practitioner Enquiry. He has been involved with The PTI for seven years, both as a participant and as an advisor. Outside of teaching, James is a keen reader and record collector.

​Kate Moyes is Deputy Head of Sixth Form and Teacher of Geography at Hinchingbrooke School.

Nicola Thurlow is Head of Geography at Bexley Grammar School.

Emma Kerr was Executive Principal at Launceston and Egloskerry Primary schools. She holds the National Practitioner Qualification for Headship (NPQH), has a BSc (Hons) degree in Business and completed her PGCE teacher training at the University of Plymouth’s Exmouth campus (Rolle College). Prior to being a teacher she worked in London buying programming for ITV. Emma has taught in a variety of schools, across all age ranges, in both Devon and Cornwall and also in Sydney, Australia. She has a keen interest in polar exploration, especially Shackleton. She is a member of the Geographic Association Early Years and Primary Phase Committee and regularly writes articles for publication.

Jack Cockayne is Director of Geography at Cornwall Education Learning Trust and Brannel School and led the winning department of The PTI 2021 Bernice McCabe award at Broadway Academy, Birmingham.

Simon is Head of History at Poole Grammar School, a growing selective grammar school of 1200 students where both History and Ancient History are popular choices. He has been there in various pastoral and academic roles for 28 years. He runs football and cricket teams and a thriving Historical and Archaeological Society, as well as teaching Archaeology as an after-school AS qualification. Simon gained a 2.1 from Nottingham University and then did his PGCE at Manchester. Nothing gives him greater satisfaction than the joy of teaching motivated and interested young people about our collective past – the job remains a pleasure.

Kim Hanley studied medieval history at Lancaster University and focused her special subject on the reign of Richard III. She then went on to complete her PGCE in Lancaster at the University of Cumbria before starting her teaching career at Nelson Thomlinson School in Wigton, Cumbria. Kim worked there for four years before taking the opportunity to return to Lancaster and take up a post at Ripley St Thomas C of E Academy, where she became Subject Leader of History.

Emma Gough is Head of History at Launceston College in Cornwall. She has been teaching for 22 years both in the UK and overseas. She has taught both GCSE, A Level and the International Baccalaureate . Emma is a mother of 2 boys and is fortunate enough to live on the coast in beautiful Cornwall. She has been involved with the PTI for the past 4 years both as a partner school, a Consultant and a Subject Leader. Emma enjoys the opportunity to promote her subject beyond the classroom and really embraces the values of the PTI and the fantastic opportunities that it encompasses.

Lex has been a maths teacher for 10 years, specialising in raising standards and achievement. Her particular passion is making every child enjoy their maths lessons! This has lead to a position as Teaching and Learning lead where she shares excellent pedagogy across the curriculum. Lex has worked with The PTI for 3 years.

Rob Cummins has been teaching for 17 years and has experience in selective and non-selective schools. He held a variety of Pastoral roles for 14 years, across all age ranges from 11-18, before stepping back and taking on a new challenge of teaching Computer Science alongside Mathematics. Rob plays a key role in Key Stage 5 planning and delivering of lessons within the department. His involvement with The PTI began 12 years ago and has now been involved in residentials, one-day subject leadership days, primary school hubs, new teacher subject days and online lectures.

Vicky McMahon studied Ancient History, Archaeology and Maths at the University of Birmingham, before completing her PGCE in Maths Education at the University of Bath. Vicky has been teaching Mathematics for over 10 years and enjoys being able to stretch and challenge her students from Year 7 all the way up to A2 Further Maths, to enjoy the subject which she loves! She currently works at King Edward VI Five Ways School, Birmingham in the Maths Department, and as Director of Student Character and Choices.

Lucy Meyer is Head of Modern Foreign Languages at Bexley Grammar School. She studied French and Spanish at Nottingham University, followed by a PGCE gained at the Institute of Education. She works at Bexley Grammar School, where she has held positions as Lead Teacher of KS3, KS4 and is currently Head of a 20-strong department that offers 7 languages to A Level and where the study of 2 languages is compulsory to GCSE. Lucy’s main pedagogical interests lie in pupil use of target language and the development of initiatives that raise the profile of languages.

Jemma Marshall has been Head of Spanish at Lancaster Royal Grammar School, a state boarding school, since 2011, and also serves as Deputy Head of Sixth Form. She has worked in a variety of schools in which she has concentrated on enriching schemes of work and running trips to enhance language learning. At LRGS, she has implemented more culture-based schemes of work, introduced trips, exchanges and cultural events, and is also responsible for mentoring student teachers of Spanish. Jemma has worked with The PTI for several years, having led a CPD event on incorporating history into the curriculum and using music and art in the classroom. She was also involved in leading New Teacher Subject Days and the Subject Leadership Programme before becoming Programme Coordinator. In school she has completed the Research Scheme alongside colleagues, looking into how MFL teaching strategies can benefit other subjects, which has lead to her being involved in delivering CPD to colleagues and local institutions.

Chris Pattinson is Assistant Head at Netherhall School.

Chris began teaching in 2011 after working in business in London. He worked in Kendal before moving to Ullswater Community College, where he became Head of Department in 2013. Since then, Chris worked with his colleagues to introduce more challenging, engaging schemes of work and assessment. He also initiated new trips abroad including a highly successful French exchange and is exploring ways in which they can be knitted in to the curriculum. Chris is interested in the use of classroom language and media to promote spontaneous speech and grammatical understanding.

Nell Macleod grew up with a dedicated and committed music teacher for a mother, so it runs in her blood. Having completed her degree at Kings College, London and trained to teach at Homerton College Cambridge, she started her career in a large comprehensive in Essex before moving to be Head of Department in another large comprehensive in rural Cambridgeshire where she has been for 11 years. Passionately committed to providing a thorough and practical music education to all children, Nell’s department is very widely resourced with a range of instruments and her curriculum is varied and rigorous, focusing on providing an experience that can challenge all pupils whilst remaining accessible and musical at its core. She also believes in maintaining her own practical musicianship as far as the job will allow(!), and still enjoys her singing work in particular.

Emma Lamb was appointed the Subject Leader for Performing Arts at Moor Park High School and Sixth form, Preston in 2023. Prior to that she was the Director of Music at Lancaster Royal Grammar School and Head of Music at Hutton Grammar School, Preston. Emma studied voice at the Welsh College of Music and Drama, particularly enjoying working with composers on newly composed works. She gained her PGCE certificate from Cambridge, alongside a choral scholarship at Clare College. A Showbie Certified Educator and Musical Futures Tech Champion teacher, Emma is passionate about integrating technology into her teaching, whilst ensuring a challenging and varied curriculum, rich in practical opportunities. Emma has also worked for the PTI as a Teacher Leader, and Music CPD Co-ordinator and co-ordinated and co-hosted Music forums throughout the Covid-19 restrictions. She has delivered many CPD events in person and online, which include Creating a Singing School, Practical Aural Skills, Composition for the 21^st Century, Listening and Literacy, What’s New about New Music, De-colonising the Music Curriculum and Practical Music Making in the Classroom.

Claire Brown has been teaching in Penzance for 16 years, and has been in her current post as Director of Performing Arts and Head of Music at Mounts Bay Academy (the school Claire went to) for 5 years. Claire is also the Performing Arts and Music lead for Leading Edge Academy Partnership which incorporates primary and secondary schools from different areas of the county. Claire is a Subject Leader in Education for the Teaching School and Musical Futures Champion Teacher. They are a Music Mark School and were designated as a Challenge Partners Area of Excellence in Music. Claire’s department was honoured to receive the first Bernice McCabe Award in March 2020. Teaching and living in Cornwall can be idyllic but it has its challenges. Students are geographically isolated, and Claire believes that despite living in an area of huge deprivation, students should be able to have huge aspirations that they can successfully fulfil. Claire’s ethos as a teacher and middle leader is to give students the opportunities that she wishes she had when she was at school.

Sarah Westcott is Head of Pupil Development and Lower School Science at Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet.

Sarah completed a PhD with The Medical Research Council and Postdoctoral research with Cancer Research UK and entered teaching after enrolling on the PGCE program. She joined Queen Elizabeth’s School in Barnet in 2008 as a teacher of Chemistry. Queen Elizabeth’s and herself both became involved with the PTI during her NQT year, and after attending the Cambridge Summer School she took responsibility for the science department’s PTI development plan.

David Fairclough is second in department and lead Chemistry teacher at St John Fisher Catholic Academy in Dewsbury. Working in challenging contexts for 14 years, David has investigated a wide range of different approaches to delivering Science from year 7 to 13, with a passion for bringing in pedagogical research to dispel common myths and misconceptions in the classroom.

Matthew Ford has been teaching science for 16 years and has been Head of Science at The Ecclesbourne school in Derbyshire for the past 6 years. He has developed and lead the science faculty team in increasing the number of students attaining 2+ GCSEs passes in science from 69% in 2014 to 94% for the past three consecutive years. Over the last 18 months Matthew has worked as part of the School’s Strategic Leadership Team, contributing to the direction of the whole school improvement plans, as well as being a teacher Governor. He is an experienced examiner for AQA, marking GCSE Science examinations in the summer. Alongside teaching, Matthew ism a senior instructor at the UKs largest Supercar driving experience company, teaching clients how to drive supercars to their limit and demonstrating the car’s full capability in high-speed passenger rides.

Keith is Managing Director and Senior Partner of Patron, which he founded in 1999. The business has since evolved into one of the leading opportunistic real estate managers in Europe. He began his career at Lehman Brothers where he assisted in creating and leading the Principal Finance Group. In 1997 he left Lehman Brothers to create the business which a year later became Patron.

Keith has long been a supporter of educators and projects to improve education, as such initiatives have a multiplier effect and directly reach the areas in society where support is most needed. He is a long-term benefactor to Young Enterprise, the UK’s largest business and enterprise education charity, and promotes their volunteer programmes, allowing Patron staff paid time off to participate. Keith has been a member of the Advisory Committee for the Chicago Booth School of Business Social Enterprise Initiative since 2006, and Co-chair of its UK/European Advisory Board since 2012. For the last nine years he has funded, and when possible, participated in projects to build new schools in areas of need across the world. He is also active and a Trustee of the Royal Marines Charity and is a Senior Patron to many more different charities focused on Education, Infrastructure and support for the British Armed Forces veterans.

Julie leads the Higher Education and Transformation Practices at Cairneagle. She was previously a partner at Deloitte were she set up and led their education practice in the UK before becoming the lead partner for education globally. A Graduate of the University of Bristol, Julie trained as an accountant with the National Audit Office where she also advised the C&AG and PAC on policy matters, including education. Her work spans the whole education system, having worked with government, institutions, third sector and commercial organisations in the UK, Australia, Middle East, India and North America. Julie brings over 20 years of experience of transformation in government and education, where she has led programmes to design and deliver new operating models to improve service design and quality, reduce cost, improve productivity, open new markets and grow revenues.

Fraser Greenshields leads the UK Corporate Finance advisory business at EY, the global professional services firm. This covers M&A, Government/Infrastructure and Debt advisory. Fraser joined EY in 2007 from The Royal Bank of Scotland where he was a Managing Director within its Private Equity and Principal Finance Group. Prior to this he was Global CFO and COO of Structured Finance at RBS and had been a member of both Investment and Credit Committees. He advises corporates, private equity, institutions and private companies on strategy, funding, acquisitions and divestments.

Fraser holds a BA in Economics from Strathclyde University and qualified as a charted accountant in 1993.

Richard started his teaching career in Leicester before moving to Leeds as a Head of Department. Having worked as a Deputy Headteacher in a Bradford school he took up his first Headship in Leeds in 2001 before joining Harrogate Grammar School as Headteacher in 2007. Richard is a National Leader of Education and has worked as an Ofsted Inspector but much prefers to focus on his work as Director of the Red Kite Alliance and CEO of the Red Kite Learning Trust. The Alliance is a thriving partnership of over 40 schools in the Leeds, Bradford and North Yorkshire area. The Red Kite recently became one of the first Teaching School Hubs in the country, building on over 10 years of ethical, effective and collaborative school improvement work. The Red Kite Learning Trust, a growing MAT of 13 primary and secondary schools built on the same strong collaborative values that has supported and sustained the Alliance for over ten years. Richard served as the President of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) in 2018/19 and took on the role again for 2020/21 becoming the first person to hold the position twice. As President he has spoken widely at conferences and in the media about ethical leadership and the need for a ‘defragmentation’ of our school system.

Jonathan Slater is a Visiting Professor at King’s College London and Queen Mary’s University London. He chairs the board of the Charter Schools Educational Trust. Jonathan was Permanent Secretary of the Department for Education until 2020, at the conclusion of a 20 year civil service career that included Justice, Defence, the Cabinet Office and No.10. Before that Jonathan worked in local government for over 10 years, ending up as Director of Education and Deputy Chief Executive at Islington Council, though his career actually started as a mathematical modeller for British Rail.

Katrina Morley OBE is Chief Executive Officer of Tees Valley Education Multi Academy Trust. Katrina staunchly advocates for educational equality and achieves this by shaping policy, practice, and opportunities for children and young people at local, regional, and national levels. She collaborates with a wide range of strategic stakeholders and partners to drive meaningful change in education and communities. Katrina co-authored Tackling Poverty & Disadvantage in Schools, a book reflecting her deep commitment to addressing educational inequalities. In recognition of her outstanding contributions to education and the Tees Valley region, she was awarded an OBE for services to education in the King’s New Year Honours 2025.