School Improvement Team

Kathryn has worked as a classroom teacher in the primary sector teaching for all ages between Nursery and Year 6.  Alongside her role as Director of Education, Kathryn is also a serving headteacher with 11 years headship experience, she has extensive experience of school academy trusts and school leadership.

Kathryn is an accredited NLE and has had the privilege of working with a variety of schools across the South East region in supporting them with varying aspects of school improvement.

Kathryn works to support governing bodies within both the maintained local authority and academy sector cross phase to include primary and secondary.

Kathryn has worked as part of the school improvement team since 2020 and has been able to visit all the schools within the trust, to work with leaders, teachers and staff teams to help them develop the curriculum offer for the trust’s learners.

Alongside her school improvement team colleagues, they aim to support the trust’s schools with providing the very best education they can, for the children they serve.  They do this via bespoke school improvement work and professional development.

Before joining Learning Partners, Helen has served within leadership teams in schools for 18 years and has leadership experience within secondary, primary and special schools, most recently acting as Headteacher at a local primary school. Helen has also led the work of a Teaching School.

Subsequent to her work in school leadership, Helen held the role of Director of School Improvement at another local trust and has enjoyed many years working across phase to support schools. In recent years Helen has developed and nurtured a wide network, and works alongside the Schools Alliance for Excellence as part of the school improvement team.

Helen is an experienced School Improvement Partner and has acted as a leadership coach on the National College of School Leadership Programme for supporting women in leadership. Helen has a passion to see inclusion embedded within the foundation of our work in schools and sees her role as being someone who builds effective dialogue with schools that provides appropriate challenge and good support to enable schools to realise ambitious goals for their pupils. She seeks to develop and deliver a collaborative approach to school improvement, effectiveness and leadership. Helen remains focused on promoting a positive culture and high expectation in the development of teaching and learning pedagogy across all schools at Learning Partners.

Liv initially began working with young people through directing youth theatre and work as a Teaching Assistant at a Special School following an MA in Drama and Theatre Studies.

Liv was greatly impacted by her work with students with additional needs, and after training as a Drama Teacher and working as a Head of Department, Olivia completed her NA SENDCo qualification.

Liv has been a SENDCo and Inclusion Lead in Surrey schools since 2016, she is also a member of the British Psychological Association and qualified Exam Access Arrangements Assessor.

Rachel has extensive experience in school leadership and improvement, having worked in various Local Education Authorities (LEAs) in senior leadership roles before joining the Trust in 2016. Throughout her career, her focus has always been on driving high standards in education and ensuring every child has access to a high-quality curriculum.

As an experienced member of the Trust’s School Improvement Team, Rachel provides strategic support to senior leadership teams, middle leaders, and subject leaders. She works to develop school leadership in teaching, learning, and curriculum, ensuring that both primary and secondary schools receive tailored support to enhance their teaching and learning provision.

A key part of Rachel’s role is leading the development of the Trust’s extensive Continuing Professional Learning and Development (CPLD) package. This ensures that professional development remains at the heart of teaching and learning, helping to raise standards across all schools within the Trust.

Rachel is dedicated to supporting schools in delivering the very best education for the children they serve. Through bespoke school improvement initiatives and professional development, she works closely with school leaders to drive lasting, meaningful impact in classrooms.

After teaching English abroad, Laura trained as an MFL teacher over 20 years ago and spent 17 years in comprehensive schools as a teacher, Curriculum Leader and Assistant Headteacher, leading languages, curriculum, teaching and learning, and staff development across schools in Surrey, Berkshire and Oxfordshire. 

Laura is a passionate advocate of collaboration across schools and communities, leading primary and secondary MFL networks, delivering CPD to schools and Trusts across the South-east and supporting schools in challenging contexts through a range of outreach programmes. Most recently, Laura worked with the University of Reading to co-create an online course to support overseas teachers with transition to life and teaching in the British education system. 

Laura joins us from GLF Schools where she worked as Director of Practice and Pedagogy, leading curriculum and pedagogical development across their secondary schools. Laura is passionate about developing high-quality, inclusive teaching which gives every child access to a rich, ambitious and well-rounded curriculum. Laura is delighted to be joining Learning Partners and continuing to build on the excellent work in our schools and communities.

Holly joined the Trust in December 2023 as Safeguarding and Mental Health Lead.

Holly has a BSc in Counselling, and a PGDip in Social Work. She has been a registered Social Worker since 2017 and has experience of frontline social work with children and families across Surrey and Berkshire. She has also worked as a Designated Safeguarding Lead across two schools.

Holly is passionate about ensuring that children are safeguarded at school, home and in the community, and is looking forward to collaborating with the Trust’s schools.

Andy King

Anne Cullum

Bethan Willetts

Carol Pearce

Ciaran Beatty

Claire Brunet

Claire Scott

Kirsten Taylor

Pip Utting

Scott Maclean

Tanya joins us with over 25 years experience within both the School Educational Travel sector and Adventure Travel Industry.

Her passion for customer service has always been at the forefront of all her previous roles within sales, operations, administration & project management. Leading & inspiring teams to deliver an experience and creating a desire to return.

Shaun joined the trust in January 2024 as the new trust Data Officer.

With over 30 years IT experience he hopes to bring his  skills and expertise into the education sector.  Working with the schools, Shaun hopes to enable data analysis to allow the trust and schools to work together to improve the education for all pupils.