Research School Network: Kent ELEs appointed for EEFective Kent Project Meet our new ELEs below!

As part of the EEFective Kent Project, Durrington Research School and Charles Dickens Research School have appointed 6 new ELEs in Kent: meet them below!

The EEFective Kent Project is a three-year partnership between Kent County Council and the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) running 2019 – 2022. A joint funding pot worth £600,000 is supporting the implementation of evidence-based approaches and interventions in Kent, aiming to improve educational outcomes for children across the county. The three parts of the project are outlined below and you can see more information on the Kelsi website.

Promising Projects: All schools in Kent have access to 50% off a project that has had a positive impact on children’s attainment in an EEF-funded trial.

Evidence-based training: All schools have access to 50% off two Research School training programmes, plus a day of support from an ELE.

Developing research champions: This strand of activity relates to building a culture of research use in Kent and is a collaborative strand involving consultation with headteachers and particularly Kent Association of Headteachers. As part of this, all schools will be offered a place for an in-school ​‘Evidence Champion’ programme and an Associate Research School will be created in Kent.

The Kent ELE Team

Amanda McGarrigle, Headteacher at St. Mary’s CE VA Primary School and Nursery in Swanley

ELE for: Remote Learning, Characteristics of Deprivation

Amanda has been the headteacher at St. Mary’s in Swanley since 2006. St. Mary’s is a fully inclusive school and has been held up as an example of excellent inclusive practice, particularly in relation to their children from Gypsy Roma communities. This year, Amanda has led the school to successfully implement remote learning. Amanda has coached and mentored headteachers in various capacities including as an LLE and Executive Headteacher. She sits on the EEFective Kent Project Steering Group.

Catherine (Kate) Wilson, Senior School Improvement Advisor, The Education People

ELE for: Characteristics of Deprivation

Kate has supported schools in East Kent for TEP for the past year. She also brings experience as a primary school headteacher, senior leader and Advanced Skills Teacher in schools in London and a consultancy partner for schools within the Reach2 Academy Trust. As a headteacher, Kate led change that took her school out of special measures into the ​‘Good’ Ofsted category. She also brings expertise in supporting EAL students.

Carol Morris, Independent Education Consultant

ELE for: Training and Retaining Great Teachers; SEND and Learning Behaviours

Carol brings 20 years of senior leadership experience to this role, including 5 years as a MAT CEO. Carol has worked in several school improvement roles, including as a KCC Senior Improvement Advisor, Ofsted Inspector and Board Director of LLSE. Carol is an accredited Ofqual External Expert in Education, Leadership & Management and English Language and Literature. Her current clients include KCC, ASCL, the Diocesan Education Team and several Kent MATs.

Danielle Egonu, Executive Headteacher, The Galaxy Trust

ELE for: SEND and Learning Behaviours

Danielle worked in headteacher and deputy roles for over 10 years before taking on the role of Executive Headteacher at The Galaxy Trust in Dartford in September 2020. Danielle brings wide experience of supporting colleagues in other schools to improve their practice in schools in London and Kent. Danielle holds a SENCO Award and is currently supporting her Trust leaders to establish leadership and inclusion systems, including Positive Behaviour Support, to improve outcomes for all children.

Lacey Austin, Director of Improvement, Leigh Academies Trust

ELE for: Characteristics of Deprivation; Remote Learning

Lacey is an experienced coach and facilitator, providing strategic and operational support to leaders across Leigh Academies Trust. Through this and previous roles, Lacey has held leadership responsibilities within a wide variety of schools, including both primary and secondary. Lacey studied her MA on the aspirations of disadvantaged students and is currently completing an Education Doctorate on school governance. Lacey recently co-authored a chapter in WomenEd’s book ​‘Being 10% Braver’ and has published work in Management in Education Journal.

Zoe Enser, Specialist English Lead Advisor for Secondary Improvement Team, The Education People

ELE for: Training and Retaining Great Teachers; Remote Learning

Zoe brings a wealth of experience in leading professional development to this role, both as a CPD Lead within school and, since leaving the classroom a year ago, for TEP and as a mentor on the CCT’s CTeach programme. Zoe is currently working with schools across Kent to improve their remote learning offer. Zoe is passionate about supporting teachers to use research evidence to inform changes to their practice. She is co-author of Fiorella and Mayer’s Generative Learning in Action (John Catt, 2020).