: Sarah-Louise Johnston

Sarah-Louise Johnston is the Director of Essex Research School, bringing a wealth of experience in education to the role. As a former secondary English teacher with 17 years’ experience in a large comprehensive school in Ipswich, Sarah-Louise has a deep understanding of classroom practice and the complexities of secondary education.

Alongside teaching English, they served as Induction Lead for trainee teachers and Early Career Teachers (ECTs), as well as a SCITT trainer specialising in behaviour management and English subject leadership. This experience has honed their expertise in supporting the development of new teachers so that they are equipped to deliver high-quality education to all learners in one of the most rewarding and important job there is!

As Performance Management Lead across a school trust and in a CPD leadership capacity, they have further demonstrated a commitment to professional development, ensuring that staff of at all levels are empowered to deliver high-quality education. This focus on teacher PD was more recently supported through their role as an NPQ Delivery Partner Lead with Ambition Institute. Passionate about addressing educational disadvantage, Sarah-Louise is dedicated to leveraging research-based practices to drive improvement for all young people.