Research School Network: Our extended team

Nicky Jones is currently Assistant headteacher and also teaches at Birchwood Community High School, a comprehensive secondary school in Warrington. She has previously worked at a variety of schools across Manchester- both as Assistant Head of Faculty and as English Lead Practitioner. Most recently, she was the Head of English at a large comprehensive school in Warrington. As well as English, Nicky leads on PSHE curriculum. She is particularly interested in how explicitly teaching tier 2 vocabulary and infusing culturally significant information, can enrich and strengthen the curriculum being offered.

Catherine is the SCITT lead at MCA and MCPA. Catherine is primary trained and specialises in effective phonics practice. Catherine has worked in National Support Schools and has created bespoke phonic schemes of work. Whilst teaching and implementing a phonics programme in a large primary school in Wandsworth, the four form cohort of year 1 pupils achieved phonics results in the top 5 % of the country. Catherine was also a AHT and DSL.

Sarah has worked across a range of mainstream and special secondary school settings in the North-West, including schools in Tameside, Stockport and Manchester, over the past 20 years. She has extensive middle and senior leadership experience, including strategic trust-wide leadership and support. Sarah is currently Trust Director of Literacy working across mainstream and special schools within Prospere Learning Trust in Manchester. She has significant experience of improving pupil outcomes and supporting schools during Ofsted inspections. Sarah was a former Content Specialist for Literacy for the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) and continues to work closely with them and the Research School Network in an alumni capacity. Alongside this national role, Sarah is also a Voice21 National Oracy Leader, and a Teacher Development Trust (TDT) Associate.

Hannah is Education Director for the CLIC Trust and has been a qualified Primary school teacher for 23 years in a range of Primary school contexts across the UK. Hannah has held a range of leadership roles including SENDCo, Assistant Head Teacher and Teaching and Learning Lead. She has supported leaders and teachers on school improvement priorities through her different roles. Hannah is passionate about how educators can use research evidence to break the link between family income and educational achievement. She spent the academic year 2022 – 23 on secondment as Content Specialist for Learning Behaviours at the Education Endowment Foundation. Currently Hannah leads the Trust’s school improvement team and delivers bespoke support for leaders and teachers and teaching assistants across the CLIC Trust, focusing on evidence informed curriculum design, teaching and leadership.

Elliot is the Leader of Professional Development at Manchester Communication Primary Academy, where he leads whole-school professional development strategy and coaching. Previously, Elliot has been Early Years Coordinator and training & pedagogy lead across multiple different settings and contexts in the North of England. Elliot is passionate about the transformative power of professional development and believes that when teachers and TAs thrive, so do children. He is driven by a belief in the importance of strong pedagogy and purposeful collaboration, supporting colleagues to translate research into practical strategies that make a real difference to teaching and learning. Elliot also works as an Affiliate and Implementation Partner with Steplab to support school leaders in building and sustaining their coaching programmes. He also is a facilitator of the NPQLTD.

Matthew is currently a Drama Teacher, leading the key stage 3 curriculum at Manchester Communication Academy. He has worked in secondary education for over 10 years, leading Drama departments, and fulfilling roles developing creative projects. Matthew is currently the Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at MCA and his interests include musical theatre, new Drama works and collaborative creativity projects; especially in developing physicality and confidence through performance.

Alex has been teaching for 8 years within East Manchester primary schools. and currently works with the Wise Owl Trust. She is interested in research and the importance of the work of the Education Endowment Foundation which supported Alex, when writing a bespoke CPD program for schools across the trust. Alex has worked with Manchester Communication Research School for 3 years and have supported delivery of Learning Behaviours, Cognitive Science and Reducing the Disadvantage Gap. Her passion is in cognitive science and professional development.

Joshua is the Head of English at the comprehensive secondary school, Hollingworth Academy. Whilst in post, Joshua has helped rewrite the Academy’s feedback policy and delivered training on curriculum implementation. As well as having a degree in English Literature, Joshua has a Masters in Leadership and Management. Joshua believes that every child should be entitled to the same opportunities, regardless of their starting point in life.

Jade is a linguist, Modern Foreign Languages specialist and experienced Literacy Lead. Jade currently works as Assistant Headteacher at Moorside High School in Salford, leading Teaching and Learning and teacher development. Jade will also graduate as a Teacher Education Fellow of Ambition Institute this June.

Hayley has been a primary school teacher for twelve years, working across both Oldham and Manchester. She has been teaching at MCPA for the last 9 years as an Assistant Headteacher of Early Education and Phonics Lead. Hayley is extremely passionate about early years and early reading and is committed to making Early years practice the best it possibly can be.

Ashleigh is a secondary Science teacher and leader with 15 years’ experience, working in schools across Yorkshire and Greater Manchester. She is a Teaching & Learning Lead at the Watergrove Trust in Rochdale and has had a range of roles in the organisation, including as a classroom teacher, Head of Faculty and now as a member of the Central ​‘School Improvement Team’ for the Trust. Ashleigh leads a range of projects across the Trust’s primary and secondary schools, with particular emphasis on improving the learning experience for all.

Leanne is currently Head of English at Manchester Communication Academy. She has worked in secondary education for over 15 years, leading a Media Studies department and also leading on whole school literacy. Leanne is passionate about identifying the challenges that education faces in the new AI landscape, as well as highlighting the opportunities that these new technologies can bring to the next generation of students and teachers.

Claire Bailey is an Early Years and Early Literacy specialist with over 12 years’ experience in teaching, leadership and professional development in the UK and internationally. She holds a Master’s in education specialising in Early Childhood Education, underpinning her interest in evidence-informed pedagogy, curriculum design and practitioner development. Claire has supported schools and trusts to improve EYFS provision and early literacy and has contributed to the design of CPD for DfE validated phonics programmes. She is experienced in mentoring and coaching teachers and leaders and draws on her experience to bring a broad perspective to supporting high-quality early years practice. As part of the Manchester Research Network, Claire helps build capacity across Greater Manchester to translate research into effective, sustainable classroom practice.

Andrea is Deputy Headteacher at Golborne Community Primary School which is part of Mosaic Learning Trust. Andrea teaches in Year 6 and has extensive KS2 experience. She has expertise in the teaching of Phonics, Reading and Writing and is extremely passionate about improving children’s ability to read and write effectively. Andrea has a degree specialising in English Language; she has undertaken the Excellent English Teacher Programme and she has been an English Co-Ordinator for over 10 years. She is also an STA approved LA lead writing moderator. Andrea has delivered CPD for the Trust linked to fluency instruction and is currently working on developing oracy across the Trust schools. Andrea is also Curriculum and Teaching Lead at Golborne Community Primary School. She has re-designed the school’s foundation curriculum and delivers a regular programme of CPD, to colleagues, based on evidence-informed teaching strategies.