Lorraine is the person directly responsible for curriculum design and the delivery and quality assurance of all aspects of the initial teacher training programme. This includes recruitment of course personnel and trainees, organisation, administration, teaching programmes, placements and assessments. She works closely with Leeds Trinity University and with other SCITT providers. Lorraine has 31 years of experience in teaching MFL and has been involved in initial teacher training for 24 years, during which time she has worked as a Partnership Quality Officer for Edge Hill University and a QA Lead for MMU and the Cheshire East SCITT. Lorraine is also the MFL Subject Expert. She is also a qualified mental health first aider and delivers training for Early Career Teachers and their Mentors.

James is Assistant Curriculum Lead of Mathematics at Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School & Sixth Form College. In his time at the school he has served in a number of capacities, including acting Head of Department and ECT Induction Tutor. He has also worked for Cheshire East SCITT since 2019 as the Mathematics Subject Expert. As Lead Mentor James oversees the professional development of subject mentors, the curricula provided by each of the subject experts and the intensive training and practice element of the SCITT programme. He also along with the SCITT Director conducts quality assurance visits with trainees in their placement schools. 

Lilian is responsible for managing the administration of the course. She is often the first person to contact with any queries concerning the course, your application, interviews, pre-course information and financial matters. She also provides an experienced listening ear, plus help and advice with day-to-day challenges and is a qualified mental health first aider.

Annabel is also responsible for managing the administration of the course in conjunction with Lilian.  In addition to this she runs the School Experience Programme at HCCS. She is our go-to person if we have any technical issues. She also provides an experienced listening ear, plus help and advice with day-to-day challenges and is a qualified mental health first aider.

Kathryn is a KS3 & 4 science teacher, KS5 Biology teacher and has been working in secondary education for 11 years. She taught at Sandbach High School until 2024 taking on roles of both ITT and ECT mentor to numerous teachers in their early careers. Kathryn took a lead in running the schools cross-curricular STEM club. She is also a member of the Governing board at a local Primary school where she is supporting the school with KS2 Science curriculum and is the link Governor for Mental health and Wellbeing. Subject Days complement the topics covered on the Centre-based training days, but with a particular focus on how to approach this specifically in Science. We will use the recent OFSTED research review for Science to ensure that planning for the curriculum meets the needs of embedding subject specific skills.

Kirsty has worked in Secondary Education for fifteen years and is the Assistant Lead of the English Faculty at Shavington Academy. Her role involves helping to design the English curriculum and delivering professional development to colleagues, drawing on her background as a former Curriculum Lead for both English and Media Studies. She delivers KS3 phonics interventions and is passionate about promoting a love of reading, writing and communication. Kirsty’s enthusiasm for her subject is matched by her commitment to mentoring trainee teachers, a process she finds extremely rewarding.

Subject days for secondary English trainees will focus on practical teaching strategies, including approaches to Shakespeare, 19th-century texts, novels, creative writing and different forms of assessment. Emphasis will also be placed on developing reading and oracy strategies to enhance student literacy and communication skills.

David was a teacher at Sandbach High School for 10 years and throughout his time there he was involved with ITT. For 6 years of his teaching career David was Professional Mentor for the school and had responsibility for ITTs, ECTs and new staff induction. In September 2022 David moved into Higher Education and currently works with 3 different teacher training providers. During his time at Sandbach High he led and planned field trips in this country and across Europe for GCSE and A-level pupils. During SCITT subject days the Geography trainees will be looking at how to embed the key concepts outlined in the recent OFSTED research review for the subject, curriculum design for a strong Geography curriculum,  and will gain hands-on experience of field work with pupils at a local school.

James started his career at Trinity Academy Halifax, the home of White Rose Maths. Here, he was involved in the Shanghai Maths Exchange Programme and delivered lessons as part of a regional Lesson Study scheme. Since then, he has been a Lead Teacher and Assistant Curriculum Leader at Sandbach High School, where he has mentored trainees and driven professional development throughout the department and the wider school. During our subject days, we will explore feedback based on the key principles of effective Maths instruction, with an emphasis on practical actions that can be swiftly implemented by both teachers and learners.

Toni has been teaching for fifteen years and has been involved in ITT for ten.  She has worked with a range of ITT providers, including most recently the Cheshire East SCITT.  She has led the History department at Alsager High School, as well as having the role of Induction Mentor for NQTs.  She is also Chair of Governors at a local primary school, giving an insight into the planning and delivery of the KS2 History curriculum.  Subject days across the year will complement the centre based timetable, focusing on History specific application.  For example, sessions will cover the delivery of source skills and evaluating interpretations as well as taking into account the wider considerations of designing a History Curriculum.

Lesley is Curriculum Leader for Social Sciences at Malbank School, Nantwich.  She has been a secondary school teacher and curriculum leader of the social sciences for over 30 years and delivers her subjects at KS4 and KS5.   Lesley has also been a subject mentor to trainee teachers over the course of her career. Having spent over 20 years as a senior examiner for Psychology, understanding assessment will form part of the subject day content.  Key topics across the breadth of subjects within the social sciences will also be covered to enable trainees to become more versatile.

Grace is Curriculum Leader for Music at Sandbach School and has been teaching for 14 years. She has been involved in ITT for 12 years with trainees on a number of different pathways including both Secondary Music and Secondary Music with Specialist Instrumental Teaching. She teaches KS3, 4 and 5 Music and Music Technology and directs the Cheshire Specialist A Level Music Course in conjunction with The Love Music Trust and The Royal Northern College of Music.  She is a member of The Love Music Trust’s steering group which ensures there is balanced and quality music provision across Cheshire East in both primary and secondary school settings. Subject days across the year will focus on how to design an engaging music curriculum, adapting teaching and learning within different musical environments and setting up extra-curricular groups within a school.

Duncan is a Curriculum leader at Shavington Academy. He has been a teaching PE for 22 years. Duncan is passionate about the role and importance of providing high quality PE in schools and offering pupils in school the opportunities to enrich their life through PE in curriculum and extra-curricular. He has been a mentor for the trainees from the SCITT enjoying the opportunity to develop and work alongside the trainee for a number of years. Duncan worked on creating networks meetings from schools across South Cheshire working within the Sandbach partnership.

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Subject Days across the year are designed to complement the topics covered on centre based training days, providing a specific Physical Education focus. Subject specific topics include: designing and delivering and engaging curriculum (and extra curriculum programme) to cover a breadth of practical activities within the subject, as well as the study of GCSE, A-Level and vocational specifications.

Jo is an Assistant Principal with a responsibility for Teaching and Learning at All Hallows Catholic College in Macclesfield. She has taught Drama for 16 years working with different boards, courses and across key stages three to five. Jo has also been Director of Teaching School at All Hallows and has been both Mentor and Professional Mentor to many trainee teachers over the years. She teaches KS3, 4 and 5 Drama and has been a Subject Specialist advisor for schools seeking to improve. Jo has vast experience of designing and delivering bespoke CPD and is a trained coach, Lead Practitioner and accredited TEEP trainer. Jo operates with transparency and empathy and is passionate about her subject. Curriculum training days will focus on Pedagogy, Product versus Process, Assessment in Drama, Working with Text and Adaptive Drama Teaching. 

Li is Head of the Art and Design Faculty at Shavington Academy. Li has been teaching for 18 years, from KS3 up to KS5 in a number of specialist areas including Art, Textiles, 3D design and Photography.

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During her career she has been a Lead Practitioner for Teaching & Learning and provided CPD training to primary schools on curriculum design and contributes to the ITT/ECT professional studies programme at Shavington Academy.

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Li will be leading practical subject days across the year; providing opportunities to develop subject knowledge and skills to support the implementation of an engaging curriculum.

Andrew is Director of Computer Science and IT at Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School.  He has been teaching the subject for 25 years, during which time he has been a teacher, curriculum leader, assistant head teacher and deputy head teacher, alongside working with various CS professional bodies and examination boards and delivering the subjects at KS4 and KS5.   Andrew has enjoyed being a subject mentor to many trainee teachers over the course of his career. He works with various Cheshire East governing bodies, both primary and secondary, which has enriched his insight of the importance and links with the KS2 curriculum.   Subject Days across the year will complement the topics covered on centre based training days, providing a specific Computer Science focus. The topics will include: designing and delivering engaging lessons in Python, the breadth of theoretical topics from the workings of the computer to the nature of the internet, as well as the study of GCSE, A-Level and IT specifications.

Sonja is Deputy Curriculum Leader of The Communications Faculty (Business and Economics,
Computing and MFL) at Alsager School. Sonja has been teaching for 19 years and has held a
number of whole school positions. She has mentored trainee teachers for over 15 years
working with a variety of providers and finds the experience incredibly rewarding.

Alongside teaching KS4 and KS5 Business and Economics Sonja is responsible for curriculum
development of KS3 across the faculty.

Subject Days across the year will complement the topics covered on the Centre-based training
days, but with a particular focus on how to teach the subject effectively to exam groups and
how to plan and design effective enriching lessons.

Clare has been a secondary Religious Studies teacher for over 15 years.  She teaches across all key stages and is responsible for developing provision at KS5.  During that time Clare has worked at in inner city school and at Alsager School, holding different positions of responsibility.  Clare has been a subject mentor to trainee teachers over the course of her career and is currently an NQT Induction Mentor. 

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Subject days across the year will focus on the legalities of Religious Studies in schools, curriculum planning, delivery of assessment, planning for difficult questions and the teaching of those more ‘controversial’ units of study as well as GCSE and A-Level specifications. 

Meet our D&T Subject Expert, Rachel Almond. Rachel is a D&T teacher and STEM Co-ordinator at Tarporley High school. Rachel has been teaching for 19 years, from KS3 up to KS5 in a number of specialist Areas including Electronic Products, Product Design, Graphic Design, Textiles, Resistant Materials and 3D Design. 

During her career she has held responsibilities as Assistant Head of Sixth Form, D&T curriculum Leader, STEM coordinator and Pupil Premium Mentor. Also provided CPD training to primary schools in D&T, STEM learning and planning pupil progress. 

Rachel will be leading Subject Days across the year, which are designed to cover core skills and knowledge, design delivery, communication and a range of practical skills required to teach D&T. 

Knowledge and support will be provided in designing and delivering an inspirational curriculum as well as the study of GCSE and A Level courses, Non Examination Assessments (NEAs) and Examination expectations.