London Borough of Bexley profiles
Jonathan Duff
Acting Director, RSC Office for South East and South London
Board member
jonathan.duff@education.gov.uk
I am Acting Director in the Regional Schools Commissioner’s office for South-East England and South London. My team is responsible for sponsorship, conversion and the educational performance of academies in south London, Kent and Medway.
Jacky Tiotto
Director of Children’s Services
Board member
jacky.tiotto@bexley.gov.uk
As the Director of Children’s Services for the London Borough of Bexley, I have a statutory responsibility for the education of all Bexley children and a duty to ensure that each secures a good enough education. In addition, I am ultimately accountable for ensuring the all children with special educational needs and disabilities secure an education that meets their needs in accordance with the Children and Families Act 2014 and the associated Code of Practice. I take these responsibilities seriously and am pleased to be a member of the Strategic Partnership in order to work collaboratively with local system leaders to improve the education and progress of all our children. I have been in post now for almost 4 years and I look forward to being part of a highly effective partnership team through the Stategic Partnership.
Jacqueline Beckett
Head of Education to Employment
Board member
jacqueline.beckett@bexley.gov.uk
Having spent a number of years working with residents who are 19+ and, for a variety of reason, struggle for stability within a rapidly evolving labour market, I am increasingly aware of and committed to ensuring appropriate pathways and transition between formal learning and the adult world of learning, skills and employment for all.
I bring significant senior leadership experience in Bexley across a variety of areas including careers and education information advice and guidance, labour market intelligence, supported employment and adult skills.
Corinne Botten
Chair of Governors’ Forum Executive Committee
Board member
As Chair of the Governors’ Forum Executive Committee in Bexley I represent the views of governors across the borough of Bexley. At the Forum we are committed to the promotion of high quality education for all students in the borough and have selected representatives on all the working parties within the Partnership to support positive outcomes for all.
My experience as a Governor and as a Trustee at LSEAT enables me to support educational change – as a former secondary head teacher in Bexley, I am well aware of the current pressures facing schools, students and parents. I believe that by focusing on innovation, communication and mutual support in the Partnership we can maximise the educational experience for all our students in Bexley.
I have additional experience in relation to Special Education, students excluded from education and schools finance. I currently sit on Bexley Schools’ Forum as a representative for governors of Special Schools.
Wesley Guy
Strategic Business Partner, Children’s Services and Adult Social Care
Board member
wesley.guy@bexley.gov.uk
I head up financial support for children’s and adults’ services within the Council. This role gives me a high level overview of funding issues for schools and high needs as well as of the cost pressures facing the local authority. I hope that this insight will be of value in promoting understanding of the financial challenges across the system and that I can make a contribution to ensuring that limited resources are allocated as effectively as possible to support good outcomes for pupils.
Lorraine Harker
Head of Children’s Strategy & Operations
Board member
Member Education Performance and Achievement
I joined the Education Performance and Achievement sub-group in my previous role as Strategy and Performance Manager for Children’s Services as my team was responsible for education data.
Since April 2018 I have been covering the maternity leave of the Head of Children’s Strategy and Operations, who had worked with ISOS on their initial review which recommended the creation of the Strategic Education Partnership.
I am introducing the Children’s University to Bexley which is a national charitable trust working in partnership with schools to develop a love of learning in children, by encouraging participation in extra-curricular activities.
I am Vice Chair of Governors at Longfield Academy which received a ‘good’ rating for its Ofsted Inspection in April 2018, with ‘outstanding’ for its Post-16 provision.
Simon James
Deputy Director, Education, Achievement and Inclusion
Board Member
simon.james@bexley.gov.uk
I am passionate and committed to making a difference for children and young people. I see the Strategic Partnership as a powerful agent of change that pulls together the energy of school leaders and experienced professionals to drive the delivery of positive outcomes at a strategic level.
I am a qualified teacher and experienced educational psychologist. I have worked in both the public and private sectors over the last 20 years across 7 different local authorities.
I have particular experience and expertise in connection with special educational needs and inclusion.
Allison Parkinson
Deputy Director Children’s Social Care
Board member
allison.parkinson@bexley.gov.uk
Lorum
Sam Parrett OBE
Group Principal & CEO
London South East Colleges
Board member
sam.parrett@lsec.ac.uk
I am the CEO and Group Principal of London South East Colleges (LSEC) and London South East Academies Trust (LSEAT).
London South East Colleges was formed in 2016 following a merger of Bromley, Bexley and Greenwich Colleges. I also run London South East Academies Trust, a collection of Special Schools in Bromley and Bexley boroughs, and London Skills for Growth, a charity delivering apprenticeships in South East London. My areas of expertise include: Post-16 Education, SEN and Higher Education; and I am interested in progressive partnerships and collaboration. I am also a member of a number of Boards including AELP and the Department for Education’s T-Level Panel.
Vicky Marsh
Executive Head Teacher
Gravel Hill and Upland Primary Schools
Board member
Co-chair Inclusion
vickymarsh@unityacademytrust.co.uk
I have been at the forefront of school leadership for the past 15 years working across three different local authorities. I have worked in diverse schools, each presenting their own challenges and strengths. This experience brings a wealth of knowledge and skills that will support Bexley in their vision of inclusivity for all the pupils it serves. My passion lies with ensuring that all children receive the quality education they deserve irrespective of their own individual needs.
Being a part of the Strategic Board will allow me to share ideas, strategies and also listen to the difficulties schools face in these challenging times. Steering change in order to impact on the pupils we serve, delivering what they are all entitled to. I am also enthused by working with other professionals who have the same drive for inclusivity for all. We need all our pupils in schools receiving a quality education. I feel I can support in making a difference to the current climate.
Kate O’Connor
Head teacher
Lessness Heath Primary School
Board member
Co-chair Inclusion
koconnor@lessnessheasth.bexley.sch.uk
I have taught in and led schools in challenging circumstances throughout my career spanning a twenty-year period. I strongly believe in positive relationship school cultures that look after and protect the wellbeing of the whole school community. I believe in nurturing a culture of trust and autonomy in my school to ensure I get the very best outcomes for children. During my career, I have had a vast amount of experience in very inclusive settings and would now like to expand my knowledge to support the strategic direction for all children in Bexley. The interest in the Inclusion sub group stems from ensuring we support, understand and protect our most vulnerable children in Bexley.
Terrie Askew
Principal
The Harris Academy Falconwood
Board member
Co-chair Education Performance and Achievement
t.askew@harrisfalconwood.org.uk
I have been the Principal at Harris Academy Falconwood for 10 years and a NLE for the last three years. Initially, my focus was to transform a failing school into an outstanding academy, but since achieving that in 2014 the Academy has had the capacity to be more outward facing. This gives the staff at the Academy the opportunity to share good practice with other schools in the local area. I believe that everyone should work together in partnership to improve the life chances of the students in Bexley irrespective of their background or school they attend. Working collaboratively helps to reduce the workload of staff in each school, which as we know is, current national agenda.
Richard Farrow
Executive Principal
Haberdashers’ Aske’s Crayford Academy
Board member
Co-chair Education Performance and Achievement
r.farrow@haaf.org.uk
I was determined to be part of the Strategic Education Partnership as the project has a very clear set of objectives, a drive to demonstrate impact and a guiding principle that the advantages of children educated in Bexley should be amplified.
The engagement of relevant stakeholders across the educational community is first class and I regard it as both a challenge and a privilege to co-chair the Performance and Achievement sub-group. The framework for our strategy is transparent and invites individuals, schools and trusts to participate, benefit from support and collaborate.
My experience is having worked for 20 years in an Outstanding school in Lewisham, before taking on the Executive Principal role at Crayford Academy, which I have led since 2014. I have lots of experience working within a federation of schools and have seen the benefits such collaborative work can bring. I have taken full advantage of the opportunity to work with colleagues from other schools and other multi-academy trusts, as well as professionals working in primary, secondary and college environments. The experience to date has been very rewarding and I hope the work I do is making a positive difference.
Lauren Ovenden
Head of Strategic Education Partnership and School Improvement
Board member
Lead officer Education Performance and Achievement
Lead officer Inclusion
lauren.ovenden@bexley.gov.uk
A few years ago, I read ASCL’s paper on a school-led school improvement system with interest. It placed school improvement within a mature educational leadership framework; in Bexley, the Strategic Education Partnership is our vehicle for connecting the work of schools and the LA as well as collective problem solving. I wanted to be part of the partnership because a school does not stand alone and there are local challenges that we need to address together.
I bring significant senior leadership experience across a number of boroughs, as well as being a former HMI of schools and colleges. My current role encompasses oversight of Early Years provision as well as education providers to age 19. My interest in the Education Performance and Achievement sub-group stems from my school improvement role, and my interest in other sub-groups arises because of the breadth of this remit.
Mark Hannon
Head Teacher
St Fidelis Catholic Primary School
Board member
Co-Chair School Places and Planning
mhannon1.303@st-fidelis.bexley.sch.uk
I want to play a role in strengthening the educational provision available for all pupils in Bexley. I believe that a rising tide lifts all boats, so if the local authority improves, the opportunities for my pupils improve.
As a Head Teacher and National Leader of Education I have been a member of Schools Forum for several years where I hope I have helped support the local authority in reflecting upon the role it plays in supporting all schools. I try to work with the wider forum to scrutinise papers, reports and data so that informed decisions are reached in the best interests of all Bexley children and young people.
Through the School Places and Planning sub-group I hope that we are developing stronger systems of communication between the local authority and schools so that data (for example relating to pupil numbers) is as accurate as possible. I am keen that robust statistical data is gathered and understood so that the forecasting of future needs (for example relating to SEND provision) is robustly evidence-based. I believe that the local authority is committed to increasing transparency further when setting out future opportunities for pupil growth or new types of provision in the years ahead, so that all schools have equal opportunity to express interest in possible new developments.
Shireen Razey
Deputy Collegiate Principal, Christ the King Sixth Form College
Board member
Co-chair School Places and Planning
s.razey@ctksfc.ac.uk
I have been employed at Christ The King for the past 15 years; my current role is Deputy Collegiate Principal of a large 16-18 sixth form which has over 2500 students across three sites. I volunteered to support the School Places and Planning sub- group because I am keen to ensure all Bexley pupils aged 0-25 have access to high quality education. Working in partnership with Bexley LA and other key stakeholders, I am keen to ensure robust procedures and processes are in place which continue to review and take forward practices so that they are strengthened. One of the key areas the group is addressing is ensuring places and planning work is undertaken in an open and transparent way.
Kevin Taylor
Head of School Place Planning, Commissioning, Admissions and Major Projects
Board member
Lead officer School Places and Planning
kevin.taylor@bexley.gov.uk
As the lead officer within the London Borough of Bexley responsible for school place planning both the work of the Strategic Education Partnership and the place planning sub group provides an opportunity to share the good practice and the work which I have led within Bexley over the past seven years. More importantly the establishment of a forum which will review this work, become a critical friend professionally challenging this area and shaping and owning both mainstream and SEN future place planning is welcomed and encouraged.
Nigel Fisher
Head Teacher
St Columba’s Catholic Boys’ School
Board member
Co-chair SEND
nfr@st-columbas.bexley.sch.uk
I started teaching in 1985 for the ILEA and I have been the head teacher at St Columba’s since January 2009. I have been head of an “off-site” unit for “EBD” students (that definitely dates me!).
How we care for our most vulnerable students remains one of the few consistent measures to judge the quality of our education system. Sadly, another constant is the inadequate funding for these students. I have no doubt that the Local Authority cares for these students and provides outstanding levels of leadership and skills to support them.
I am convinced that Resourced Provisions provide wonderful opportunities for vulnerable students with an EHCP. My school has a Resourced Provision for thirty students and, not only do they make excellent progress, they are happy and know that they are cared for as individuals.
My focus remains the individual child … not the system.
Lori Ann Mackey
Head Teacher
Shenstone School
Board member
Co-chair SEND
I am part of the Strategic Education Partnership and co-chair the SEND sub-group with the avowed intention of ensuring that as a group we are working towards securing improvements for all of our young people with SEND across Bexley. The children who we support and teach inspire us with their enthusiasm, resilience and determination. This fuels my passion for ensuring the very best outcomes for our most vulnerable learners. I have many years of educational experience in primary, secondary, mainstream and specialist settings. I am currently the Head Teacher of a large split site primary school for children with severe and complex learning difficulties.
Reinhild Onuoha
Head of SEN & Inclusion
Board member
Lead officer SEND
I am, and have always been, passionate about making a difference to the lives of our most vulnerable children and young people and their families, especially C&YP with SEN.
The new legislation that came into force in 2014 enables us to further develop the personalisation agenda, be aspirational and ambitious for our children and young people with SEN and work jointly towards agreed outcomes.
The Strategic Education Partnership is the ideal vehicle to drive the implementation of the SEND reforms in the local area, provides a great tool for collaborative working and co-production between all key stakeholders and partners as we all share the goal of wanting to ensure our pupils/students can enjoy and achieve and reach their full potential whatever that may look like.
I bring a large range of experience, expertise, compassion and care to the job and to Bexley and believe together we can and will achieve lots and make a real difference to our young people and their families.
Priorities for me are inclusion and a shared understanding of ‘these are our children’.
Sue Brooks
CEO/Executive Head Teacher
The Bedonwell Federation and Barrington Primary School
Board member
Co-chair Workforce Development, Succession Planning and Governance
ceo@ignisacademytrust.org
I believe inclusion in the Strategic Education Partnership provides worthwhile opportunities to support partnership working between the Local Authority, head teachers and governors for the benefit of Bexley’s children and young people.
As an educator, my moral purpose has been to improve the educational outcomes and life chances of all pupils, both within the schools I lead and wider. I bring a wealth of experience to the role as Head Teacher for 17 years, a National Leader of Education, leader of a National Support School with Teaching School status, and Ofsted Inspector. I have a proven track record of effective school improvement and have been able to support teachers and leaders through mentoring and coaching, and facilitation of Teaching School programmes and the recruitment of Initial Teacher Training candidates.
Colette Doran-Hannon
Head Teacher
St Thomas More Catholic Primary School
Board member
Co-chair Workforce Development Succession Planning and Governance
head@stm.bexley.sch.uk
I thought it important to put myself forward in the involvement of the Strategic Education Partnership at a time when many schools were being academised and schools like my own were not; it was a decision made to ensure that we were not left alone. Workforce Succession Planning and Governance are essential parts of the school life; without staff we cannot function, without governors with clarity and vision schools can become centres of day-to-day running. In this time when there is a lack of teachers coming through and staying in the system, I think Bexley needs to have a clear strategic plan for recruitment and retention of good staff. Today succession planning is difficult with fewer teachers being attracted to leadership. One of our priorities is that we support the induction of newly appointed head teachers so that they are welcomed into this challenging role, realise that they are not alone and build up a network that can be both supportive and challenging when required.
Rebecca Barut
Head of Schools HR and Governor Services
Board member
Lead officer Workforce Development, Succession Planning and Governance
rebecca.barut@bexley.gov.uk
I have been employed within the schools sector the whole of my working career and joined Bexley’s Schools HR team in April 2010. My role became a fusion of HR and Governor Services in early 2017 and I saw this as a real opportunity to get the two areas working in sync and having end-to-end solutions through both of my teams.
I became a lead officer on the Strategic Partnership as my role is at the heart of the sub-group’s aims and objectives. Finding real opportunities to make the difference through a focussed group approach rather than focussing on individual schools, the sub-group enables us to look at a broader approach to assist schools to really make an impact and improve the education journey for every Bexley child.