Schools North East are proud to announce the election of our next Chair as well as the appointment of two new Vice Chairs.
Our new Vice Chairs are Kieran McGrane and Jo Heaton.
In September they will be joined by new Chair Colin Lofthouse who will take over from long standing Schools North East Chair John Hardy who will step down at our AGM after 8 years.
Colin Lofthouse
Colin Lofthouse is currently Chief Executive Officer of the Smart Multi-Academy Trust in Newcastle and Trustee of Schools North East.
Following a career in archaeology after graduating from Sheffield University Colin trained as a primary teacher in 1997 at Newcastle University. He began teaching at Chopwell Primary School, Gateshead before moving to be DHT and then AHT of Prudhoe West First School in Northumberland.
In 2008 he became Head Teacher at Throckley Primary School, Newcastle and led the school from special measures to outstanding status. After 6 years as Head Teacher at Rickleton Primary School in Sunderland he is now the CEO for the Smart Multi Academy Trust, a group of 8 primary schools in the North West of Newcastle.
He has special interest in leadership support, looked after children, and has been a SIP for many years. His research areas are coaching, lesson study and curriculum design on which he has co-authored books, papers and presented at conferences.
Colin is also a member of the SNE Healthy MindED Commission. The Commission was set up in 2016 as a response to NE school leaders’ recognition that they were already, pre-Covid, facing a deluge of mental health issues that were making it increasingly difficult for schools to simply, if there is such a thing, educate their pupils.
In his spare time he rock climbs, plays the piano and rides bikes (both with and without engines).
On his appointment Colin said:
“I was honoured to be nominated and subsequently voted in as Chair by my colleagues on the Trust Board. I have supported and been involved in the work of Schools North East since I first became a Head Teacher, many moons ago now, and for all of that time John Hardy has been Chair. John’s tenure has seen the organisation grow and thrive through some difficult times and if I can do half as good a job I will be happy!
The Schools North East team are an amazing bunch and together with our Partner Schools we make up a collaborative network that has put the North East on the map, championing the voice and opportunity of our children and young people as well as the brilliant people that make our schools work. Where will that journey take us in the future? I can’t wait to find out.”
Jo Heaton, OBE
Jo Heaton is Chief Executive Officer of Northern Lights Learning Trust, a primary MAT with schools in Sunderland and Hartlepool. The Trust is the designated Teaching School Hub for Sunderland, South Tyneside and Gateshead.
Jo is also Executive Head Teacher of 2 primary schools in Hartlepool. She is the strategic Lead for Northern Lights Teaching School Hub for Sunderland, South Tyneside & Gateshead. Jo chairs the DfE Primary Head Teacher Reference Group and is a member of various DfE advisory groups, including the Expert Advisory Group for Recruitment & Retention and a member of a number of local groups such as School’s Forum, Children’s Services Committee, Durham Diocese Board of Education, CEO networks and co-chairs the Hartlepool Head Teacher network. She has a history of supporting schools with school improvement support and is a National Leader of Education.
Jo is passionate about both education and the North East and proud of our region and of the impact and influence we can have when we work collaboratively together. Jo was involved in the writing of the SNE Manifesto for North East Education and believes that through building on these key areas we can make a difference as a schools-led organisation. She is committed to collaborative working to tackle issues and strengthen education in the North East.
Kieran McGrane
Kieran McGrane is the Chief Executive Officer at Pele Trust.
Kieran trained as a PE teacher at Loughborough University before starting his first teaching post in Northumberland. After a period of time studying in the USA, Kieran returned to England teaching in Durham before being appointed as Head of PE at Ashington High.
Over a period of 6 years Kieran moved from middle leadership to Deputy Head Teacher before being appointed as Principal of Bedlingtonshire Community High School for the 2006-07 academic year.
In September 2012 he moved to take up his second headship at Ponteland High School. In February 2019, Kieran was appointed CEO of Pele Trust; a Multi Academy Trust comprising six schools in the Ponteland area (five primary and one secondary school).
Chris Zarraga, Director of Schools North East commented:
“We are very pleased to announce the upcoming appointment of Colin Lofthouse and new Vice-Chairs, Jo Heaton and Kieran McGrane. We have worked closely with all three for some time and they are the outstanding representatives of the vision and values of Schools North East.”
