Past Event

Christine Counsell

Consultant

Christine Counsell is an independent consultant supporting schools in curriculum and teacher development. Following teaching and leadership positions in state schools in Gloucestershire and Bristol, Christine worked as local authority adviser for history in primary and secondary schools. Appointed Senior Lecturer at the University of Cambridge in 1997, she ran the university’s history PGCE for 19 years and led on school-based mentoring of new teachers in all subjects. In 2016, Christine became Director of Education of a MAT serving areas of deprivation in East Anglia. She introduced a new knowledge-rich primary curriculum, set up subject communities in secondary subjects for a collaboratively designed secondary curriculum and founded a new SCITT for the region.

Alongside these roles, Christine has worked at national and international level, as consultant, trainer, drafter and speaker, working with policymakers, regulators, teachers, leaders and scholars all over the world.  She has specialised in the teaching of history in post-conflict zones, undertaking extended projects in Cyprus and Lebanon.  Christine has regularly advised the DfE and Ofsted, including in 2016 serving on the DfE Workload Solutions group, from 2017-19 on the Ofsted Curriculum Advisory Group that developed the current inspection framework, and subsequently delivering curriculum training for all HMI. She currently serves on an advisory panel for Oak National Academy and has been appointed Lead Drafter for the government's forthcoming (2024) Model History Curriculum.

In 2021, together with Steve Mastin, Christine founded Opening Worlds Ltd, a company which partners with communities of primary schools to resource a knowledge-rich primary humanities curricula (geography, history and RE) and train teachers in its use.  Originally developed in and for primary schools in Haringey, Opening Worlds has now been adopted in over 200 primary schools, with new communities in Birmingham, Brent, Cambridgeshire, Haringey, Kent, Lancashire, Liverpool, Peterborough, Stoke-on-Trent and Surrey.

Christine has published and edited many textbooks, academic books and articles on curriculum. She has a long association with the Historical Association and edits their journal, Teaching History. Her latest writing project is an innovative story-rich Key Stage 3 textbook series with Hodder Education to be published in Spring 2023. 

Christine currently serves as trustee on the Board of David Ross Education Trust (11 secondaries, 22 primaries, 1 special school). She is a passionate advocate of this MAT’s ambitious programme known as #DRETreads – a systematic plan to ensure all pupils read a wide range of classic and contemporary novels, in their entirety.

While at the University of Cambridge, Christine was awarded both the university’s Pilkington Prize for outstanding teaching and the university’s student-led award for outstanding lecturing.  In 2017, Christine was awarded an honorary doctorate by Anglia Ruskin University. 

Alex Fairlamb

Assistant Principal Teaching and Learning (T&L), Kings Priory School

Alex is an Assistant Principal of T&L and a History teacher.  She is an SLE and an ELE, with her specialisms being History, T&L and Diversity within the Curriculum.  She is an NPQLL Facilitator for Ambition Institute and the Three Rivers Teaching Hub.  She is a Secondary Committee member of the Historical Association and co-editor of a forthcoming History curriculum book, ‘What is History teaching, now?’.  Alex has presented nationally and internationally at ResearchEd Conferences and is a proud member of the Schools North East Steering Group.

Marco Ramsey

Headteacher, St John’s CE Academy, Darlington

Marco began his career in 2002, working as a primary school teacher in a deprived area of Hackney in East London. He moved to the North East in 2011, following the birth of his first child and has worked at St John’s CE Academy for nine years, firstly as Assistant Head before being appointed as Headteacher in September 2021. Marco lives in Ripon with his family and has recently become a published author. 

Mark Turner

Outreach Lead/Senior Teacher, Gibside

Mark is the Outreach Lead at Gibside School. He has teaching experience within mainstream primary schools and specialist settings. Mark has been a teacher at Gibside School for 5 years and recently set up an ongoing satellite provision at a neighbouring Gateshead primary school.  This is an inclusive and innovative provision that enables pupils from Gibside School to learn alongside their peers in the mainstream setting.

Sean Harris

Trust Improvement Lead, Tees Valley Education Trust & Doctoral researcher, Teesside University

Sean has served in a range of roles in education across the North East. Sean is now the Trust Improvement Lead with Tees Valley Education Trust. He is also a doctoral researcher with Teesside University, author and freelance journalist. Sean is particularly passionate about addressing educational disadvantages and supporting system leaders in education to better understand and address poverty in local contexts. You can find him tweeting @SeanHarris_NE or on Insta @ThatPovertyGuy

Barbara Middleton

Headteacher, Shiremoor Primary School

Barbara is  proud to have been the Headteacher of Shiremoor Primary School for 10 years. Shiremoor is an old mining community and the area is contextually challenging. Over the course of my time at Shiremoor, she has also been very involved in school to school support, both as a National Leader, a Teaching School Lead, and as an Executive Head. Previously, she was Regional Secretary of the NAHT. Barbara loves giving advice and guidance to new Heads and feels strongly that education is a moral purpose and that schools thrive when we collaborate and support one another. Currently, she  delivers NPQH through the Three Rivers Teaching School Hub so that we can grow a new generation of leaders.

Phil Latham

CEO, Endeavour Academies Trust

Phil is the Chief Executive of Endeavour Academies. He has worked in education for 27 years and was Principal of Macmillan Academy for 10 years. He holds a National Professional Qualification for both headship (NPQH) and executive leadership (NPQEL). He has worked as a National Leader of Education (NLE) and currently sits the advisory board for Schools North East, Campus School Teaching Alliance (CSTA) and is a governor of XP Gateshead.

Jon Tait

Director of School Improvement, Deputy CEO, Arete Learning Trust

Jon is Deputy CEO and Director of School Improvement at the Areté Learning Trust comprising of three large secondary schools and sixth form colleges in North Yorkshire. Prior to this role, Jon had worked in three different and diverse North East Schools for 20 years, with 15 of those being as a school leader in various senior leadership positions. Most recently as Deputy Headteacher and Director of Teaching School, Jon was responsible for the strategic leadership of teaching and learning, professional development, initial teacher training and external school to school support. Jon has significant experience in contributing to system leadership via his extensive professional network of education professionals around the world. Jon’s innovative approach to school and organisational leadership challenges the habits that have gone before, looking at ways to improve education through change management. In 2017 Jon graduated with his NPQH (National Professional Qualification for Headteachers) and then in 2021 he completed his NPQEL (National Professional Qualification for Executive Leadership).

Jon is also an education author and speaker, having four books published on areas ranging from classroom pedagogy, educational research and school leadership; together with regularly speaking at national and international conferences about all aspects of education. Jon delivered a talk on the world famous TED stage in 2015, talking about ‘The Future of Learning’.

Outside of education, Jon is married with two school/university aged children, has played in the FA cup as a semi-professional footballer, coached American Football for Great Britain and was recognised for his continued work with young people by carrying the Olympic Torch in the build up to the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Dominic Martin

Headteacher, Benton Park Primary School

Dominic is currently Headteacher at Benton Park Primary School, Newcastle upon Tyne, having taken up the post in September 2019. Prior to that, he was Head of School at West Jesmond Primary and a Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) in curriculum design. Dominic has always had a keen interest in curriculum design and implementation; playing a pivotal role in shaping curricula in a number of very successful primary schools across Newcastle.

He has supported colleagues as a Curriculum SLE to progress their own curriculum ideas; contributed to the writing of recent NPQ content; as well as speaking at various events across the North East. Most recently, since his appointment at Benton Park Primary, Dominic has reshaped a leadership team to rewrite and implement a new curriculum, despite the challenges of the pandemic. Alongside his responsibilities as Headteacher, Dominic leads Benton Park's RE curriculum; regularly teaching both Year 6 classes - a highlight of his week!

Karl McGrath

Year 6 Teacher and Task Design & Curriculum Implementation Lead, Benton Park Primary School

Karl is a passionate Year 6 teacher with 10 years of experience in education. His diverse background includes roles as a family & pastoral support worker at Hotspur Primary and Computing lead at West Jesmond Primary. He has facilitated courses and curriculum development on behalf of the National Centre for Computing Education as well as presenting nationally at the Computing at Schools conference. Now the Task Design and Curriculum Implementation lead at Benton Park Primary. Karl’s love for technology and belief in the impact of graphic organisers and encouraging deeper thinking drives him to create dynamic and engaging learning experiences for his students which he relishes in sharing widely.

Carolyn Morgan

CEO Ascent Academies' Trust

Carolyn began her teaching career in 1990 after completing a specialist degree course in teaching children with severe learning difficulties. She has worked in specialist education throughout her career, with her first headship in 2008. She completed a masters' degree in special education at Durham University in 1997 and then worked on a secondment with Specialist Schools and Academy Trust as national lead for curriculum in special schools. In 2012 Carolyn established Ascent Academies' Trust along with another Head Teacher. The Trust has successfully sponsored two under-performing academies. Carolyn was made CEO of the Trust in 2018.

Alex Wood

Assistant Headteacher, Wise Academies Trust

Alex has been teaching for 8 Years and an assistant headteacher for Wise Academies. Recently he has taken a role supporting the development of Personal Development in all Wise Academy schools. Since being part of Wise academies, Alex has led Personal Development within two individual schools. One of those received outstanding in all areas. He also has a passion for career related learning with primary school and raising children’s aspirations and awareness of pathways.

Steve Farndon

Associate Director, Ambition Institute

Steve is a former secondary history teacher who has a long-standing interest in curriculum, including writing for the Historical Association on the subject. He has fostered that interest since joining Ambition Institute where, among other things, he teaches on their Master’s in Expert Teaching. He is currently collaborating with TVED in Middlesbrough on their curriculum development and implementation.

Helen Dummet

Executive Head Teacher, Federation of Darlington Nursery Schools

Helen has enjoyed a varied career with over 30 years’ experience as a primary school teacher, specialising primarily, but not exclusively, in early years education and special educational needs. She is  committed to ‘valuing and respecting the diversity of individuals, families and communities and believes that they must sit at the heart of early years practice’ (p.24, Birth to 5 Matters).

From early beginnings Helen began her career as a nursery teacher in a maintained nursery, moving on to set up a nursery class in an independent school for girls from 3-18 years, before going to teach at West Park Academy. During this time, she enjoyed increasing levels of responsibility that shaped her pedagogy and professional practice, as well as becoming mother to two boys. In 2018, Helen's ambition to become a headteacher of a maintained nursery school was achieved.

Serdar Ferit

Co-founder and CEO, Lyfta

Serdar Ferit is the co-founder and CEO of Lyfta, a Finnish educational resource for teaching skills, values and global citizenship through immersive experiences. Prior to founding Lyfta, Serdar was an award-winning filmmaker, teacher and immersive experience designer.

Colin Lofthouse

CEO, SMART Multi Academy Trust

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 headteacher at Throckley Primary School, Newcastle and led the school from special measures to outstanding status. After 6 years as Headteacher at Rickleton Primary School in Sunderland he is now the Chief Executive Officer for the Smart Multi Academy Trust, a group of 11 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.

In his spare time he rock climbs, plays the piano and rides bikes (both with and without engines).

Chris Zarraga

Director, Schools North East

Chris has been part of the Schools North East team since its inception in 2007 and in 2019 he was appointed Director.

Chris works with other leaders across the North East, the education sector and charity sector to represent the voice of North East schools, and lobby policy makers to ensure that the North East is not left behind when it comes to education policy. Chris has overseen the launch of the Ednorth evidence-based excellence programme, as well as the partnership with SHINE bringing over £500,000 worth of funding to North East schools.

Under Chris, Schools North East has moved to a greater focus on lobbying around education policy, with the launch of the Manifesto for North East Education in December 2019. As well as being a trustee of a local MAT, Chris sits on various boards including the board for Opportunity North East. Prior to joining Schools North East, Chris worked with over 165 schools in the North East and various education organisations including local authorities, Excellence Partnerships, 14-19 Groups, the Specialist Schools & Academies Trust, and School Improvement Officers. He led a large scale culture change project in education across the North East and was the development consultant for the LEGI funded Wansbeck Enterprise Education Network.