Head of Music and Performing Arts
Catherine Barker
Head of Music and Performing Arts
Catherine Barker is the Head of Music and Performing Arts in United Learning. Alongside supporting and advising teachers in the Group, she also leads Group-wide performance events, such as ‘Zimbe’ and ‘Wassail!’ – recently recognised at the Music Teachers Awards as ‘Best Classical Music Education Initiative 2018’. Catherine has played a leading role in developing the groupwide cultural festival and the groupwide KS3 curriculum for music. Prior to joining United Learning, Catherine led performing arts faculties in outstanding inner London schools: at Mossbourne Community Academy in Hackney and Sacred Heart RC Secondary School in Camberwell, where she began her career as the first Teach First music teacher. Catherine was a scholar at the Royal Academy of Music and Trinity College, Cambridge, and has performed extensively, including on Radio 3 and professional recordings.
Shaun Dowling
Head of Sport
Shaun is Head of Sport at United Learning. His role is to support schools in improving the quality of their PE and school sport and how they use the power of sport to raise standards across the school.
Shaun is a former Head of PE and Director of Specialism (sport) who progressed to vice principal roles in two secondary schools. Having trained at what was then the West Sussex Institute of Higher Education, Shaun later gained his MA(Ed) from Southampton University and his NPQH. Having taken a national role with the Youth Sport Trust Shaun was given the opportunity of delivering some teacher training in Iraq as part of an EU-funded contract with the British Council.
In 2013 Shaun appeared before the Education Select Committee to give evidence on ‘School Sport following London 2012’. In 2014 United Learning published ‘The A-Z of School Improvement through PE and Sport’ which Shaun produced and co-edited. He sits on the Board of Trustees for Sports Leaders UK, the Board of Directors for the Adur Outdoor Activities Centre and the Education Board for Apex2100. Shaun is an experienced coach, being Head Coach at his local triathlon club and having achieved his Level 7 Executive Coaching and Mentoring qualification with the Institute of Leadership and Management.
Brian Doyle
Director of English
Brian has 18 years of experience as a secondary school English teacher and has worked with United Learning for 11 years. Brian initially joined United Learning in 2007 as Head of English at Lambeth Academy, before becoming an Assistant Principal for Teaching and Learning. Under Brian’s leadership, Lambeth Academy’s English department secured an ‘Outstanding’ judgement in an Ofsted subject inspection and were recipients of an SSAT award for ‘outstanding practice’.
In 2014, Brian was appointed as United Learning’s English subject adviser for the South, before becoming National Director of English in 2017.
Ben Littlewood
Director of Science
Ben has worked in education for over 20 years, as a secondary school science teacher, Advanced Skills Teacher, senior leader and advisor. He joined United Learning as the Science Advisor in January 2016, before becoming Senior Science Adviser in 2018.
Ben has worked in several schools on developing science teaching, both as an AST and as a local authority adviser, as well as leading on teaching and learning across a whole school. Ben also has a MA in Education, with a focus in the impact of feedback on students learning.
Amanda Whitehead
Director of Maths
Amanda has worked in education for over fifteen years. She started her career by joining the Teach First programme after receiving a first-class honours degree in Mathematics. Amanda joined United Learning in 2012 and worked as a lead practitioner, SLE, head of department and Assistant Principal. Amanda is now the Director of Maths working across all United Learning schools.
Senior Subject Adviser - Geography
Tony Hayes
Senior Subject Adviser - Geography
Tony started teaching in 2004 as a geography teacher and joined United Learning as the Geography Adviser in September 2016. Tony has worked in a number of different roles, including Head of Geography, Head of Humanities, Assistant Principal, Director of Humanities for another trust, and Lead Practitioner for Teaching and Learning. Tony started examining in 2006 and also became an SLE for teaching and learning in 2015 for the Cambridge Teaching network. Furthermore, Tony secured the geography accreditation for his department from the Geographical Association in 2013. In 2015 Tony was one of only 3 people to receive a joint award from the SSAT and the Geographical Association, as recognition for his ‘leadership and outstanding expertise in geography education.’
Senior Subject Adviser - History
Sally McCartney
Senior Subject Adviser - History
Sally retrained from a business background as a history teacher in 2008, completing a PGCE at Liverpool Hope. Returning to London as an NQT she began teaching at Ashcroft Technology Academy and became Second In Charge of Humanities; she delivered the IB, A Level and GCSE history and KS3 humanities. Whilst at ATA the academy moved from Ofsted good to outstanding. In 2013 Sally moved to Burlington Danes Academy as Head of History and then subsequently as Head of Humanities. Ofsted recognised BDA as outstanding in 2014 whilst she was HoD and she became recognised as a teacher of excellence by ARK. Sally also planned and led history CPD across the ARK academies between 2015-2017 supporting teachers and strengthening history provision in the network. She also managed an Education NGO, EdUKaid, in Tanzania and is dedicated to improving education for all young people she encounters, wherever they are, to reach their potential.
Senior Modern Languages Adviser
Mariu Hurriaga
Senior Modern Languages Adviser
Mariu has over 15 years of experience as Head of Department and a total of 19 years as a languages teacher of Spanish and German to A Level, French and Latin to GCSE. The departments she has led have improved outcomes in public exams and increased uptake at both KS4 and KS5.
She is an examiner for both Edexcel (A level) and AQA (GCSE) and has an MEd in Educational Leadership and School Improvement from the University of Cambridge.
Mariu was appointed to her current role in January 2019, but she has been working for United Learning, as Head of Department, since 2015.
Primary Subject Adviser - English
Jen Reynolds
Primary Subject Adviser - English
Jen has worked in Primary Education for over 25 years, much of the time combining teaching with other roles. Prior to joining United Learning she was the English Adviser for the CAM Academy Trust and also facilitated writing moderation with large clusters of schools throughout Cambridgeshire. Jen is a former Local Authority English Adviser for Cambridgeshire; a role in which she supported schools and delivered courses focused on all aspects of English, including leading the St Neots Schools Forum poetry and storytelling festival and working with teachers in museums and out of school settings.
From 2000 to 2014 Jen was a tutor on the PGCE and GTP at the Faculty of Education, Cambridge University; she has also delivered training to teachers in Kazakhstan. Jen has researched several areas of children's literacy, including gender differences in responding to texts. From 2001 to 2004 she was a researcher on the Cambridge University government funded project, ‘Raising Boys’ Achievement’, specifically researching the role of drama and talk to develop writing.
Primary Subject Adviser - English
Karen Tulloch
Primary Subject Adviser - English
Karen Tulloch joined United Learning after eleven years as a senior lecturer at St Mary’s University, an Outstanding teacher training provider. In this role, Karen was the primary English subject leader. She taught across PGCE and Undergraduate routes, as well as supporting trainee teachers on school placements and tutoring students within university. Karen also delivered courses on autism, having become a trainer for Autism Education Trust.
Prior to her role in initial teacher education, Karen taught in London primary schools for almost twenty years. This experience included several years as SENCo in a large primary school. From 2005 – 2007, Karen was a VSO volunteer in Ethiopia, managing and moderating a nationwide teacher educator programme. She also worked in a teaching capacity for several NGOs whilst there.
Primary Subject Adviser - Maths
Jill Todd
Primary Subject Adviser - Maths
Jill joined United Learning in September 2018. In her previous role she was the Primary Teaching for Mastery Lead for the West Yorkshire Maths Hub and the Primary Maths Lead for Bradford College’s Initial Teacher Education. Prior to this, Jill has taught within Primary, Middle and Secondary school settings, focusing on mathematics, gaining experience as a Maths Coordinator, Key Stage 3 Coordinator and Second in Department. Jill was a Maths Consultant for Education Bradford and was involved in the Comenius European Project 'Weird to Wired' which focused on the development and delivery of ICT led mathematics lessons.
Maths Subject Adviser - Primary
Mark Stephenson
Maths Subject Adviser - Primary
Mark joined the Primary team at United Learning in September 2019 as Maths Adviser supporting schools mainly in the South and the Midlands.
Prior to joining the Primary team, Mark was a primary school teacher and maths subject lead for over 10 years in schools in Westminster and Hammersmith & Fulham, one of which was Langford Primary School, which is also part of the group.
Mark has completed the NPQSL and is an NCETM Professional Development Accredited Lead.
Jane O'Leary
EYFS Adviser
Jane has worked in education for over 17 years, as a primary school teacher, specialising in EYFS, in schools across the West Midlands and Worcestershire. She joined the Primary team at United Learning in September 2022, initially seconded from her role as Assistant Headteacher at Corngreaves Primary, where she led on Early Years Foundation Stage. Jane joined the team on a permanent basis in June 2023, continuing to support schools and advise on EYFS across primary schools within the trust.
Subject Adviser - English
Lucy Gaffney
Subject Adviser - English
Subject Adviser - English
Edward Harding
Subject Adviser - English
Dana Browne
Subject Adviser - Maths
Dana joined the Secondary Maths Advisers team for United Learning in September 2019. In addition to teaching maths across key stages 3 to 5 for eight years, her previous roles have included Assistant Headteacher (Pupil Premium) at Blenheim High School in Epsom, where she played a key role in moving the school from Requires Improvement to Good in April 2019. Prior to this she was as Head of Maths at United Learning’s, Lambeth Academy in Clapham, now known as The Elms Academy.
Alec Lindon
Subject Adviser - Maths
Zubair Patel
Subject Adviser - Maths
Zubair joined United Learning in 2022 as a maths adviser based in the North of England. He started his career with Teach First as a maths teacher based in East London. Zubair has worked with several schools in London and Manchester since then as a middle and senior leader with a record of securing strong outcomes for students.
Zubair now works alongside Amanda, Alec and Dana as part of the secondary maths adviser team.
Subject Adviser - Science
Anila Mannan
Subject Adviser - Science
Subject Adviser - Science
Nicola Stephan
Subject Adviser - Science
Subject Adviser - History
Alicia Shanks
Subject Adviser - History
Alicia joined United Learning as a History Adviser in 2021, offering direct support to schools in the North of England. She has a keen interest in the education sector which resulted in her completing her BA Hons degree in History and Education Studies and led to her developing this further by completing an MA in Education. Alicia has worked in several roles throughout her career so far including Head of History, Head of Humanities and Lead Practitioner with whole school teaching and learning responsibilities. During the pandemic she also supported remote learning for all pupils nationally by creating and recording lessons for Oak Academy
Subject Adviser - Geography
Ben Newborn
Subject Adviser - Geography
Subject Adviser - Religious Education
Ian Miller
Subject Adviser - Religious Education
Ian has worked with United Learning for seven years. Ian used to lead Religious Studies at Paddington Academy where he developed the curriculum and led the transition to whole cohort GCSE entry, securing outstanding outcomes for pupils at the school. He then began working on a part-time basis, writing and resourcing the United Learning Religious Studies curriculum which is now implemented nationally across our schools. Alongside that work, Ian also taught at Accrington Academy in Lancashire. As of September 2023, Ian now works as a full-time adviser for Religious Studies, working to support Religious Studies provision across United Learning.
Subject Adviser - Religious Education
Lucy Kentish
Subject Adviser - Religious Education
Lucy received a BA from the University of Exeter and works as the South Coast Adviser alongside the role of classroom teacher. She previously held the roles of Lead Practitioner and Head of Department at Glenmoor & Winton Academies.
Lucy has several years' experience as a KS4 examiner and in 2023 completed the Leadership Programme (Stage 1) through Culham St Gabriel's with a focus on Religion and Worldviews. Lucy has presented on curriculum and teacher development at education conferences and has also published several reading lists through RETeach to enhance the subject knowledge of practitioners.
Subject Adviser - Modern Foreign Languages
Caroline Goss
Subject Adviser - Modern Foreign Languages
Caroline has been a teacher of French and Spanish for over ten years, teaching from KS2 to KS4 in both state and independent sectors. Caroline spent most of her career working in an outstanding central London academy, starting out as an Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) teacher but along the way holding the positions of KS3 coordinator and Head of MFL before joining the academic Senior Leadership Team. In 2021, Caroline joined United Learning as an MFL Curriculum Writer before becoming a Subject Adviser later that year.
Adriano Di Salvo
Subject Adviser - Art
Subject Adviser - Music / Performing Arts
Anita Coe
Subject Adviser - Music / Performing Arts