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 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 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 advisor for the South, before becoming National Director of English in 2017.

Tony started teaching in 2004 as a geography teacher and joined United Learning as the Geography Advisor 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.’

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 Advisor in 2018.

Ben has worked in several schools on developing science teaching, both as an AST and as a local authority advisor, 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.

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.

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 Advisor 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.

Fay retrained from a finance background as a Maths teacher in 2007. In 2011 Fay moved to Burlington Danes Academy as Second In Charge of Maths and then subsequently as Head of Maths. Ofsted recognised BDA as outstanding in 2014 whilst she was HoD and the department achieved success in both their A-level (ALPS 1) and GCSE results (91% A*-C). Fay has been an examiner for over 6 years and is part of the AQA expert panel.

In 2015, Fay was appointed as United Learning’s Maths subject advisor for the South, before becoming National Director of Maths in 2017.

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.

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.

Amanda has worked in education for over ten 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 works alongside Fay Sheppard as a Maths Advisor across all United Learning schools.

Mark joined the Primary team at United Learning in September 2019 as Maths Advisor 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.

Caroline joined the Primary Team as Early Years Advisor and Curriculum Writer with United Learning in January 2020, where she has been working with EYFS teams to improve the quality of education on offer for our youngest children.  Enhancing practitioner knowledge around the quality of interactions and a deeper understanding of milestones in child development, alongside purposeful enhanced activity and carefully planned discreet teaching, is at the heart of making this happen.

Caroline is an experienced early years teacher who has taught in Reception and Nursery in Cumbria, Kirklees and South Yorkshire, working in a range of communities with differing needs. On becoming a Headteacher in 2014, she remained passionate about working with younger children and has always recognised that laying strong foundations and having high expectations in the early years is key to children’s future success. Working with families and wider communities has always been an important part of her practice that has impacted positively on parental engagement and children being school ready.

Caroline is also a qualified Executive Coach, having completed the ILM7 Executive Coaching and Mentoring qualification.