School Improvement
Our School Improvement Team works across the Trust to ensure all our learners achieve their potential.
David Waterson - Executive Director of Education
Working together as part of a Trust is immensely powerful. It allows us to both challenge and support the work we do, ensuring that all of our learners have the opportunity to reach their full potential and positively influence their futures. As a former student of Hessle High, I was fortunate enough to be one of the first beneficiaries of the 6th Form Consortium in its early days. What started as a vision from a few dedicated teachers almost 30 years ago has now evolved into what we strive to achieve on a larger scale today.
Since 2007, I have held positions as Headteacher and Executive Headteacher across various schools in the Yorkshire region, working with both Local Authorities and Multi Academy Trusts. I have successfully led several schools out of OFSTED categories and have been recognised as a National Leader of Education.
As one of two Executive Directors of Education, my responsibilities include overseeing Primary and Special Schools, Special Educational Needs, Disadvantaged Learners, Alternative Curriculum, and leading the Trust's Mental Health team. Additionally, I currently serve as the Trust's Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Outside of the Trust, I have had successful stints chairing multiple school governing bodies. Most recently, I chaired an Alternative Provision school that received its first 'good' OFSTED judgement under my leadership. Furthermore, I am also a facilitator for National Professional Qualifications and frequently speak at conferences nationwide on leadership development topics.
Mark Brown - Executive Director of Education
After graduating from The University of Salford with a degree in Applied Chemistry, I moved to The University of York to undertake my PGCE. My first teaching appointment was at Maltby Comprehensive School, where I taught chemistry at Key Stage 3, GCSE and A Level. After 3 years at Maltby, I moved to Lady Lumley’s School in Pickering, North Yorkshire to take up the post of Deputy Head of Science and Head of Chemistry. I moved to Hull in 1999 to work for the Local Authority as a Science Consultant and later became a Secondary Advisor.
I joined Winifred Holtby Academy in Bransholme, Hull as Deputy Headteacher in 2005, before being promoted to the role of Associate Headteacher. I was appointed as Headteacher at Winifred Holtby in 2014. Leading the academy for nearly 10 years has been a huge privilege and has provided me with extensive secondary headship experience that I now bring to the role of Executive Director of Education within the Trust. The remit of this role is to provide strategic leadership for secondary education and school improvement across the organisation.
Jamie O'Brien - Director of Improvement and Standards (Secondary and Post 16)
I grew up in West Yorkshire - attending school in Bingley and discovering a love of music by performing with local brass bands. After completing a degree and masters in physics, I stepped briefly into the world of corporate consultancy, working for the Business Dynamics group at PriceWaterhouseCoopers. I soon left this to follow my passion for education, returning to Durham University to complete my PGCE (secondary maths) and building a career around making a difference to the lives of young people.
I moved across to the East Riding from Kirklees in January 2013, initially as Head of the Schools' Music Service before joining the Local Authority Improvement and Learning Service and taking the role of Principal Improvement Adviser (secondary) from 2018 to 2020. Prior to joining The Consortium Academy trust in September 2022, my most recent post was as Director of Curriculum and Assessment for the Wolds Learning Partnership Multi Academy Trust. Alongside the role across the Trust, I taught mathematics at Longcroft and Woldgate secondary schools and provided additional leadership capacity as a deputy headteacher at Longcroft School and Sixth Form.
I am delighted to join the Trust team of talented teachers and leaders as we collectively work to raise standards across our schools and live our Trust vision by 'Shaping Positive Futures'. Outside work I still enjoy performing in various bands and orchestras, and I try to stay physically active by cycling and walking when time and weather allows.
Richard Hill - School Improvement Lead
I have 18 years of teaching experience across both secondary and primary schools. Despite initially training and starting my teaching career as an MFL specialist, I took opportunities to teach a range of subjects during the 12 years I spent at Winifred Holtby; including English, geography, history and RE. In 2015, I started working at Croxby Primary where I have taught classes across KS2. I also fulfilled the role of English lead, developing innovative strategies for pupil attainment and engagement across primary phases. Recently, I successfully secured a position of ELE (Evidence Lead in Education), developing TCAT’s links with the Research Schools Network and signposting colleagues towards research in order to make a difference in the classroom and whole school.
As an adaptable practitioner, having taught across a wide range of lessons and key stages, I believe that a fundamental knowledge of successful teaching and learning strategies is the key to be able to teach effectively. My recent two-year secondment as an Academy Improvement Leader gave me the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues across the Trust, specifically on the vital role of vocabulary in all learning to allow learners to access academic talk and reading integral to the knowledge led curriculum of schools.
The role of School Improvement Lead for English is an exciting opportunity to promote a culture of high quality curriculum and pedagogy through effective use of evidence to promote engagement and raise standards. The role will focus heavily on developing reading across the curriculum, working with leaders across the Trust in promoting reading as the ‘master skill’ and ensuring that training is available to promote high quality provision and development which is evidence based. I am looking forward to working closely with colleagues to ensure progression within a 3-19 model of reading and literacy across the Trust.
Amanda Welsh - School Improvement Lead
I have worked at schools within the Academy Trust for the past 18 years and have worked in education for over 21 years. I trained as a Business & Economics teacher and have been very lucky to say I truly love my job and feel that being a teacher really has been a fantastic career. I have also taught Geography and Computing and have led Business, Enterprise and Vocational education for many years at Cottingham High School and Sixth Form College. A vocational education and curriculum for all is important to me and I am a passionate advocate of the #bettertogether work that the Trust can achieve as a whole organisation.
The opportunities I have enjoyed as a teacher and a leader in school are numerous and I feel fortunate to have gathered so much experience over the years to ensure I can now feed that into my new role as School Improvement Lead. For the past two years I have completed a secondment with the Trust as an Academy Improvement Leader. Much of this role was collaborative and I have worked closely with school leaders, staff and learners. This role has really reinforced my interest in and passion for teaching and learning.
Working closely with schools to assure excellent provision is in place for learners through improved classroom teaching and pedagogy has been a privilege for me. The School Improvement Lead position gives me the perfect opportunity to use my knowledge, experience, interest and passion for quality of teaching and learning. It also will allow me to develop a system and framework that suits all types of learners and equip them to be successful young adults by ensuring excellent teaching for all.
Angela Murphy - School Improvement Lead
Having thoroughly enjoyed the diverse range of opportunities presented to me during school, college and university years, it was an easy and natural decision for me to follow a career in teaching. The Trust's vision, ‘Shaping Positive Futures’ strikes a chord with me for this reason. As a School Improvement Lead, I am excited to have the privilege of helping to shape future provision for children and young people across the Trust.
I have taught in a range of geographical areas including Hull and East Yorkshire. In the early stages of my career, I developed curriculum expertise focused on KS3 Science and PSHE Coordination, and pastoral leadership in the roles of Head of Year 7 and Progress Leader. From here, my passion for pedagogy, mentoring and coaching led to being assessed as an Advanced Skills Teacher of Science. Additionally, I have relished the opportunity to develop strategic leadership skills centred around Teaching and Learning as Director of Progress.
My most recent roles have included working for CfBT (EDT) as a Future and Developing Teachers’ Consultant, and since then, Secondary Programme Leader for Lincolnshire SCITT. Working cross-phase, alongside colleagues in a range of primary, secondary and specialist SEND schools has been extremely rewarding. I am delighted to be continuing my work with Early Career Teachers for the Trust.
I am an active person who enjoys a range of sporting and outdoor activities including snow sports, running, walking and weightlifting. Having gained a great deal of satisfaction working with young people in outdoor educational settings, I value the opportunity this brings to the social and cultural enrichment of our learners. In the same way, I too enjoy experiencing a range of adventures and cultures. Examples of this include participation with Camp America, travelling India and Thailand, being teacher leader on a one-month expedition to Mexico and securing a place on the Teachers’ International Programme for Development in Cape Town.
health and well-being support
Jennie Ellis - Adult Mental Health Support Worker
- Provides learner support at: • Howden School • Cottingham High School and Sixth Form College • Wolfreton School and Sixth Form College
- Leads on the development of well-being support strategy for staff
- Provides self-care support for HTs/NQTs specifically as part of a planned programme