Our Staff

Our staff are a dedicated team who have vast experience supporting pupils with Autism, Asperger’s, social, communication learning difficulties and moderate learning difficulties. We have a high staff to pupil ratio across the school with the flexibility to teach in small classes, small groups and the expertise to provide bespoke interventions.

Senior Leadership Team

Headteacher

Katherine Johnson

Katherine has been a teacher for 21 years with the last 8 dedicated to the SEN sector. She has experience working with a range of pupils with different needs from PMLD to MLD and Autism. She successfully completed NPQH in January 2017 and is passionate about improving the life chances for pupils with additional needs. She works closely with the University of Hull Teacher Education programme as an advisor and is supporting the Local Authority in shaping the future of special needs provision across the city.

Deputy Headteacher

Julie Wickenden

Julie is a very experienced teacher who has an impressive career history including 12 years as part of the senior leadership team at a local outstanding school. Her expertise is linked to ensuring high quality teaching and learning and she has an excellent knowledge of child protection and safeguarding. She is also responsible for our curriculum and is passionate about inclusive education and challenge for all.

Class Team

Year 11

Hannah Gibson-Matthews

Hannah is 11a’s tutor. Hannah has a significant amount of experience supporting vulnerable young people. As a Humanities specialist she enjoys teaching History in a very interactive way.

Year 11

Laura Hannah

Laura is class tutor for 11a alongside Hannah. She is our geography specialist and teaches across KS3 and KS4. Laura has a large amount of experience working with a range of additional needs from PMLD to MLD

Year 11

Emma Pratt

Emma is 11a’s form tutor. Emma has a significant amount of SEND experience; she teaches and leads on Science. Emma, as a biology specialist, is interested in how we develop our pupils understanding of themselves and the world around them. Emma is also part of our Extended Leadership Team. She is currently completing the NPQSL programme with Leeds Beckett University.

Year 10

Katie Nolan

Katie is tutor for 10a and our Maths TLR holder. She is part of our extended leadership team and has a vast amount of experience in working with pupils with additional needs.

Year 10

Andy Nutbrown

Andy is 10b’s form tutor. Andy teaches PE and Maths up to and including GCSE. He is on our Extended Leadership Team and is currently TLR holder for PE. Andy is interested in helping our pupils make healthier lifestyle choices and also runs our breakfast club.

Year 9

Kim Garrett

Kim is an experienced secondary English teacher who also enjoys delivering Media and Drama. She is currently working alongside Emma Harris in 9a whilst she is on maternity leave

Year 9

Emma Harris

Emma is 9a’s form tutor. Emma teaches English and Life-skills to our older pupils. Emma is also passionate about PE and enjoys teaching some of our more vulnerable pupils Physical Literacy; she also teaches PE to our satellite class based at The Compass Academy.

Year 9

Billy Winfield

Billy is a new member of teaching staff, and 9b’s tutor. He is training through the assessment only route. He was a level 3 TA previously and has a vast amount of experience working with SEN pupils.

Year 8

Vickie Hulme

Vickie is 8a’s form tutor. Vickie is an experienced SEND teacher who has recently joined us from Kelvin Hall School. She has responsibility for leading English Language and Literature across our secondary classes. Vickie also teaches Media and Animation. She is on our Extended Leadership Team.

Year 8

Chris Etheridge

Chris is 8b’s form tutor. Chris is an experienced, caring SEND teacher. Chris teaches English Language and English Literature at key-stage 3. Chris is also our ICT specialist and teaches ICT to all our secondary classes. Chris is also a teacher governor.

Year 7

Jo Richardson

Jo is 7a’s form tutor. She is an experienced SEND teacher who has worked most recently in our provision classes. She has responsibility for leading Year 6 to 7 transition for our pupils and those in our feeder schools. Jo is also on our Extended Leadership Team, contributing to wider school development.

Year 7

Joe Routh

Joe is a new member of teaching staff, and 7b’s tutor. He is training through the assessment only route. He was a level 3 TA previously and has a vast amount of experience working with SEN pupils.

Primary

Kerry Looker

Kerry teaches our Primary class which has pupils who are in key-stage two, either by age or ability level. Kerry is a passionate and creative teacher with a significant amount of primary SEND experience. Kerry regularly leads on drama and music projects within the school, such as Colours of Music.

Provision Lead

Richard Nichols

Richard leads the learning in Provision One, Two and our referral class Staff in these classes deliver bespoke timetables for pupils with complex needs. Richard is responsible for teaching and learning in all three provision classes. Richard has a vast amount of SEND experience; he is also a member of the Extended Leadership Team and provides support across the school for pupils with behavioural difficulties.

Satellite Class

Catherine Wittey

Catherine is an autism specialist who in 2020-21 will teach the pupils in our satellite class based at The Compass Academy. Catherine is determinedly passionate about making every lesson accessible for every child.