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

Katherine Johnson
Headteacher

Katherine Johnson

Katherine has been a teacher for 22 years with the last 10 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.

Julie Wickenden
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 wellbeing of staff and students, inclusive education and challenge for all.

Claire Roberts
Year 9

Claire Roberts

Claire is part of our Senior Leadership team responsible for Professional Progress and Staff development. She has a vast amount of experience working with PGCE students at Hull University and is a skilled maths specialist. She is also a tutor for 9A

Vickie Hulme
Year 8

Vickie Hulme

Vickie is part of our Senior Leadership Team responsible for Pupil Progress . She is 8b’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.

Chris Etheridge
Year 10

Chris Etheridge

Chris is part of our Senior Leadership Team responsible for Pupil Progress. He is 10b’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.

Jo Richardson
Year 7

Jo Richardson

Jo is part of our Senior Leadership Team responsible for Pastoral Progress. She is also 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.

Class Team

Claire Roberts
Year 9

Claire Roberts

Claire is part of our Senior Leadership team responsible for Professional Progress and Staff development. She has a vast amount of experience working with PGCE students at Hull University and is a skilled maths specialist. She is also a tutor for 9A

Vickie Hulme
Year 8

Vickie Hulme

Vickie is part of our Senior Leadership Team responsible for Pupil Progress . She is 8b’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.

Chris Etheridge
Year 10

Chris Etheridge

Chris is part of our Senior Leadership Team responsible for Pupil Progress. He is 10b’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.

Jo Richardson
Year 7

Jo Richardson

Jo is part of our Senior Leadership Team responsible for Pastoral Progress. She is also 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.

Kevin Groombridge
Year 8

Kevin Groombridge

Kevin is the tutor for 8c ad is our science specialist. He is interested in outdoor learning and making science as fun and practical as possible.

Katie Nolan
Maths TLR Holder

Katie Nolan

Katie is 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.

Andy Nutbrown
TLR Vocational Lead

Andy Nutbrown

Andy is 11b’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 vocational subjects and PE. Andy is interested in helping our pupils make healthier lifestyle choices and also runs our breakfast club.

Kim Garrett
Year 10

Kim Garrett

Kim is a tutor for 10A and an experienced secondary English teacher who also enjoys delivering Media and Drama.

Emma Harris
Intervention Lead

Emma Harris

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 and leading interventions and 1-1 support.

Billy Winfield
Year 11

Billy Winfield

Billy is a new member of teaching staff, and 11a’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.

Joe Routh
Year 8

Joe Routh

Joe is a new member of teaching staff, and 8a’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.

Kerry Looker
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.

Richard Nichols
Provision and Behaviour Lead

Richard Nichols

Richard leads the learning in Provision and our regulation 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 needs

Catherine Wittey
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.

Extended Leadership Team

Katie Nolan
Maths TLR Holder

Katie Nolan

Katie is 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.

Andy Nutbrown
TLR Vocational Lead

Andy Nutbrown

Andy is 11b’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 vocational subjects and PE. Andy is interested in helping our pupils make healthier lifestyle choices and also runs our breakfast club.

Richard Nichols
Provision and Behaviour Lead

Richard Nichols

Richard leads the learning in Provision and our regulation 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 needs