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 19 years with the last 6 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

Provision One

Richard Nichols

Richard leads the learning in Provision One in which our staff deliver bespoke timetables for pupils with complex needs. Richard is also 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.

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.

Provision Two

Jo Richardson

Jo teaches the pupils in Provision Two which provides a nurturing environment and a bespoke curriculum for pupils with complex needs. Jo has a significant amount of primary school experience; as a member of our Extended Leadership Team she leads on Literacy and Numeracy in our primary.

Primary One

Emma West

Emma teaches Primary One which is our youngest primary class. Emma is an innovative teacher who is passionate about outdoor learning and learning through play. She is in charge of Early Years and Foundation Subjects and is a member of our Extended Leadership Team.

Year 8

Vickie Hulme

Vickie 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. She is on our Extended Leadership Team.

Year 11

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 PE. Andy is interested in helping our pupils make healthier lifestyle choices and also runs our breakfast club.

Year 10

Katie Nolan

Katie is tutor for 10b 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

Emma Harris

Emma is 1oa’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

Chris Etheridge

Chris is 9b’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 9

Billy Winfield

Billy is a new member of teaching staff, and 9a’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

Hannah Gibson-Matthews

Hannah is 8a’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 8

Laura Hannah

Laura is class tutor for 8a alongside Hannah. She is our art specialist and teaches art across KS3 and KS4. Laura has a large amount of experience working with a range of additional needs from PMLD to MLD

Year 7

Jonathon Ellis

Jonathon teaches our step-up class in Year 7 which has pupils who are new to the school. Jonathon is currently completing his Masters in Special Education and Inclusion. He particularly enjoys teaching literacy and creative writing.

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 Two

Kerry Looker

Kerry teaches Primary Two which has pupils who are in key-stage one, 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 Rock Challenge and Colours of Music.

Satellite Class

Catherine Wittey

Catherine is an advanced autism specialist who in 2019-20 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.