Who We Are
Our Teaching School Hub is always expanding - meet the team here
Amanda Parry OBE
Director
Amanda is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer for the HISP MAT and Executive Headteacher of Portswood and Tanners Brook Primary Schools. She is also the Director of the HISP Learning Partnership which includes the HISP Teaching School Hubs, HISP Research School, the Solent Maths Hub and the Hampshire SCITT Partnership. She is currently the Regional Delivery Partner for the DfE Trust and School Improvement Offer (SESL). As a system leader, Amanda has undertaken school improvement work across both primary and secondary schools.
David Higginbottom
Deputy Director of HISP Teaching School Hub
With 12 years teaching experience, as a Geography teacher in the secondary sector and with teaching experience in the primary sector, David is now the Deputy Director of HISP Teaching School Hub. He has been a Sixth Form Coordinator for Geography, a pastoral tutor, and an accredited Lead Practitioner. David has worked with trainee and early career teachers for much of his career, supporting and mentoring PGCE trainees, ECTs and facilitating training for School Direct and SCITT trainees. He has presented at numerous national teaching and learning conferences and has delivered evidence informed CPD to colleagues within multiple school settings.
Georgina Crooks
Assistant Director
Georgina is the Assistant Director for the HISP Teaching School Hub. She has 20 years of experience in the secondary and sixth form sector and has led teaching and learning development through her role as Subject Lead for a range of English courses. For much of her career, she has also worked delivering professional development with a responsibility for facilitating whole college training and supporting PGCE trainees, early career teachers and more experienced staff through mentoring and coaching. She has a real passion for teaching and learning and supports a large secondary school as a governor and works with AQA as a Senior Associate.
Emma Langley
HISP Learning Partnership Manager
As the HISP Learning Partnership Manager, Emma has administrative oversight of the HISP Learning Partnership which encompasses the HISP Teaching School Hubs, HISP Research School, the Solent Maths Hub and the Hampshire SCITT Partnership.
Emma has worked in various administrative roles having started her career in banking and progressed from there into Wealth Management as a Private Banking Assistant with Coutts & Co. After a short family career break, Emma retuned to work at Thornden School where she started as Assistant to the Heads of Department. Since starting there in 2013, she has been able to put her extensive organisation and co-ordination skills to good practice in a number of roles and most recently by supporting the HISP Learning Partnership.
Caroline Lowing
HISP TSH - School Improvement Lead
Caroline Lowing has worked in education for 18 years. She is currently School Improvement Lead for HISP Teaching School Hub but has previously been Deputy Headteacher in a Secondary school with responsibility for the Quality of Education. Caroline is also a member of the ASCL Council and co-chairs ASCL’s Ethnic Diversity Network. She is passionate about supporting all young people – particularly vulnerable and disadvantaged students and is a self-proclaimed teaching and learning geek!
Steve Smith
HISP Research School & Solent Maths Hub Lead
Steve has been a teacher for 20 years and is passionate about teaching and learning. He has held several roles including Advanced Skills Teacher, Head of Department and Assistant Headteacher leading teaching and learning. He is currently Director of HISP Research School, Co-lead of Solent Maths Hub, School Improvement Research Lead across HISP MAT and a secondary school teacher. He has worked collaboratively with many schools in the region through various school to school support and school improvement projects.
Jess Paul
Solent Maths Hub Lead
I started at University of Sussex training in Mathematics and then went on to complete a PGCE specialising in Mathematics at Exeter University.
I have been in education for over 10 years now and in that time, I have had the privilege of working in a variety of roles. I started at University of Sussex training in Mathematics and then went on to complete a PGCE specialising in Mathematics at Exeter University. After graduating, I work in Aldershot, Hedge End and Portsmouth, first as a class teacher progressing into senior leadership over this time. While working in Portsmouth, I had the opportunity to work with the Solent Maths Hub, running both Primary and Secondary Work Groups. I started as the Teaching for Mastery Lead, moving on to become Maths Hub Lead for Early Years and Primary and I am now the overall Maths Hub Lead. This role involves setting the strategic direction of the Maths Hub to provide continued research informed support to schools across the region. Alongside my role at the Maths Hub, I became heavily involved with school improvement, first as an SLE in Portsmouth, moving to supporting several SSIF bids across the region and working with senior leaders in a range of school to develop their curriculum. During this time, I also completed my MA in Education, researching children's conceptual understanding within mathematics and the link between mathematical thinking and perceived ability. I am now one of a team of school improvement leads working for the HISP MAT working across the MAT supporting school leaders with curriculum reviews and providing specific senior leadership support in one of our Primary schools.
George Masters
Solent Maths Hub Co-ordinator
I have worked in various support education roles over the last 25 years including School Business Manager and Teaching School Director. My strengths lie with people and in project management and by working across the maths hub I can utilise these skills to ensure the appropriate level of support is given to schools, our team, Work Groups and Teaching for Mastery leads.
I joined the Solent Maths Hub in September 2021 so am still relatively new to the role, loving it and learning more every day. If you want to know more about how the hub can support you and your school, please contact me, I’d love to hear from you!
Justine Briant
Teaching School Hub Administrator
Molly McBurnie
Teaching School Hub Administrator
Candice Langley
Teaching School Hub Administrator
Emma Gerrard
Teaching School Hub Administrator