Meet the School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) Team

SCITT Leads

Dawn Chapman - SCITT Primary Programme Lead
Dawn has worked for Exeter Consortium as the Primary Programme Lead since 2018, working closely with schools across the region to develop and strengthen the partnerships that are vital to our approach. The most rewarding aspect of her role is building supportive relationships with trainees, NQTs and teachers in our partner schools. ​

​Sara Thornhill - SCITT Assistant Primary Programme Lead
Sara Thornhill is our ITT Assistant Primary Programme Lead and Development Lead for the SWIFT ECT programme. Through leadership and Deputy Headship roles, Sara has strived to develop a culture of coaching to support development and improve the quality of teaching using regular incremental coaching. Sara is also a Lead Mentor for our ITT programme.

Louise Honan - SCITT Administrator & Finance
Louise's role includes assisting the Programme Lead with the administration of the current programmes and provision for trainee teachers. She is usually the first point of contact for most future trainees and supports them through the process from recruitment, to DBS checks, DfE registration, bursaries and student finance.

SCITT Lead Mentors

Aymee Cann
As an education-based practitioner, I have always placed this at the heart of everything I do: giving every child the best possible opportunities. I believe educational settings are core in ensuring all children have a great start in life. My current role is Deputy Headteacher in a Primary setting.

​From the outset of my own training and teaching journey, I have taught every primary year group (with the majority of time in year 6) and have gained much experience about how children can present at each stage of their primary journey. I thoroughly enjoy working with students, teaching assistants and teachers to encourage a strong network of practitioners who are well-equipped and well-motivated to help our future generations flourish and grow as individuals. I always aim to embed a mixture of coaching and mentoring strategies to support and guide to the best of my ability. 

​​Stephanie Hart
As a Lead mentor Stephanie triangulates the implementation of the core curriculum through to the classroom, moderating the judgments of the School-based Mentors and quality assuring school-based provision. She has significant knowledge and understanding of each Key Stage and has been a qualified Head Teacher for 12 years, both in a small (mixed cohort) rural school and at a specialist setting; the first Trauma Informed School in the UK.

​She is an ambassador for upholding the highest levels of safeguarding and is skilled in behaviour management through working with young people who have suffered severe adverse childhood experiences. She is a qualified and accomplished life coach and mentor, deploying her skill set to support and guide Trainee Teachers as they rapidly develop as practitioners. In addition to monitoring Trainee Teachers' well being and personal development, Stephanie provides valued constructive and positive feedback through the various assessment point visits. She will also be seen running some training sessions.

​Lucy Herring
As an Early Years Trainee from the outset of my teaching career, I have always held a passion and interest in the education and development of our youngest learners. I have 12 years of teaching experience within the Early Years, encompassing teaching within both large and small schools in the Exeter Area. I have held the position of Assistant Headteacher with responsibilities for a large preschool up to supporting teaching and learning for pupils in Year 2. I have now left the classroom and am currently working with Somerset County Council as the Advisory Teacher for Early Years Children Looked After. This role has allowed for greater opportunities for learning on my part and I am enjoying deepening my understanding of Early Brain Development, Attachment Theories as well as supporting settings develop their provision to support the needs of vulnerable children.
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I have been involved with the Teacher Training programme with Exeter Consortium since its inception and have enjoyed seeing the programme for Early Years Trainees develop through the years. I always look forward to meeting trainees through-out the year and hearing first hand how their experiences in their placements start to shape and mould them as the next generation of teachers. There truly is nothing more magical about being surrounded with the Awe and Wonder of the Early Years!

​​Sarah Nicholas
As an education practitioner, I have spent 30 years in Devon Primary Schools shaping and growing the adults of the future. My career has seen me teach across all age ranges from the Early Years through to Year 6. I am now a Deputy Head of a large primary school in East Devon. 

As a qualified SENDCo and Pupil Premium Lead, I have a passion for fostering inclusive environments where all children receive the support, care and education that they need to thrive. As the Inclusion lead, I work to create tailored strategies that promote equal opportunities for every child ensuring the best outcomes for individuals.

In addition to my work regarding outcomes for children, I am also actively involved in coaching and mentoring within our school setting, working alongside our Early Career teachers supporting their development as class teachers and leaders of the future. I am excited to be working with the team in a Lead mentor capacity supporting trainees as they enter the profession.

SCITT Trainers

​The SCITT Curriculum is re-drafted annually to reflect the developments in education nationally and within our partnership. Our trainers are drawn from the SWTT and Exeter Consortium Partnership as well as more widely. The General Professional Studies calendar is subject to change, but some of our key trainers are as follows:

Abbie Birch
Curriculum Strand – English
Abbie has been working as a class teacher at East-the-Water Primary school in North Devon for 6 years. In that time, Abbie has had responsibility for leading PE and is now in her third year as literacy Lead. Abbie trained at the University of Plymouth between 2016 and 2019, graduating with a First Class Honours in BEd (Hons) Primary Education specialising in English.

In her time as literacy lead, Abbie has worked hard to underpin the principles of metacognitive learning through the teaching of reading comprehension. Abbie has also concentrated on developing the approach to writing for a range of learners in her school with a particular focus on the development of greater depth writers. Abbie has supported PGCE students in her class and this will be her second year delivering literacy training for Exeter Consortium.

Kelly Bridle
Curriculum Strand – History
Kelly has been a primary school teacher for five years and is the curriculum lead at her school. She is responsible for ensuring the broader curriculum is planned, sequenced and monitored well across the school. Kelly has particular expertise in history and has worked with her school to be the first to gain the Historical Association Gold Quality Mark in Devon and Cornwall. Kelly works closely with Dr Tim Lomas from the Historical Association and are working on some primary history journals due to be published later in 2024.

Kathy Davies
Curriculum Strand – Science
I am a full-time class teacher and a leader of science at East-the-Water Primary School where I have taught for seven years. I am passionate about science and hope to inspire students to feel the same.
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I have supported a number of PGCE students and have also been a school-based mentor.

​Michael Emerton
Curriculum Strand - Computing
Michael is an IT Support Manager for the Ted Wragg Trust and has taught Computing across the Primary age range. His experience includes planning and implementation of the curriculum; implementing and managing school IT systems; planning, implementation and embedding of ICT into the curriculum; teaching alongside teachers, providing CPD and up-skilling leading to higher standards in IT; providing Exeter Consortium CLASS trainer Leadership support to schools as well as training and INSET on a variety of subjects including coding and online safety.

​Jac Evans
Curriculum Strand - Science
I started teaching in 2001 in a large junior school in Kent, and from the very beginning took the role of coordinator, leading Science and Design Technology across the school. I currently teach at St. Thomas Primary School in Exeter where I continue to lead the subject, support my colleagues both on a day-to-day basis as well as through training, and have organised Able, Gifted and Talented workshops for children across the school and Academy.

​I have also enjoyed the opportunity to work with trainees from Exeter Consortium’s Teacher Training Programme. I am passionate about the importance of science in the curriculum, and the role we play as educators in promoting the subject.

​Kit Hardee
Curriculum Strand - High Expectations and Behaviour Management
Kit is the Assistant Headteacher at Hazeldown Primary School. He has a desire to help teachers and pupils share a clear vision for education. Previously, he has been part of Hazeldown’s leadership team in his role as an upper key stage 2 team leader and has taught pupils predominately in year 6.

​Since joining the school in 2015, Kit has thrived as part of a successful leadership team who have had, and continue to have, a passion and determination to drive the school forwards - always looking for new ways to give their children the best possible opportunities within their education and to train them to have vital lifelong skills and learning attitudes. Kit is extremely passionate about supporting, developing and inspiring all staff to excel in their careers. He is the initial teaching training coordinator which involves the development of trainee teachers and liaising with three universities.

​Rebecca (Beccy) Haswell
Curriculum Strand - Art
I have been teaching for 28 years and am passionate about art and developing children’s creativity. I feel that art is a subject that has many benefits for children’s mental health, self-esteem and which allows all children to succeed - I am happiest when in the classroom with the paints out!

​I am currently a class teacher, team leader and member of the SLT at Exwick Heights Primary School and lead Art and Design. I am also the TTCO for ITT students and love working with trainee teachers, seeing them develop and learning from them too. For the last few years, I have enjoyed providing art training for teachers, TAs, and trainee teachers with a focus on the progression of skills and a chance to roll up our sleeves and try out some fun art activities. Outside of school, I paint, draw and visit galleries as much as I can and am always looking for new ideas to inspire art at my school.

​Lucy Herring
Curriculum Strand - Early Years
Lucy Herring is a Senior Leader of Education, with an expertise in teaching and learning within the Early years. As an experienced primary school educator Lucy has undertaken a range of roles including classteacher, SENCO and school senior leader.

​Lucy currently works for the Local Authority supporting vulnerable learners within the Early Years. Lucy has a particular interest in the barriers to learning faced by vulnerable and disadvantaged learners including the impact of trauma on early child development. Lucy has been involved with the Exeter Consortium Teacher Trainee programme since its inception and also works as a Lead Mentor, supporting trainees in their placements.

Paul Herring
Curriculum Strand - Computing
Paul is currently the Assistant Headteacher and Computing lead at Exminster. During this time, Paul has overseen the development of a forward-thinking Computing curriculum and guided the school through the e-safety award, the result of which being that technology is used effectively, creatively and safely throughout the school.

As Computing lead, Paul has extensive experience of keeping abreast of the latest technologies, programmes and apps that can be used to support children in their learning from Reception to Key Stage 2. A central part of the role involves the researching, negotiating and purchasing of equipment which provides the best value for money from what is always a tight budget. He has led INSET, CPD, peer-to-peer training and provided help guides to support staff in their own professional development.

Central to Paul’s pedagogy and philosophy as a teacher is the importance of giving children the opportunity to achieve. He has developed the use of Digital Leaders over the last 5 years with excellent impact for children and teachers alike. The Digital Leaders have been trained up to a standard where they lead staff INSET on new technologies, carry out simple ICT tasks and mentor and train other children. Paul has also extended the ‘extracurricular’ aspect of ICT to the formation of a school radio show which has again provided excellent opportunities particularly for children with SEND.

Clare Jackson
Curriculum Strand – Languages and Pedagogy
I am currently Deputy-Headteacher at East-the-water Primary School in North Devon, having started my career in the Midlands. I am an experienced teacher having worked in primary education and have worked in this area for the past 15 years, predominately in Key Stage 2. I have an extensive experience in leading a variety of subjects, including Literacy and the curriculum. I am currently the ITT lead for Exeter Consortium for North Devon and ECT lead in my school. I am passionate about providing ITT students with the very best start to their journey and thoroughly enjoy supporting them through this.

​Gary King
Curriculum Strand – Design Technology
Gary has 20 year’s teaching experience and has been a senior leader for the last 10 years. He is currently the Director of Creative Technologies at West Exe School. Gary also leads the Ted Wragg Design Technology curriculum group. He specialises in Design Technology (Resistant Materials and Graphics) but also teaches iMedia and Computer Science, delivering the teacher training for Design Technology early years and primary cohorts.

​Hilda Merttens
Curriculum Strand – Maths
Hilda has been a class teacher for 20 years. Trained in primary education, she has taught all years from Reception to Y6. She has worked in London, Oxford, Sheffield, Nottingham and Exeter as well as teaching in Australia and India, where she worked for over two years. Hilda is also an educational writer, writing plans and resources, including working in a team of three to produce the Abacus Primary Mathematics Scheme, published by Pearson. This covers teaching and all resources for the whole of the primary age range and is based on the current National Curriculum.

After completing Abacus, Hilda moved into Secondary Education to become a specialist mathematics teacher. She retrained whilst working and is now qualified to teach 4- to 18-year-olds. Hilda is passionate about teaching and learning and also about mathematics and despite loving teaching secondary pupils she has moved back into primary teaching and is currently the Maths lead at Bowhill Primary School, Exeter.

​Claire Norman
Curriculum Strand - SEND
Claire has been in the role of SENCO at Exminster Community Primary School for 9 years. She has led the school through the SEND reforms, implementing new systems and strategies to support effective SEND provision across the whole school. Part of her role involves leading the Student and Family Support Team within the school, implementing initiatives to achieve positive impact on SEND practice within the school and influencing the School Development Plan.

​Claire has worked with colleagues in other settings to support the development of strategies and SEND practice. Claire is also on the steering group for the Exeter Inclusion Forum, working with other SENDCOs to plan and deliver high quality CPD for colleagues.

Jade Passfield
Curriculum Strand – Music
Jade has been a primary teacher for 10 years, teaching across Years 1-6. An English Literature graduate, she has been English Lead for the last 7 years and is Professional Community Lead for English for SWIFT. However, Jade’s passions lie in Music. She is a classically trained singer and opera enthusiast who was formerly a choral scholar at the University of Warwick. Jade’s core beliefs are in the power of music education to inspire academic success and to be used as a leveller for social mobility; a topic which she is incredibly passionate about.

Jade recently co-founded the ‘Wynstream Music Centre’, an arts council funded venture with the Devon and Torbay Music Hub and Bandstars. This community focused project takes place weekly and offers free music tuition to pupils from multiple schools across Exeter (brass, guitar and vocals), with a high intake of pupil premium and SEND pupils. She leads the choir who have performed at venues across the city, including Exeter Cathedral. Jade trained with Exeter Consortium and loves working with trainees as a mentor. She is excited to convince future trainees of the power of Music within education.

​Gemma Radford
Curriculum Strand - Physical Education
Gemma is a class teacher and PE Leader at Ide Primary School. She was appointed as an SLE in 2020. Gemma is very passionate about Physical Education and is committed to developing the PE and sports opportunities for young people in the local community.

Since commencing her SLE role, Gemma has worked on a DfE PE Project which has involved mentoring PE leaders in a variety of primary schools. This work has involved working with PE Leaders that are at different stages in their career, ranging from ECTs to experienced teachers.

​Gemma’s role as an SLE has also involved working with the trainee teachers on the primary programme. She has planned and delivered the PE training for all of the trainee teachers each year. In addition to her PE leadership, Gemma has also enjoyed mentoring trainee teachers on the primary programme.

​Abi Raynor
Curriculum Strand – Foreign Languages
After living abroad and working in international schools for over 12 years, I returned to the UK and settled in Exeter in 2012. In 2018 I decided to return to teaching and trained with Exeter Consortium to gain my PGCE. I have taught Reception at Montgomery Primary School since then, and for the last 3 years have been Subject lead for MFL.

​In addition, I have enjoyed working as a mentor for the Consortium, so I’m now making the leap to trainer! With a background in language teaching and learning and my experience of living overseas, I am passionate about the importance of learning a foreign language from a young age and strive to give teachers confidence in a subject that many find challenging.

Deana Smith
Curriculum Strand – SEND
Deana has been a teacher for 25 years and has taught in a range of differing schools, from small mixed age rural schools to 2 form inner city schools. She is fully aware of the different challenges that schools face. For the last 15 years, Deana has been part of the Senior Leadership Team and has been the SENCO at East-the-Water Primary School in North Devon.

Throughout this time, by developing SEND provision and practices, Deana has created an inclusive provision and culture for SEND pupils within the school. Deana provides regular training and updates to staff and continues to evolve practise in her school, SEND is always evolving! She is aware of the challenges that teachers can face when supporting SEN pupils and welcomes the chance to support you to develop your understanding in this.

Sharon Tarr
Curriculum Strand – Employability
I started my career as a teaching assistant at a local school and quickly realised that I wanted to take the next step, so I began my teacher training. I have been fortunate enough to love my job at every stage and progressed from teaching into the assistant head and, as I currently am, Head at Alphington Primary School.

I became Headteacher at Alphington in September 2018 and am very proud of our school. I strongly believe that school should be a place that develops children as a whole and offer a curriculum and environment that enthuses and motivates children.

 ​Jackie Taylor
Curriculum Strand – English
I have been a teacher for more than 20 years and have worked in two large primary schools in that time, teaching across the primary range, although specialising in upper KS2. I have taken on a number of other, varied responsibilities alongside my teaching role, including leading English (including phonics) in both schools, overseeing Initial Teacher Training and leading P.E too.

Leading English has always been a constant and I’ve led on reading and writing almost since the very beginning of my first post. Teaching children to read, to use language and to be able to express themselves through writing is such a joy and I’m looking forward to passing on my passion for this to a new generation of teachers!

Alongside teaching, I am a Lead Practitioner for writing for the large multi-academy trust that I work for; this role involves supporting schools and staff in their English provision - in terms of curriculum design as well as teaching and learning. I work with the Devon English Team too, helping to shape their BookWrite sequences and inform their staff training offer across Devon.

Maria White
Curriculum Strand – Humanities
​Maria has 14 years of experience teaching in primary education and is currently the teaching Deputy Head at The Topsham School. As well as leading on maths, Maria is also responsible for curriculum design in the school and is led by her passion and vision to create a unique education that is driven by thinking skills and subject knowledge. She specialises in History and Geography and delivers the teacher training in humanities for the Early Years and Primary cohorts.