At Turner Schools, we believe in creating a vision for school improvement where every pupil is empowered to reach their full potential through innovative teaching, inclusive practices and promoting a commitment to lifelong learning.
We have an experienced workforce within our secondary improvement team. Our people are committed to their own professional development along with their department teams.
Matthew started his career as a Religious Education Teacher before joining the London Challenge Future Leaders programme, a fast-track training programme that sought to identify talented leaders and place them in challenging schools.
Through this programme, he worked as part of leadership teams in London Challenge Schools. Moving to Kent he joined a School in Special Measures seeing it moved to Good in 24 months.
After successful work with Kent County Council supporting two schools in serious difficulties, he gained his first headship as the founding Headteacher of a Free School, securing the school’s building, good Ofsted judgment and its status as the 5th most oversubscribed school in Kent. He was then appointed Headteacher of a challenging school in serious difficulties and has overseen sustained improvements, including the school being in the top ten most improved schools in the country and being awarded “Best School” In the National Social Mobility Awards.
Matthew has expertise in school improvement, SEN, Safeguarding and Behaviour and is an Inclusive Leader of Education working across schools to improve inclusion.
Outside of school, he is passionate about motorbikes and cars and serves as the Chair of ThinkForward, a national charity that empowers young people through long- term coaching that gets them ready for the world of work.
David moved around the country on his route to training as a teacher via Cardiff and Bath before starting work in East London. Encountering young people with considerable challenges highlighted an unknown need to him which he wanted to support. He is committed to working in areas of the country where there are significant barriers that impact on young people's success.
David relocated to Kent working at Dover Christ Church Academy where he started on his pastoral career before moving to an Assistant Headteacher position for conduct and standards in Sittingbourne. More recently he worked as Deputy Headteacher at an SEN school for SEMH students working to embed school systems before a successful Ofsted inspection in February 2023. He has spent his career working with some of the most vulnerable students in the county developing strategies to keep them included in their education which is continuing in his work across the Turner Trust.
Away from education David enjoys all things rugby and has gone back to school himself to improve his skills as a fledgling rugby coach.
During her fourteen years of teaching Amelia has taught all areas of the design technology curriculum including, Engineering, D&T, Product Design, Textiles, Electrics, Graphics, all different food study courses including Hospitality & Catering and Food & Cookery.
She has a wealth of knowledge from her industry days and uses this to ensure that our pupil community across the Trust receive the best possible experience within the classroom and beyond, ensuring fantastic outcomes and preparing for Post 16 studies.
Sean grew up in Bahrain in the Middle East before moving to the UK to study Applied Geography at Bournemouth University in 2010. He completed his PGCE in Secondary Geography at Canterbury Christ Church University.
Sean has a wealth of experience in improving outcomes for pupils having worked in a wide range of roles. Before joining the Turner Trust he had worked as a Lead Practitioner and Teaching & Learning Lead in schools in Kent. Since joining the Turner Free School in 2019, Sean has been a Subject Leader, Associate Senior Leader and Raising Standards Leader helping to drive improvement for both pastoral and academic outcomes.
Sean is passionate about teaching and believes that learning Geography can instil a lifelong curiosity and love for learning in all pupils. He believes that the dynamic, constantly changing, relevant nature of the subject provides opportunities for pupils to make progress in all subjects and in the wider curriculum.
Away from education, Sean enjoys travelling with his family, reading science fiction and all things rugby.
Teaching in Kent since 2005; Kelly loves working in coastal schools, equipping students with the skills they need to understand real life science when they leave the classroom. She is particularly passionate about biology, especially lifestyle-health and anatomy.
Leading teams since 2011, Kelly has over a decade of experience, developing teachers and school leaders both within and outside of the classroom.
In 2023 Kelly joined Turner Schools, leading Science across the three Trust secondaries, ensuring that their ambitious vision is achieved.
Matt read Mathematics at The University of Nottingham from 2012-2015 before completing his PGCE through Canterbury Christ Church University. Matt developed his teaching, specialising in A Level Mathematics and A Level Further Mathematics before moving into a selective school environment. Here he continued his passion of post 16 teaching as well as taking on the position of Primary Liaison Lead, building relationships with local primary schools offering lessons taught by subjects specialists both in Primary and Secondary settings. Matt took on the role of Achievement Leader for Year 11, raising student progress across all subjects. He has been mentoring and coaching teachers since 2013 and has a passion for developing teachers, focusing on "why" Mathematics works, rather than "how" Mathematics works.
Matt joined Turner Schools as a Lead Practitioner of Mathematics in 2021, leading Teaching and Learning in Mathematics at Folkestone Academy, before starting his role as Trust Lead Practitioner of Mathematics in 2023, where he is responsible for Teaching and Learning in Mathematics.
Matt is currently studying for a Level 7 Certificate for Executive and Senior Level Coaching through the Institute for Leadership and Mentoring and working with the National Centre for Excellence in Mathematics to complete his Professional Development course and become a Secondary Mastery Specialist.
Bex been teaching languages in Secondary schools in both selective and non-selective settings for the past twelve years, and as a leader for the past nine. Studying languages for the first time at secondary school, she began with German, and subsequently studied French, taking both for A level and adding Spanish at university where she studied all three at Royal Holloway, University of London.
Bex spent a year abroad, in Aix-en-Provence and Andalucía. Before beginning her studies she volunteered to teach French in Morocco. She grew up with solely English speaking parents and has succeeded in learning languages only through learning them at school and strongly believes that language learning is achievable for everyone, no matter their previous knowledge.
Bex aims to provide a curriculum which enables communication and confidence and is applicable in real-world settings, as well as being ambitious for examination success for all pupils.
Louisa started her career as a PE teacher at The Robert Napier School. She soon progressed to Head of Dance at Westwood College in Bexley and then to Head of Department at Clarendon Girls Grammar School.
After starting her family she began her journey at the Folkestone Academy where she has had several roles; including Head of Girls PE, Head of Key Stage 5 PE, Head of Sport in The Community, Head of House and more recently Director of BTEC and currently Director of Sport.
Working across all secondaries and primary schools, she is passionate about improving the life chances of young people through the positive impact sport and physical activities both physically and mentally. She is dedicated to encouraging pupils to be active in sport beyond the classroom.
Louisa's passion is sport, she currently plays in a netball league and runs for Folkestone Athletic Club.
She will be completing her first marathon in London this year and also enjoys a holiday or two!
Robert studied Music Production at Southampton Solent University and played guitar in many bands growing up. Robert started working in education in 2014 as a teaching assistant and technician for the Creative Arts faculty. He has since been a teacher and Head of Department for the Music department at Folkestone Academy.
In this time Robert has worked on improving the curriculum as well as extracurricular activities offered. He has a passion for making music accessible for every pupil no matter what their circumstances are.
During his time in the department he is proud to have worked with the teachers to produce fantastic music concerts and productions such as Academy Rocks which has been running for nearly ten years now, School of Rock, High School Musical, Christmas Concerts and Light Switch On events and many more.
Robert believes that music has the power to appeal to everyone and he has worked to develop a Music Technology curriculum so that pupils with an interest in electronic music also have an avenue to develop their creativity.
Recently Robert has gained funding for underprivileged pupils to receive free music tuition to further bridge the gap and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to express themselves through music.
Michelle studied Fine Art and History of Art at Goldsmiths, University of London and then exhibited as a practising artist from 2007-2009. Michelle then completed her PGCE at the Institute of Education, University College London in 2009. Michelle developed her classroom practice in art education working in several schools across South East London before leading a department in Southwark for the Ark Network in 2014. She was then appointed Network Lead for Art and Design across Ark Secondaries in 2016. This role involved providing subject specific CPD for art teachers across the network, monitoring assessments/moderation processes and acting as a consultant to individual schools within the network. Michelle also rose to the post of Head of Creative Arts Faculty in 2018.
In 2020, Michelle returned to Folkestone (her hometown) with her young family and began working for Turner Schools. Her role includes mentoring heads of department within the creative arts and driving improvement within curriculum and teaching and learning. Michelle is responsible for overseeing creative arts provision across the Trust and has established initiatives such as the Creative Arts Scholarship at Folkestone Academy and Trust wide events Turner's Got Talent and the annual Turner Creative Arts Exhibition.
Ali has been committed to working in mainstream, non selective schools in Kent and Medway for the past 22 years. She has a range of teaching experience in a variety of curriculum areas. Her focus for the past 10 years has been on adapting and modifying the mainstream curriculum for pupils who have a variety of needs that create potential barriers to learning. It therefore has been inevitable that since joining the Trust in 2018 she has focused on supporting pupils with SEND. She has striven to develop inclusive practice both within Folkestone Academy and across Turner’s secondary schools ensuring that our communities understand that SEND is everyone’s responsibility and that the best place for pupils to learn is with their peers. Ali is now our Senior Director of SEND for the Trust and works closely with the Directors of SEND at DCCA and TFS to ensure consistency and quality of provision for all our pupils with SEND.
Amber studied English Literature with Writing and Publishing studies at Middlesex University. She has taught English and Drama in non-selective schools in the Ashford and Folkestone area for the past 20 years, enjoying working with pupils to access post 16 courses and to go on and study at University. She has had various roles across her teaching career, including Head of Drama and Director of English, MFL and Media Studies in a 0-19 Academy. Amber has a well-rounded knowledge of the English Curriculum from 0 - 19 and understands all stages of development from Early Years to A-Level.
Amber joined Turner Schools in 2022 as Lead Practitioner of English, and Induction Tutor for trainee teachers. She led professional development with the Teaching and Learning Team at Turner Free School, encouraging her to begin her NPQ in Leading Teacher Development. Amber has a particular interest in whole school professional development and its place in supporting the individual development of staff. She has a passion for improving reading and has experience of implementing reading strategies across a number of schools. Amber has recently been appointed as Cross Trust Director of English and hopes to work closely with the team to drive improvement.
In her spare time Amber enjoys reading, listening to true crime podcasts and spending time with her teenage children.
Katie studied Sports Science at Canterbury Christ Church University from 2008-2011. Katie began her teaching career in a specialist provision where she supported pupils with emotional behavioural needs and disabilities with both their learning needs and personal development.
In 2012, Katie started a Schools Direct placement at Folkestone Academy. Katie gained QTS status whilst working in the PE department in 2013.
Katie then developed her leadership skills through her role as Key Stage 3 lead in PE. Whilst Katie has a passion for PE and is committed to driving high quality provision in physical development, in 2020 she relished the opportunity to lead PSHE – when it was made a statutory part of the curriculum – at Folkestone Academy.
Katie’s enthusiasm and passion allowed her to raise the profile of the subject with great success. Her commitment to the importance and value of the subject enabled her to develop and implement a bespoke curriculum tailored to meet the needs of the children at Folkestone Academy.
In 2021 Katie was appointed as PSHE trust lead, in this time she has developed several projects such as student council, the character curriculum, the tutor programme, running charity appeals, community days and an online safety roadshow, which was delivered to all schools within the Trust.
In 2023 Katie’s responsibilities broadened to further develop Personal Development at Folkestone academy.
Alex has always had a passion for IT and technology which led him to study this through college and University. After finishing education he decided that he wanted to share his knowledge and enthusiasm for his subject with younger people, which is where he began his journey at Folkestone Academy in 2012. He became the Head of ICT and Computing in 2013 and took over leading the Vocational Faculty in 2015.
Alex has been teaching BTEC and Vocational qualifications for over 13 years so has a wealth of knowledge and experience.
When not at work he is a keen windsurfer and mountain/road biker.
