Our Team

David led SEND provision in London schools for over 15 years before becoming Director for SEND at the London Leadership Strategy and advisor to the Mayor of London›s education team. He has worked closely with the Department for Education to develop SEND policy and was an expert advisor to the Timpson Review on school exclusions. David has worked directly with over four hundred school leadership teams across the UK to improve their provision for disadvantaged children.

Peter was formally, a headteacher of an outstanding school, an independent educational consultant and a Local Authority adviser. Peter joined Learn Sheffield in 2015 and provides professional development and school improvement support for a range of primary schools in different contexts across Sheffield and beyond. Peter designs and delivers a range of professional development opportunities and has a particular interest in curriculum design, developing effective pedagogies and building leadership capacity at all levels. Peter has a strong understanding of the requirements of the Ofsted framework and he supports schools in preparing for inspection.

Sarah joined Learn Sheffield in January 2023. She was previously HMI. During her time at Ofsted, she was the Subject Lead for English, working within Ofsted’s Curriculum Unit. In this capacity she worked on the English Research Review, which is part of Ofsted’s Research Review Series. Sarah’s previous experience included school leadership, post-graduate studies including school improvement and leadership and work as a Specialist Leader in Education. Sarah has also led an English improvement group of collaborating secondary and primary schools and English training for national organisations.

Helen has recently retired following ten years working for the North East, Yorkshire and Humber Region of Ofsted, most recently as Senior His Majesty’s Inspector and Assistant Regional Director. In these roles, Helen has extensive senior leadership experience in Ofsted, including inspection and monitoring of primary and secondary schools and inspection of initial teacher training providers. Her leadership experience spans all of Ofsted’s remits, schools, early years, further education and skills and social care.

Prior to that she undertook a range of school senior leadership roles, including as a headteacher.  Helen has worked as a school improvement advisor and as a primary and secondary science teacher advisor. In both these roles she oversaw improvements at both school and subject level.

Bev works as an educational consultant providing advice, training and strategic leadership support to schools and other educational organisations. She has over 20 years experience in primary headship and executive headship and as a Local Authority lead head teacher. She has a well proven record of sustainable school Improvement and leadership development based on effective collaboration. Bev has particular expertise in supporting schools in challenging circumstances towards rapid improvement in outcomes.

Sai has a wide range of experience in education and has worked in a range of different settings. He has experience of all phases of education, independent schools and free schools. Sai has been a headteacher in several secondary schools, an independent consultant, an Education Advisor for the Department for Education and served as HMI in the London region. In addition to supporting school improvement, Sai has specific interests in safeguarding and alternative provision.

Marc Rowland is a foremost expert on the effective use of the Pupil Premium and improving outcomes for disadvantaged learners. He has worked with the DfE, numerous local authorities and over 500 individual schools to support them with their strategies to improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils. Marc is also working with the Education Endowment Foundation’s national Research School Network on the rollout of their national Pupil Premium training programme and on a range of programmes focused on educational disadvantage nationally.

Steve joins Learn Sheffield after seven years as an HMI with Ofsted. Most recently, he was the senior HMI in Ofsted's national policy team for SEND and Alternative Provision. In this role, he was responsible for the Area SEND inspection framework, and for Ofsted's approach to the schools inspection of SEND and AP. As an HMI in the North East, Yorkshire and Humber region, Steve led inspections of maintained schools, specialist settings, AP, independent schools, and Area SEND inspections.

Prior to joining Ofsted, Steve taught for 28 years. He held senior leadership posts across four schools, including leading internal AP in two schools, and was headteacher of an 11-18 secondary school.

Diane has supported school leadership in Sheffield for over 20 years, having previously been a teacher, school leader and associate headteacher in the city. Formerly a Local Authority adviser, Diane joined Learn Sheffield in 2015 and currently provides professional development and school improvement support for primary schools in Sheffield and across the region. Her areas of specialism include pre and post Ofsted support, training and development for school leaders and those involved in governance. She has a particular interest in curriculum design, primary assessment and English writing moderation.

Ruth is an award-winning Early Years specialist with more than 30 years’ experience working in Education. A former primary headteacher and Ofsted inspector, Ruth currently works as an LA school improvement advisor, Early Years advisor and Independent consultant. Ruth is the lead developer and author of the Oxford International Early Years curriculum and leads the Oxford International Early Years training for schools in more than 40 different countries.

Jean has more than 20 years’ school leadership experience. She has worked as HMI and has led numerous inspections in primary and secondary schools. She has also been a school improvement adviser and headteacher of both secondary and primary schools. Jean’s areas of specialism include: pre and post Ofsted support, leadership development (for leaders at all levels and those involved in governance), self-evaluation, action planning and curriculum development. Jean has specific expertise in focussing upon safeguarding, attendance and disadvantaged pupils.

Nick has over 30 years of teaching and leadership experience in secondary and special schools. He joined Learn Sheffield in the summer of 2021, having been an education HMI and Ofsted’s specialist adviser for SEND. Prior to joining Ofsted he was the executive headteacher of two all-age special schools for children and young people with severe learning difficulties and complex needs. Nick also has experience as a senior local authority adviser and school improvement partner.