Meet the Team
Leadership:
Kathryn Greenhalgh - Strategic Lead
Kathryn is a newly appointed English Hub strategic Lead for 2025/26. She has previously led maths across the trust and has led the Yorkshire and the Humber Maths Hub since its inception in 2014. She is also Chair of the Maths Hub Council. The Maths and English Hub programmes’ national drive to improve outcomes for all pupils reflects her ethos.
Ben McGarry - Hub Lead
Ben is the Director of English for the Outwood Grange Academies Trust primary academies. He is passionate about providing pupils with the English skills they need to succeed on their academic journey. Over the last few years, Ben has developed and embedded a whole-school English strategy (including reading, writing and developing a love of reading). He has worked with and supported staff across various key stages and in various contexts. Ben has a BA (Hons) in English Studies and a PGCE in Primary Education. He qualified as a teacher in 2013.
Catherine Wright - Hub Lead
Catherine is a committed system leader with ten years of experience in leadership. Since 2019, she has successfully led a thriving English Hub, drawing on her extensive teaching experience across Reception, Key Stage 1, and Key Stage 2.
Driven by a deep commitment to social justice, Catherine believes passionately that every child—regardless of background—deserves access to high-quality education. She holds a BA (Hons), a PGCE, and a Masters in Education (MEd). She continues to work across the system to champion educational equity and elevate literacy standards.
Katie Pitts - Deputy Hub Lead for Reception
Katie qualified as a teacher in 2006 and has taught across Lower Key Stage 2, Key Stage 1 and EYFS. In addition to this, she has been part of the Senior Leadership Team working as Key Stage 1, EYFS and Reading Leader. She has a PGCE in Primary Education and a BSc in Psychology. Katie also has an NPQLL.
Tarjinder Gill - Leader of Research and Pedagogy
Tarjinder is the Associate Director of Research and Pedagogy for Outwood Grange Academies Trust. She has a BA (Hons) in European Studies and an MPhil in Political Science. She qualified as a teacher in 2004 and has worked as a class teacher in areas of high socio-economic disadvantage in the Midlands, Great Yarmouth, London and Wakefield. Tarjinder is passionate about improving the teaching of reading.
Operations:
Rebecca Arnold - Assistant Manager
Rebecca is based at the Outwood Institute of Education in Redcar and works closely with the English Hub leadership team. Rebecca overseas the running of OIE Redcar and ensures the smooth running of training courses and events.
Germaine Avo - Administrative Officer
Germaine is based at the Outwood Institute of Education in Doncaster and works closely with the English Hub leadership team and local schools. Germaine oversees events run by the English Hub ensuring that delegates receive regular updates and emails about training, meetings and showcases, whilst answering any queries schools may have.
Kerry Lee - Administrative Officer
Kerry is based at the Outwood Institute of Education in Doncaster and works closely with the English Hub leadership team and local schools. Kerry oversees events run by the English Hub ensuring that delegates receive regular updates and emails about training, meetings and showcases.
Lead Literacy Specialists:
Vicky Poole
Vicky is a dedicated Literacy Specialist with a BA (Hons) in English and Qualified Teacher Status since 2001. With experience teaching all year groups from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 2, she brings a wealth of classroom expertise to her role. Vicky is known for her enthusiasm for English, commitment to professional development, and ability to provide regular training and coaching to colleagues within the trust. She firmly believes every pupil can excel in reading and writing with the right support.
Lorraine Leonard
Lorraine has worked for Outwood Grange Academies Trust for over 10 years as a teacher, Assistant Principal and is currently Associate Vice Principal at Outwood Primary Academy Kirkhamgate. Lorraine is an experienced reading leader, who has a passion for promoting a love of reading and has supported members of staff to deliver SSP and improve outcomes for all children. She has a BA (Hons) First Class degree in Family Studies and a PGCE in Primary Education.
Helen Gibson
Helen is a phonics and reading lead and currently leads and teaches in Key Stage 1 at Bilton Grange Primary School in Harrogate. She qualified as a teacher in 2009 and has taught across EYFS and Key Stage 1 in three different schools in North Yorkshire. Helen is passionate about phonics and early reading and the doors this opens for pupils. She believes there is nothing more magical and rewarding than watching children learn to read.
Sally Stewart
Sally is the Lead Practitioner for Phonics and Reading for the BKCAT Trust. She regularly coaches, trains and develops reading teachers in her own school, Trust Primary and High Schools.
As well as phonics, her current passion is developing pupil’s reading fluency. She has recently developed a research-based strategy for the teaching of reading fluency which is being implemented across the Trust.
Sally has a long career in school improvement, training, coaching and mentoring. Initially working as an Advanced Skills Teacher for Early Years, she is also a SLE for Early Years Foundation Stage and has worked across schools and private settings.
Literacy Specialists:
Emma Charlesworth
Emma is a highly experienced and dedicated teacher with over two decades of teaching experience across EYFS, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. She is appointed as the EYFS Leader and Phonics & Early Reading Lead at East Park Primary, part of Horizon Academy Trust, where she plays a pivotal role in driving literacy improvement across the school. Emma holds a BA (Hons) in English and History and has held Qualified Teacher Status since 2002. Her professional practice is underpinned by a deep commitment to ensuring that all pupils acquire the fundamental skills needed to become fluent, confident readers.
Hannah Gotts
Hannah is currently an Early Years Teacher, Early Reading and Phonics lead and EYFS and Key Stage 1 lead in Harrogate. She is also an ECT mentor. She regularly coaches and supports all staff with reading and phonics throughout her school. Hannah has taught all year groups across the Primary Phase. She has a BA (Hons) in English, PGCE in Primary Education and NPQEYL. She is currently working towards NPQSENCO. Hannah is passionate about reading and encouraging children to develop a love of reading. She believes that reading is the key to unlocking all other learning for children.
Esther Darley
Esther is Phonics and Early Reading Leader at Woodlesford Primary School in Leeds. She qualified as a teacher in 1999 and has taught in the Foundation Stage and Year One. Esther is passionate about ensuring every child receives the best start possible in their language, phonics and early reading journey.
Ewa Rojko
Ewa is a dedicated Literacy Specialist with over 15 years of experience working in primary education. She qualified as a teacher in 2016 and holds a Master’s degree in Science, along with a Postgraduate Certificate in Psychology in Business. Ewa has a strong teaching background in the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 and is currently leading phonics and early reading across her setting. She has a proven track record of significantly improving pupils’ reading outcomes and brings expertise in coaching, mentoring, and delivering training to colleagues. Ewa is passionate about ensuring that every child, regardless of background, has the opportunity to become a confident, fluent reader.
Claire Donnelly
Claire is an experienced and highly motivated Assistant Headteacher and English Lead at Maybury Primary School, part of Humber Education Trust in Hull. Qualified since 2014, with a background in secondary education and the charitable sector, she brings a broad perspective to her leadership.
Claire holds a BA (Hons) in Business and Finance, a Postgraduate Diploma in Youth and Community Studies, and a PGCE in Primary Education. An outstanding practitioner, Claire combines strong pedagogical knowledge with extensive classroom experience. She is deeply committed to ensuring every child’s reading journey is positive and successful, with a passion for promoting high standards in literacy and fostering a love of reading.
Kay Collier
Kay is currently the Early Years Lead and Reception teacher at Upton Primary school in Wakefield. She has over 20 years experience in teaching and leading the Early Years and holds a NPQSL. She is passionate about securing strong foundations in communication, language and literacy for every child and ensuring that early years settings ignite children’s interests, nurture their personalities and foster happy, confident individuals.
Samantha Sutherland
Sam is Phonics and Early Reading lead and currently leads the EYFS and Key Stage 1 team at Whitley and Eggborough C.P. School. She spends a lot of time coaching, training and supporting staff with the delivery of the SSP programme and has worked to develop our whole class reading strategy across school. Sam has worked at the school since 2017, working across different year groups but mainly in Reception. Sam holds a deep rooted passion in ensuring all children hold the skills they need to succeed in life and throughout every child’s academic career, with oracy and language development being at the heart of this, as well as learning to read. She holds a First Class Honours degree in Learning and Teaching with Primary QTS. Sam is keen to support all staff members, from student teachers and experienced members of staff; empowering them to be confident in their interactions, oracy development and teaching.
Lucy Taylor
Lucy is a class teacher and Reading Leader with experience across Upper Key Stage 2. She is passionate about reading and developing pupils as fluent, confident and engaged readers. Lucy has led developments in reading fluency, reading for pleasure and the wider reading curriculum offer, alongside supporting staff development in reading pedagogy and comprehension, with a particular focus on improving outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.
With a strong understanding of the DfE Reading Framework, Lucy believes that high-quality reading provision and rich reading experiences are key to fostering both strong attainment and a lifelong love of reading.
Nicky Leach
Nicky is the Deputy Headteacher at Victoria Dock Primary School in Hull and has taught across all phases in her extensive teaching career. She currently leads reading, writing and Oracy across the school.
Nicky is passionate about fostering a love of reading in every child and believes that a secure reading foundation is the key to unlocking lifelong learning, confidence, and opportunity. Nicky is committed to removing barriers, celebrating progress, and working collaboratively with staff and families to improve outcomes for all children.
Beth Kirkpatrick
Beth is an Assistant Headteacher with the Yorkshire Learning Trust and has over a decade of experience across a range of schools, key stages and year groups. She has led literacy for more than ten years and has a particular interest in supporting vulnerable readers, especially in bridging the gap between decoding and secure comprehension.
She has strong knowledge of the Reading Framework and Writing Framework and is passionate about turning evidence-informed practice into high-quality classroom teaching. As a Writing Leader for the Trust, Beth works with leaders across the MAT to improve standards in literacy.
She is driven by a passion for English and by creating a culture where every child develops the confidence, skill and love of reading needed to become a lifelong reader.
Facilitators:
Libby Blake
Libby has worked as a Key Stage 2 teacher and Assistant Headteacher before joining Outwood Grange Academies Trust in January 2015. She has since worked as a Lead teacher for English, Vice Principal and now is a Vice Principal for SEND and Inclusion. Libby developed the first Outwood Primary English framework. She has a passion that all children are to receive the best provision possible. Libby is a facilitator for the NIOT and is passionate about supporting and engaging in the opportunities for Early Career Teachers.
Emma Hudson
Emma is the Associate Director of Early Years at Outwood Grange Academies Trust with 19 years of teaching experience. She is passionate about leading and supporting teams to provide exceptional early childhood education, driving continuous improvement, and ensuring every child has the best possible start in life.
Auditors:
Elizabeth Palfreyman
Elizabeth qualified as a teacher in 2015 after earning a First Class BA (Hons) degree in Education. She has experience in school leadership, having worked as both an Assistant Headteacher and a SENDCO. Alongside her school roles, Elizabeth loves sharing her expertise and has spent time mentoring trainee teachers from Huddersfield University. She is passionate about ensuring every single child gets the best possible opportunities to learn and grow.
Bethany O'Connor
Beth has been a Reception teacher at Outwood Grange Academies Trust since 2017 and brings strong experience from working in two Outstanding Early Years settings. She is passionate about early childhood education and is committed to ensuring every child gets the best possible start to their education.