Welcome to the Shires Multi Academy Trust Coaching Directory
At Shires Multi Academy Trust, we believe our people are our greatest asset. The success of our schools is built on the talent, commitment, and wellbeing of every colleague. That’s why we place professional growth, personal development, and wellbeing at the heart of our culture.
Why Coaching Matters
Coaching plays a vital role in supporting our staff to grow, reflect, and succeed. Through purposeful conversations, coaching helps to unlock potential, build confidence, develop resilience, and inspire positive change.
Whether you are looking to strengthen your leadership skills, enhance your professional practice, navigate a new challenge, or gain a fresh perspective, coaching provides a supportive and confidential space to explore your goals and aspirations.
This directory connects you with experienced coaches from across the Trust who are committed to helping colleagues flourish, both professionally and personally.
Coaching can support you to:
- Develop leadership capability and confidence
- Enhance teaching and learning practice
- Explore new perspectives and opportunities
- Navigate change and professional challenges
- Strengthen wellbeing and resilience
- Achieve personal and professional goals
Our Lead Coaches and Their Expertise
Our trained Lead Coaches bring a wealth of experience from across our Trust, offering expertise in a wide range of areas, including:
- Teaching and Learning – developing classroom practice, pedagogy, and curriculum leadership
- Middle and Senior Leadership – leadership development, strategic thinking, and team effectiveness
- Pastoral Care – supporting student wellbeing, inclusion, and safeguarding
- Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) – promoting inclusive practice and supporting diverse learners
- Human Resources and Finance – organisational leadership, people management, and operational excellence
This breadth of expertise enables us to match colleagues with coaches who can best support their individual needs, ambitions, and professional journeys.
How to Book a Coach
Getting started is simple:
- Browse the directory and explore our coaches’ profiles.
- Select the coach whose experience and expertise best align with your goals.
- Contact them directly via email to arrange an initial coaching conversation.
Investing in Your Growth
Our coaches are here to support, challenge, and empower you. Whatever stage of your career you are at, coaching can help you gain clarity, build confidence, and take meaningful steps forward.
We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity and invest in your continued development and wellbeing.
Estelle Bridges
Associate Assistant Headteacher, NBHS
Estelle is an Assistant Headteacher overseeing Curriculum, timetable and the options process., she also works alongside the Deputy Head on Teaching & Learning, QA and CPD. She has previously been a Head of Science of a large department, a rewarding role that came with it's leadership challenges and where she first honed her leadership skills. As she developed her leadership role at North, she focussed on Early Careers Training and ITT students guiding teacher's and students through the earliest pathways of their career as an Induction Tutor and professional mentor. More recently, Estelle has focussed on relaunching the whole school's Teaching & Learning policy with the deputy Head and linking this into the school's CPD cycle so that it is responsive to the needs of the school. She has also relaunched the Quality assurance process to involve Middle Leaders and allowing them a greater opportunity for input into this process. Estelle completed her NPQSL in May 2023 and is a massive believer in empowering other's to achieve their goals.
Louisa Dare
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL), Mental Health Lead, RSS
With a powerful blend of frontline experience and deep-rooted passion, Louisa brings over four years of expertise as a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) and Mental Health Lead. She’s been at the heart of safeguarding in school, not only protecting children and young people but also empowering staff to do the same.
Louisa’s impact extends across multiple schools within the Multi-Academy Trust, where she’s been instrumental in helping to shape safeguarding systems, streamlining concern reporting, and embedding best practices that ensure consistency and compliance.
Before stepping into education, Louisa served 18 years as a police officer—an experience that sharpened her skills in investigation, crisis response, and risk assessment. Her background gives her a unique edge: she understands the realities of safeguarding from every angle.
Driven by a genuine commitment to creating safe, supportive environments, Louisa is a trusted coach, a steady presence in times of crisis, and a passionate advocate for vulnerable individuals.
Bec Gordon
Headteacher, WAPS
Bec Gordon is an experienced headteacher and coach with a deep-seated passion for developing the next generation of educators. She specialises in coaching and mentoring school leaders at all levels to help them navigate the complexities of educational leadership with confidence and vision.
With experience teaching in a variety of schools across Worcestershire, Birmingham, and Nottinghamshire, Bec brings a wealth of practical, on-the-ground knowledge to her coaching practice
Through her coaching, Bec aims to help people to:
- Define and uphold high academic standards within their schools.
- Develop resilient leadership skills to guide their institutions through challenging circumstances.
- Create a culture of enrichment and character building that benefits the entire school community.
- Find pathways through persistent and tricky problems, drawing out the skills and solutions from people
Bec's coaching philosophy centres on empowering educational leaders to realize their personal leadership potential. She helps people to build on their own strengths, providing them with the tools and headspace they need to make a lasting, positive impact.
Tanya Howarth
SENDCO, FPS
Tanya is a dedicated primary educator with 18 years of teaching experience. She has spent several years working as a SENDCo and Deputy Head in a small rural primary school, roles that have strengthened her understanding of inclusive practice, leadership development, and whole-school improvement.
Motivated by a genuine curiosity about the science of teaching, Tanya seeks to understand how educators refine their practice and how this drives professional growth within a school community. She believes in evidence-informed practice, reflective thinking, and creating sustainable, positive change.
Throughout her career, Tanya has felt privileged to inspire both pupils and colleagues. She is enthusiastic about empowering others, nurturing their strengths, and creating opportunities for them to excel in their educational roles. Passionate, reflective, and people-focused, Tanya brings warmth and clarity to her work as she supports others on their professional journeys.
Rachel Jenkinson
SENCo, NBHS
Rachel is an experienced leader in secondary education, specialising in SEND to improve inclusion across the school in her role as SENCO. Her approach ensures that staff have all the necessary information to meet the students' needs. Rachel is passionate about all things SEND and welcomes coaching opportunities to support others in unleashing student potential.
Rachel McGhie
Headteacher - Studley High School
Rachel began her teaching career in 2006 and has since built a rich and varied leadership portfolio working in schools in Warwickshire, taking on her current role of DHT in September 2022. With a deep-rooted passion for education, she has held a range of leadership roles, most notably in Teaching and Learning and Staff Continuing Professional Development (CPD). She found particular fulfilment in leading CPD, as it allowed her to leave a lasting legacy by nurturing and instilling a shared enthusiasm for research-led teaching and learning. Rachel also completed her SLE training which allowed her to support in other schools.
Rachel has held many different leadership positions throughout her career and has been strategic lead for many whole school priorities:
- Second in department (English)
- Head of department (English)
- Head of Faculty (English, MFL and the Arts)
- Assistant Headteacher
- Deputy Headteacher
Currently, Rachel leads on Behaviour and Standards across the school, with a commitment to high expectations and a positive school culture which is student-centred. Rachel is also the Designated Safeguarding Lead. Her leadership is characterised by integrity, dedication, and a genuine belief in the transformative power of education.
Rachael McKinney
Head of Faculty, NBHS
With nearly a decade of experience in education, Rachael is an accomplished middle leader currently overseeing Humanities subjects. Having taught in a variety of school settings, Rachael brings a broad perspective on team leadership and classroom practice, shaped by working with diverse teams and dynamic school cultures. Specialising in Religious Studies, Rachael combines subject expertise with a deep passion for teaching and learning. This is reflected in her academic and professional development, holding a master's degree in teaching studies alongside the NPQLT (Leading Teaching) and NPQSL (Senior Leadership) qualifications. Recently completing a leadership coaching course, Rachael is committed to supporting colleagues at all stages of their career. Her coaching approach is reflective, practical, and grounded in real-world leadership experience. Whether you're exploring classroom strategies, navigating team leadership, or thinking about your next steps, Rachael is keen to support your journey.
Paul Mellows
Deputy Head, Astwood Bank Primary School
Paul is a committed primary deputy headteacher with over twenty years of teaching experience and six years in senior leadership. His career spans a variety of settings, from large urban primary schools to small village schools, giving him a deep understanding of the diverse needs of pupils and their communities.
Paul has a particular passion and expertise in Upper Key Stage Two, where he has consistently supported pupils to achieve their full potential. Over the years, he has led a wide range of subjects, with English becoming a key specialism. As a former local authority moderator, Paul brings a wealth of knowledge in assessment and standards. He has a proven track record of driving improvements in teaching and learning, curriculum development, and whole-school literacy initiatives.
Rebekah Morland
Head of Humanities, SHS
Rebekah began teaching in Birmingham in 1996 and has since taught a wide range of students across the city and in Warwickshire. She has held several leadership roles, including Head of Year (with extensive experience supporting Year 11 cohorts), Head of Geography, and Head of Humanities. Her work has included preparing students for examinations, work experience, and further study, as well as overseeing the day-to-day running of busy departments. She has also led numerous fieldwork activities and residential trips, both in the UK and abroad.
Alongside her classroom and leadership experience, Rebekah has been a GCSE examiner for over twenty years and currently leads a marking team for OCR, contributing to mark schemes and examiner reports.
Rebekah has a strong track record in curriculum design and in creating engaging, challenging lessons that meet the needs of diverse learners. She understands the value of adapting teaching and assessment to maximise student progress.
Supporting early-career teachers has been an important part of her work. As an experienced mentor, she is valued for her practical advice, clear communication, and supportive, solution-focused coaching approach. Outside of the classroom, Rebekah enjoys sharing ideas with colleagues and staying up to date with developments in geography education.
Zoe Pettit
Phase Leader
Zoe brings 20 years of experience in education, having worked in a wide range of roles including Assistant Headteacher and Phase Leader across both village and city schools. She has a genuine passion for developing others, supporting colleagues at every stage of their career. She is particularly interested in child development and the ways in which children learn through enabling, purposeful environments. Zoe is committed to ensuring that every child thrives and achieves, whatever their starting point. Feedback from former ‘coachees’: "Zoe is kind, compassionate and takes the time to listen to people and what they say and need."
Lindsay Price
Office Manager, SHS
Lindsay takes a warm, supportive, and strengths-based approach to coaching, drawing on her experience as Office Manager at Studley High School and a varied career in administration, communications, events, account handling, and finance across education and industry. This helps her understand the real pressures people face and how to help people navigate them with confidence.
She is actively involved in the Studley High and Shires MAT community, helping launch the Arbor App, supporting the wellbeing committee, and creating the TLC campaign.
With a degree in Business & Finance, qualifications in Music and Engineering, a Level 3 CIPD Certificate, and completion of the Leadership Coaching Programme, Lindsay uses coaching skills such as active listening, reflective questioning, goal-setting, and solution-focused thinking to help people grow. Her aim is to build confidence, clarity, and positive action.
Lindsay is friendly and approachable, always happy to go the extra mile and looks forward to supporting you as you make your next steps in your personal or professional journey.
Cat Searle
Second in Department, RSS
Catherine is an experienced and dedicated Mathematics educator with over twelve years of teaching expertise across a diverse range of secondary school settings. Currently serving as Second in Department at Ridgeway Secondary School, she plays a key role in shaping curriculum, supporting staff, and driving continual improvement within the Mathematics faculty. Her leadership is characterised by a calm, collaborative approach and a commitment to ensuring every student develops confidence and fluency in mathematical thinking.
Throughout her career, Catherine has taught in three distinct secondary schools, two of which are part of the same trust, giving her a deep understanding of differing school cultures, student needs, and departmental structures. In each setting, she has made a measurable contribution to raising standards and improving outcomes, helping to strengthen teaching practice and enhance student achievement across the department.
Catherine is also highly committed to developing the next generation of teachers. For the past seven years, she has served as both a subject mentor for trainee Mathematics teachers and an ECT mentor, providing structured guidance, high-quality feedback, and pastoral support to early-career colleagues. Her mentoring style blends high expectations with empathy, ensuring new teachers feel supported while continually refining their practice.
With a strong belief in the transformative power of education, Catherine brings passion, expertise, and professionalism to every aspect of her work. She remains dedicated to creating a positive learning environment, promoting mathematical curiosity, and contributing to whole-school improvement. Her track record across multiple schools reflects her ongoing commitment to excellence and her drive to help students and teachers reach their full potential.
Katharine Sanders
Chief Finance Officer
Katharine joined Studley High School in 2019 as Finance Manager and has been part of the Trust Central Team since it formed in 2020. She has overall responsibility for the Trust's finance function, overseeing its financial management, strategic development, and long-term sustainability.
Katharine is an ACCA qualified accountant and has a degree in Psychology and Zoology from the University of Reading. She has worked in education since 2016 and prior to this had various finance roles across sectors including financial services and manufacturing.
Abbie Smith
Literacy Lead
Abbie Smith is an experienced primary educator with over ten years of teaching across Early Years to Year 6. As Literacy Lead, she is passionate about supporting others to reach their individual goals in ways that work best for them. Abbie values collaboration and reflection, fostering inclusive and engaging environments where both pupils and colleagues can thrive. Her NPQLL and Middle Leadership qualifications have strengthened her ability to lead with empathy, guide professional growth, and drive positive, sustainable improvement across the school community.
Jo Smith
Head of Humanities, SHS
Jo has been a history teacher for 15 years and is currently Curriculum Area Lead for Humanities. She has extensive experience in curriculum design, enhancing classroom practices and assessment. Jo has worked with a wide range of students and colleagues, developing strategies to support effective teaching and learning across all abilities.
She has a background in managing challenging behaviour, maximising student engagement, and maintaining high expectations in diverse classrooms. Her leadership experience includes developing teams, line managing experienced staff, and leading change across multiple subjects within the Humanities faculty.
As a coach, Jo offers a structured and reflective approach that helps colleagues identify practical ways to strengthen their teaching and leadership practice. She believes coaching is most effective when it is based on open and honest conversations, which aim to build confidence, clarity, and lead to professional growth.
Colleagues may find coaching with Jo helpful if they are interested in:
- Improving classroom management and engagement
- Developing curriculum and lesson design
- Building confidence as a leader or aspiring leader
- Reflecting on practice to improve consistency and impact
Hollie Heffernan
Primary Inclusion Lead
Hollie has worked in schools across the Trust, supporting a range of projects and contributing to the development of strong, collaborative practice. With experience in specialist provision and as a NASENCO-qualified leader, she is deeply committed to supporting the most vulnerable learners. She is also passionate about creating a curriculum that meets the needs of all pupils, ensuring every child feels seen, supported, and valued.
Hollie has led a wide range of areas across school settings, alongside key work in personal development, safeguarding, and attendance. Passionate about creating a positive, inclusive school culture of belonging, she brings both expertise and heart to her coaching practice.