We’re delighted to be working with the Primary Advisory Board comprising of 7 members – all currently leaders of primary schools. They kindly offer their support and time to guide and inform the direction and development of our national network for primary schools.
The group is made up of headteachers from across the country, to ensure that they represent group member interests and can be a local point of contact for our primary members.
Martin Johnson, Headteacher
Martin Johnson has been headteacher of Sacred Heart R.C. Primary School, Westhoughton, since January 2006. He has been chair of the SSAT Primary Leaders Network since 2013, and has presented at several national conferences on curriculum and innovation.
As a diocesan headteacher associate with the Diocese of Salford, Martin undertakes Section 48 inspections, pastoral visits, and presents on the Catholic Middle Leaders Programme and other training offered by the North West Catholic Training Partnership.
His specialisms include curriculum innovation, including outdoor learning and use of media. Sacred Heart has over 390 pupils on roll from reception to Year 6, and also has an urban farm on site, with a focus on stewardship. The Sacred Heart Alliance school direct programme operates from the school.
Sophie Powell, Executive Headteacher, The Compass Partnership of Schools
Sophie has worked in education for over 20 years, mainly in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. She first became a Headteacher of Heronsgate Primary School, an outstanding school, in 2010. She went onto become the Headteacher of South Rise Primary School in 2012 and then took on the leadership of Wingfield Primary School, as an Executive Headteacher in 2014. She has worked for The Compass Partnership of Schools since 2014 as an Executive Headteacher and is Trust Lead for School Improvement, CPL, Leadership Development, and Induction. She is a Trustee for a small local Trust and also sits on the Primary Steering Group for SSAT with Laura Burton.
Sophie is passionate about designing learning that engages children in deeply meaningful experiences and placing these at the heart of the classroom. She is an advocate of a well-designed, purposefully sequenced curriculum that facilitates knowledge acquisition over time. She has a particular interest in children’s outcomes, learning in the Early Years and the use of digital technologies to enhance learning in schools.
Katrina Morley, CEO and Executive Headteacher
Katrina has worked in schools and academies for over 17 years, 13 of which has involved being a part of the senior leadership teams of three schools. All schools were in disadvantaged areas but offered children and the community lots of opportunities to see and experience a range of learning and life. She served as head teacher at Pennyman Primary for over five years. In July 2014, Ofsted graded the academy as outstanding.
Currently, Katrina is CEO of Tees Valley Education Trust . Tees Valley Education is a Multi-Academy Trust and sponsor which is currently made up of three academies across Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland. The two founding academies, Brambles and Pennyman, formed a dedicated partnership in 2010 underpinned by a passionately shared commitment to improve outcomes for all children and their communities.
