Strategic Board

Yorkshire and the Humber Maths Hub is supported by a Strategic Board. Their key role is to provide strategic advice, challenge and support to the Maths Hub leadership.

Please find below a list of members of the 2023/24 Strategic Board:

Claire Taylor (Chair); AMSP Project Manager, Advanced Mathematics Support Programme

Claire has been involved in national initiatives to improve the delivery of Mathematics since 2018 and is currently the National Project Manager working on the Advanced Maths Support Programme (AMSP). Having previously worked as a Senior Leader within Secondary schools, Claire has managed change and implemented a number of whole-school initiatives and understands the importance of high quality, timely and relevant PD to drive improvement in the sector through all phases. As a graduate of the University of Hull and after teaching in Bridlington for a number of years, Claire has an interest in working to develop provision in the Yorkshire and Humber area, as well as Nationally. She has a good understanding of the working of Maths Hubs and Teaching for Mastery through her work with the NCETM prior to joining the AMSP and is looking forward to offering a level of challenge to the Maths Hub and helping to develop their strategic vision for the coming year.

Sue Slater; Senior Lecturer Mathematics Education, Sheffield Hallam University

Sue is currently a senior lecturer and PGCE course leader in secondary mathematics education at Sheffield Hallam University. She has taught on a range of ITT undergraduate, postgraduate and professional teacher education programmes. Her career history includes leadership experience in initial teacher education at both Sheffield Hallam University and Birmingham City University. In Birmingham, she held posts as head of mathematics education, director of schools’ partnership and PGCE Course Director. At Sheffield Hallam, she was previously partnership lead for School Direct and is now course leader for PGCE secondary mathematics. Prior to working in initial teacher education in Sheffield, Sue had a number of leadership roles with the National Strategies both in mathematics and in school leadership.

Jake Capper; Headteacher, The Marvell College

Jake is currently Headteacher at The Marvell College, a large secondary academy located on the east side of the City of Hull. Prior to his appointment at Marvell Jake was Head of The Pathfinder Teaching School Alliance (now Hub) in York. Pathfinder played a key role in the region delivering on Initial Teacher Training, Professional Development and School to School Support. Jake is also a member of UCETs Executive Board as well as being the Chair of Governors at New Earswick Primary School.

Neil Mumby; Vice Principal, New College Pontefract

Neil graduated from Leeds University with a BSC in Mathematics before completing a PGCE in Secondary Maths teaching at Loughborough University. His first teaching post was at Outwood Grange College in Wakefield where he stayed for nearly 10 years carrying out many roles including Second in Maths and Head of Year. After a year spent at Croton Academy as a Lead Teacher in Maths Neil moved on to New College Pontefract to follow his passion of teaching solely A Level Maths. After 11 years at New College Neil is now the Vice Principal of which his roles include the line management of Maths, Business and Accounting.

Sarah Paddock, Maths teacher, St Mary’s College, Hull

Sarah has 18 years’ experience in secondary teaching in Hull and East Riding and is currently NPQ lead facilitator for NPQLTD and lead facilitator for year 2 ECF mathematics across the local region. Sarah is a mentor for trainee teachers of mathematics and is a link tutor for the school direct programme with Vantage teaching school hub. Sarah was head of department at St Mary’s College in Hull over the past 5 years with responsibility for over 20 staff teaching students across key stages 3 – 5.

John Westwell; NCETM Director for System Leadership

John has been a secondary school head of maths, and held advisor and policy positions in local and national organisations. He joined the NCETM in 2012, and has led the Maths Hubs Programme since its launch in 2014.

Richard Grogan; Headteacher, Orchard Head Junior, Infant and Nursery School, Pontefract Academies Trust

Richard brings 16 years of valuable experience in primary education to the table. With over eight years as a senior leader focusing on school improvement, he has a profound passion for teaching and learning. He is committed to continuous self-improvement and takes pride in his role on the Maths Hub Strategic Board, contributing to the organisation's pursuit of educational excellence.

Faye Hirst; Head of School, Orchard Primary Academy

Faye is currently the Head of School at Orchard Primary Academy in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. She leads on Maths and has done for the last 9 years across previous roles in other schools. Faye is a Maths SLE and came out of working in a school for 18 months to work as a Primary Maths Specialist. In two of the schools Faye has worked in, she has worked alongside Maths Hubs to begin the mastery journey from scratch. Faye is committed to developing Maths in my own school and beyond and look forward to supporting the Yorkshire & Humber Maths Hub.

Olivia Bennett; Head of Partnerships (North & East); National Institute of Teaching

Currently the Head of Partnerships for the North & East region of the NIoT, Olivia oversees the strategic relationships between the institute and Associate Colleges; placement schools and new partners, as well as leading on participant recruitment to ITE, ECF & NPQ programmes. Prior to this role, Olivia worked for Outwood Grange Academies Trust for five years in a multitude of roles within the Outwood Institute of Education, the trust's CPD arm. Passionate about improving the learning journey and outcome of students, through the development of our teachers and leaders, Olivia is excited to be a part of the fantastic work YHMH does across the region.

Phil Groves; Project Manager, Northern Power Grid

Phil is currently a project manager at Northern Powergrid, the electricity distribution network operator for Yorkshire and the Northeast, where he has worked for over 22 years. Phil has worked within the engineering, investment delivery, and business performance areas of the company and is currently working in the Smart Metering Data Team. Phil is a specialist in data analysis, presenting and communicating data at all levels of the business and has delivered projects involving machine learning and advanced analytics. Phil has an undergraduate MEng (Honours) Degree in Materials Engineering from Liverpool University and has recently completed a postgraduate Masters Apprenticeship in Data Analytics at Newcastle University. Phil is also the Chair of Governors at Outwood Primary Academy Bell Lane in Ackworth and has been part of their governing body for over 12 Years.