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Horizon CPD Brochure
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School Improvement
Our approach
At Horizon Academy Trust, improvement is seen as a collective responsibility and our strong systems and structures support all our academies and those that join us.
Our approach to school improvement is based upon a shared vision and values centered around an exceptional education for every child.
We work with academies at the different stages of their journey of continual self-improvement. Whether at leadership or classroom level, different strategies will be needed to ensure our children achieve at the highest level in all areas of school life.School Improvement at Horizon Academy Trust
Our school improvement drives exceptional learning forward, involving all leaders through a culture of mutual trust and candour. The school improvement team is committed to supporting schools to maintain high standards and provide the best possible provision for all learners.

Building strong learning communities
Across the Trust, we develop and share effective strategies that work in the classroom through a network of outstanding teachers and leaders. Subject specific expertise and pedagogical understanding is developed through a range of collaborative approaches. We use an evidence-based approach to school improvement capitalising on relevant research to sustain and improve a high-quality education.
Our improvement offer includes:
- Rigorous, internal quality assurance systems, which includes at least 3 site visits per year
- Clear career pathways from ITT to Executive Leadership
- Headteacher Performance Management Process
- Enhancing expertise of headteachers through the leadership of Trust projects
- System leadership and school to school support through identified trust experts
- Development of coaching culture, through trust-wide coaching projects including external expertise
- Expert external moderation to verify standards, including one full day school review
- Headteacher partnership board meetings to involve and engage headteachers as partners. This includes up to 6 meetings per year
- Responsive expertise to support wellbeing and reflective practices, including a trust well-being charter
- High quality, evidence-based CPLD linked with Vantage Teaching School.
- Horizon SEND support with specialist and targeted SENCO support for all academies
Our Trust Leads
Trust Experts (ID 1207)
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Andy RhodesSchool Improvement Lead
Andy Rhodes
Andy Rhodes is the School Improvement Lead and Deputy CEO of Horizon Academy Trust. Andy has extensive experience working alongside schools and school leaders to offer advice and support regarding school improvement models and pedagogy. Since 2014 Andy has worked as a National Leader of Education supporting the wider system and has supported many local schools to improve.
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Hannah ChamberlainSEND
Hannah Chamberlain
Hannah Chamberlain is the Special Educational Needs leader across the Trust. She is a trained SEND reviewer and has worked alongside SEND coordinators in this capacity since 2018. Hannah has also worked closely with Autistic children setting up a specialist resource base at Spring Cottage Primary School at the start of 2019/20
As well as leading the Trust in SEND, Hannah is also the Headteacher at Spring Cottage Primary School, a role she began in 2025 after being the Deputy Headteacher and then Head of School.
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Danielle HoultSEND
Danielle Hoult
Danielle is experienced and dedicated educator with over 15 years of teaching experience across a range of settings. For the past five years, Danielle has served as a SENCO, leading on inclusive practices and supporting students with a variety of special educational needs. She has a strong background in developing and managing nurture provisions, creating supportive environments that foster emotional wellbeing and academic progress. Danielle is passionate about every child reaching their full potential, bringing a child-centred, collaborative approach to everything she does.
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Abi WalkerSEND
Abi Walker
Abi has taught across both KS1 and KS2 and had experience working in Abi Dhabi in a leadership role where she empowered her colleagues and parents to recognise the special educational needs of their children. Abi has also had experience of fulfilling the responsibilities of a SENCo and leading and setting up SEND provisions. Abi is passionate about delivering high-quality SEND provision and being an advocate for our SEND pupils. Abi is particularly interested in setting up SEND provisions, developing resources, SEND paperwork and coaching her colleagues to develop their skills and knowledge so that they can become confident SEND practitioners.
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Jo DavisMaths
Jo Davis
Jo is an experienced primary practitioner, having taught across all year groups in the primary phase for twenty-six years, twelve of which have been as Maths Lead at Cavendish Primary School.
During this time, she has worked closely with the Yorkshire Maths Hub to develop maths and raise the profile of maths in her own school and schools across Hull. As a lead mentor for a range of ITT providers, Jo has supported trainees in their understanding of maths pedagogy using coaching as a key tool to facilitate their development. She is currently working in partnership with the Yorkshire Wolds SCITT. During her years as maths lead, Jo has developed a passion for the teaching of maths, in particular, maths mastery and she is a firm believer in its pedagogies and the benefits of following such a curriculum to improve the learning opportunities for all children.
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Emma NewloveEYFS
Emma Newlove
Emma has over 13 years' experience working within primary education and has been leading EY units across the city for the last 10 years.
Emma's data literacy and drive for improving outcomes has resulted in upward trends in the MAT schools she has worked in. Emma ensures no pupil is left behind and implements successful interventions where necessary; whilst ensuring more able pupils are challenged further.
Emma has experience of working with a range of outside agencies and supporting children with additional needs alongside school SENDCos and has close links with the Local Authority Early Years Team.
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Stuart ClarkAttendance
Stuart Clark
Stuart Clark works with Horizon Schools and Leaders on a day to day basis to secure and support progress in all schools. He has previous experience as Head of School at Biggin Hill Primary School, helping it to secure "outstanding" during the inspection in 2015.
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Gareth TroakeAssessment
Gareth Troake
After moving into a mainstream primary setting, Gareth has worked across the city and is currently the Assistant Headteacher at Spring Cottage Primary School.
With a background in Sports Science, Gareth has a vast amount of experience in data processing and analysis which he has used to create bespoke summative assessment systems across several schools. At present, Gareth is completing assessment work for Horizon Academy Trust, two East Riding schools and is the assessment lead on an eighteen school DfE funded project.
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Mike RankinBehaviour
Mike Rankin
Mike has been a teacher for over 18 years, with the majority of his career being spent in schools on North Bransholme. He has taught across Key Stage 2 and has led a number of curriculum subjects.
Developing positive relationships and behaviour in the classroom is something Mike has always been passionate about. He loves nothing more than supporting colleagues with developing and implementing strategies that can be used to enable children to succeed within their classroom environment, in order to reach their full potential.
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Sara Cooper- BullessCurriculum IT
Sara Cooper- Bulless
Sara is an experienced IT lead and enjoys sharing her skills across the trust.
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Elena LuscombeEnglish (including Phonics)
Elena Luscombe
As an experienced SLE, Elena has delivered specialised, school-to-school support and has embraced the opportunity to work alongside schools both within Hull and the East Riding. She has worked closely with the English Hubs and currently delivers the NQT training programme for all schools within the East Riding. Elena takes great pleasure in working with colleagues to develop coherent and consistent pedagogy within her subject.
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Emily FarrarWriting Lead
Emily Farrar
Emily has previously worked as an SLE, supporting other schools in English, and is now a KS2 Writing Moderator for the Local Authority. She also has been a KS2 SATs marker in SPaG and Reading for the past 12 years. Emily has led Reading and Writing at both Gillshill and Cavendish and is now supporting staff in ensuring both subjects are being delivered effectively in the newly-merged East Park Primary School. Emily enjoys working closely with colleagues to ensure staff feel confident in their teaching of English. She has a real passion for ensuring children leave primary school with the ability to read and write well and that they do it with great enjoyment!
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Rebecca FlorenceWriting Lead
Rebecca Florence
Rebecca has over 20 years experience teaching across KS1 and KS2, both in Hull and the East Riding. She is currently teaching in Year 6 at Spring Cottage Primary School and enjoys her additional role as Upper Key Stage 2 Manager and Writing Lead.
Rebecca has embraced the opportunity to work with many of the schools within the Trust to develop a consistent and coherent pedagogy. She is passionate about delivering excellence in writing across the Trust, with extensive experience in moderation and the Teacher Assessment Frameworks.