Newham Learning Leads (NLLs)

Newham Learning Leads

Newham Learning Leads are accredited professionals in Newham Learning Schools. They have experience of supporting other schools in particular areas. They can be requested to support schools.

Newham Learning Lead is a status (not in itself a seconded post) and being one does not come with a specific time allocation. Release of Newham Learning Leads is authorised by the Head Teacher of the host school, who would be compensated for their release.

Some Newham Learning Leads support the work of Newham Learning and this is allocated via a secondment from Newham Learning. Other Newham Learning Leads will support schools directly, based on the specific request from a school.

Please note that this is not part of the Newham Learning core offer and that an additional fee (at cost) will be payable to the host school for the release of their member of staff.

Our Newham Learning Leads

Rohan Allen, Head Teacher at Rebecca Cheetham Nursery School and Children’s Centre, who leads our EYFS community

David Bailey, Director of Newham Learning, who provides advisory support and leads our Curriculum, Assessment & Teaching and Newham Learning Leads Communities.

Chafika Bensadok, Languages Lead at Essex Primary School, who leads our Languages community.

Mike Boxall from Newham Community Learning. Mike is Deputy Head at Selwyn Primary School. Mike leads our Behaviour, Personal Development & Wellbeing, Geography, History and PE communities.

David Clarke, Associate Director of Newham Learning, who provides advisory support and lead our KS2-3 Transition Community.

Naomi Hiscock, highly regarded STEM expert, who leads the Science and DT communities.

Sally Norris, Head Teacher of William Davies Primary School, who leads our Artificial Intelligence (AI) Community.

Violet Otieno, Head Teacher of Keir Hardie Primary School, who leads our Sustainability & Climate Action Community.

Mateu Ramonet, Assistant Head Teacher at Star Primary School, who leads our Mathematics Community.

Dave Robinson, highly regarded computing expert, who leads the Computing community.

Sudha Sreedharan, Art & DT lead at Ellen Wilkinson Primary School. Sudha coordinates our DT network as well as leading the local Art Matters Network as Co-Director.

Sarah Soyler, Head Teacher at Woodgrange Infant School, who leads our EYFS to KS1 Transition Community.

Lisle von Buchenroder, Head Teacher of Star Primary School, who leads our Deputy Head Teacher Community.

Request a Newham Learning Lead

Coming soon

Typical roles

Typical roles include:

School Improvement
Leadership coaching
Subject-specific support
Leadership of Newham Learning Communities

Application process

Newham Learning Leads are allocated by appointment only.

Certain groups of staff are eligible for fast-track. These include professionals who have been previously accredited by other organisations, for example:

Ofsted Inspectors (OI)
School Improvement Partner (SIP)
National Leader of Excellence (NLE)
National Leader of Governance (NLG)
Evidence Leader of Education (ELE)
Literacy Specialist
Maths Mastery Specialist
Workgroup Lead
STEM Learning Facilitator (Science)
STEM Learning Facilitator (Computing)
NPQ facilitators

For fast-track application, please complete the following form: https://forms.gle/isq93NciWk8ANKZt7. Applications are currently closed. The next recruitment round for Newham Learning Leads will open soon.

Selection process

After application, the submission from candidates will be considered by a representative and suitably qualified selection panel.

The selection panel will comprise three people, according to the following criteria:

At least one Newham Learning Board Member
At least one Newham Learning Head Teacher (who may also be the board member)
At least one member with significant school improvement expertise

In the case of panel members applying, there will be an additional member of the selection panel to allow for three other members to consider the submission. Consideration of panel members will take place at the end of the selection panel and in the applicant will be asked to leave the meeting during consideration of the application.

For fast-track applications, there are four possible outcomes:

Successful appointment as Newham Learning Lead
Appointment as an Aspiring Newham Learning Lead (which will allow access to training and support and opportunities to increase experience ahead of a full application). In this case, the applicant will have met some of the criteria but may require the development of specific areas or require the opportunity to shadow or gain experience in order to be appointed as full Newham Learning Lead.
Request for further information via the standard application process. Please note that this is to account for applications that don't provide sufficient information for the fast-track appointment process. This is not an unsuccessful application and this outcome will not influence the outcome of a further application.
Unsuccessful application. Applicants will be given feedback on areas to develop and will be encouraged to reflect and upon the feedback ahead of any future application. Applicants are welcome to re-apply at any time.

Successful applicants will remain on the register for a full three years at the end of the term they are successfully appointed. Re-accreditation will require a statement of impact during the time appointed as an NLL.