Secondary consultant team

Catherine Reeves

Catherine has over 20 years of secondary senior leadership experience with the last 12 years as a Headteacher and Head of School. She has worked across three neighbouring local authorities and in a range of contexts.
Catherine has wide-ranging experience in local secondary schools from schools facing challenging circumstances to those graded "outstanding"; from fully comprehensive settings to selective grammar schools.
With a particular focus on behaviour for learning and inclusion, Catherine is experienced in working with leadership teams to develop and enhance provision. She has led on this area of school improvement in a range of high schools and has a wealth of experience in school‐to‐school support, professional learning and development.
With a strong background in SEND provision and support, Catherine has also worked with schools to establish and develop both in‐school and alternative provision.
Committed to a coaching approach, Catherine has also led on a range of NPQ programmes as well as facilitating research‐informed leadership training and development for teaching and support staff.

Catherine can be contacted via email catherine.reeves@lancashire.gov.uk 

Kate Griffiths

Kate has a first‐class degree in Pure Mathematics from the University of Liverpool. She began her teaching career in 2013, teaching across all key stages in a successful 11‐18 secondary school in St Helens. She then joined a high performing FE college in Lancashire, where she taught predominantly A level maths, before becoming course leader for the GCSE resit course and developing a specialism in this area. During this time,  she  had  responsibility  for  cross‐college  numeracy,  became  an  SLE  and  accredited professional development lead, as well as completing her master’s degree in teaching and learning. Kate worked on the Centres for Excellence in Maths (CfEM) project  from  its  inception  in  2018  to  conclusion  in  March  2023.  She  developed  mastery techniques and contextualisation in GCSE mathematics, as well as carrying out extensive research into mindset and motivation of GCSE resit students, maths anxiety and confidence building techniques. She has presented her research and led workshops at several national conferences. 

Kate has a reputation for providing meaningful support to colleagues across FE in the North West and is now looking forward to working with secondary colleagues in her new role as secondary maths consultant.

Kate can be contacted via email kate.griffiths@lancashire.gov.uk

Katy McWean

Prior to taking on the role of Lancashire Secondary Consultant for English and Literacy, Katy worked as a English teacher for nearly twenty-three years in a large successful English department in a 11-18 school, working as Head of English for twelve of those years and a variety of significant leadership roles prior to this. Katy is vehemently passionate about her subject, and prides herself on her excellent working relationships based on trust and mutual respect.

As a highly experienced English practitioner, Katy's consultant role primarily involves providing bespoke support for English departments according to need, running English training courses and hosting termly English subject leader meetings. Katy is particularly proud that feedback from such sessions is consistently excellent. Typical delegate comments from recent courses include: 'Fantastic …I have taken so much from it.', 'really useful and thought provoking' course, and 'I really enjoyed the session'.

Outside of work, when not watching her beloved Liverpool Football Club, Katy loves nothing better than curling up with a good book; however, if you were to ask her what is her favourite, she would not be able to tell you – she has far too many!

Katy can be contacted via email katy.mcwean@lancashire.gov.uk

Andy Pearson

Andy is our secondary science and learning and teaching consultant, having been appointed to the role in September 2018. Andy has significant classroom experience, having taught Biology, Chemistry and Physics for 23 years in a Lancashire secondary school. Andy has also been an advanced skills teacher working within and across county by supporting colleagues in science departments at all levels. Having also been Lead Practitioner for Learning and Teaching for a number of years, Andy has developed a wide ranging expertise in learning and teaching strategies, both pedagogical and subject specific. Andy uses this expertise to support individual teachers, small teams of teachers and whole school staff professional development.

Andy is a proud Preston North End football fan and an even prouder husband to Julie and father to Jessica and Ellie.

Andy can be contacted via email andrew.pearson@lancashire.gov.uk

Jennifer Macdonald

Having studied at St Martin's College, Lancaster, completing a BEd (Hons) in primary teaching specialising in special educational needs, Jen has always had a passion for ensuring that children have access to a curriculum that allows them to thrive and succeed individually.

Having spent her teaching career in Blackpool, she was a lead for several subjects including Maths, Music, RE, Geography and PSHE and had the opportunity to develop her SEND experience as an Assistant SENDCo.

Understanding the importance of being taught about the wider world around them, Jen has been an advocate for PSHE education for many years. Completing the NPQML, NPQSL and CPD in Instructional Coaching has enabled Jen to successfully lead, implement, and support change throughout school.

With the introduction of the Statutory Guidance in 2020, Jen went on to support the wider multi‐academy trust by leading the PSHE improvement group. She also worked with multiple initial teacher training providers by supporting trainee teachers and delivering training in PSHE prior to joining Lancashire as part of the LPDS consultant team.

Jennifer can be contacted via email jennifer.macdonald@lancashire.gov.uk