Train to Teach with NET

Jane Wilson Chief Executive Officer, Northern Education Trust

Jane started work with the trust in 2018 as deputy chief executive officer. Previously she has worked as deputy director for the regional school’s commissioner, where she took an active role nationally. In collaboration with another headteacher, Jane also successfully established Tees Valley Education, a multi academy trust operating in both Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland. Jane has extensive experience as a senior leader, headteacher, executive headteacher, National Leader of Education (NLE) and more recent experience as a lead inspector for Ofsted.

Since 2018, Jane has worked tirelessly to support the transformation of the trust. Jane has led on many aspects of the trusts work, not least her exceptional leadership of the primary phase where she has had a significant impact in improving outcomes.

Jane was appointed as Northern Education Trust’s chief executive officer on 1 April 2025.

Alex Reynolds Director of Primary Curriculum

Alex Reynolds is Director of Primary Curriculum at Northern Education Trust (NET).  She is
a former Acting Principal and Director of Learning for NET.  She spent the first part of her
teaching career in primary schools in London and Manchester, where she specialised in
leading literacy and the arts. Alex has held a number of positions in sector-wide teacher
development and school improvement, including as Content Specialist for the Education
Endowment Foundation and Training Manager for Ambition Institute.  Drawing on this work,
Alex is co-author of an upcoming book, ‘The Coaching Curriculum’, which will support school
leaders in effective implementation of coaching and professional development.

Georgina Keel Teacher, The Oak Tree Primary Academy

Georgina completed her degree and masters in science with Teesside University. She then
embarked on her teacher training with NET, Educate Teacher training and Leeds Beckett
University. While completing her teacher training with NET, she worked alongside mentors
within the Trust and staff at The Oak Tree Academy. Here she learnt multiple strategies and
techniques to use and implement to help her on her teaching journey. Colleagues who
worked alongside Georgina were supportive, professional and experienced. They shared a
wealth of knowledge and supported her to achieve QTS and a PGCE.

Once QTS was achieved, Georgina continued her teaching journey at The Oak Tree
Academy and began her first year of teaching in year three alongside an experienced
teacher. Throughout her first year of teaching, Georgina quickly became a leader of
collaborative learning and in the final term was asked to lead science, a core subject.
Georgina was given the opportunity to support a key stage one moderation by the local
authority alongside the phase leader and ECT mentor.

For the next five years of teaching Georgina worked within a year two classroom. Within this
time she has successfully completed a National Professional Qualification in Middle
Leadership, a National Professional Qualification in Leading Teacher Development and a
positive handling course all facilitated by Net Staff College. Alongside the personal
development, Georgina was appointed as Geography DEEPs leader for the Trust over two
years and was appointed as a phase leader of phase two. In her seventh year of teaching,
Georgina became phase three leader. Alongside this, Georgina has been appointed as
mathematics, history and EVOLVE leader within her academy.

Through working within the Trust, Georgina has embodied the NORTHERN model due to
the expectation of the Trust. Within her teaching practice, Georgina has high expectations
for all children, has a relentless focus on standards and has the children’s needs at the
centre of her pedagogy. Georgina is a prime example of the ‘R’ in the NORTHERN Model as
she was recruited by the Trust, retained by the Trust and has had multiple opportunities for
staff development.  Georgina looks forward to the future she has with Northern Education
Trust.

Aziza Wariraye Teacher of Science, Dyke House Academy

After obtaining her Biochemistry degree from the University of Glasgow, Aziza embarked on
her teaching journey through the Teach First programme. This intensive two-year program
culminated in the award of her PGCE. Throughout her training, she dedicated herself to
Dyke House Academy, where she spent both years honing her teaching skills.

Following the successful completion of her training, Aziza secured a position as a Teacher of
Science at Dyke House Academy, where she has continued to grow in her role. Now in her
fifth year of teaching, she is actively engaged in instructing students across KS3, KS4, and
KS5 while also taking on the responsibility of mentoring aspiring teachers.

Adam Palmer Executive Principal

Adam is an Executive Principal for Northern Education Trust.  He works across Dyke House and Manor Academy, which are both situated within Hartlepool. Adam successfully led Dyke House Academy to Outstanding in March 2022. The academy was awarded an Outstanding
judgement in every category, including the sixth form.

In his role as Executive Principal, Adam is Trust Lead for secondary attendance, whilst also line managing performing arts. He has previously worked alongside DCEO, Jane Wilson as Safeguarding Lead for the Trust. Additionally, Adam has helped develop numerous Trust systems at Dyke House such as ‘live marking’ and continues to help develop the ‘Need to Know Books’.

As a former student at Dyke House, Adam spent over 24 years at the school. After leaving Teesside University with a degree in Sports Studies, Adam completed his teacher training in 2004. Adam then spent the next 13 years as a Physical Education teacher, Head of Year,
Assistant Principal and Vice Principal. Adam was appointed Principal in 2017, and appointed
as an Associate Executive Principal in 2022.

Alex Forsyth Associate Principal, North Shore Academy

Alex has been teaching in Northern Education Trust for just over seven years. She started
her career as an NQT at Dyke House Academy and became Head of History at the end of
her NQT year. She was then successful in applying for the role of Associate Assistant Principal
for Deep Learning where she implemented whole-school changes such as collaborative
learning. Alex became Assistant Principal and then Vice Principal, again working to lead
Deep Learning. In 2023, she became an Associate Principal and now works at North Shore
Academy in Stockton.

She continues to support the development of teaching and learning
across the Trust and absolutely loves developing ideas to ensure that all students receive
quality teaching in the classroom.

Josh Guerbaai Senior Director of MFL

Josh started his teaching career as an NQT at Dyke House Academy in the Northern
Education Trust, where he spent two years teaching Modern Foreign Languages. He then
continued his teaching journey at Thorp Academy before becoming Second in Faculty of
Humanities and MFL there. He became Associate Assistant Principal, alongside his role as
Second in Faculty, before becoming Assistant Principal two years later. He moved on to
become Associate Director of MFL and then Senior Director leading on everything related to
Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) in the Northern Education Trust. He works with a team of
directors who each oversees a group of academies in terms of MFL, whether that be working
directly with students, designing and overseeing curriculum, creating and quality assuring
resources, organising assessments, overseeing standardisation and analysis and leading
training for staff.

The Northern Education Trust has enabled Josh to flourish in his various roles and develop
and extend his skill set as a practitioner. Josh’s professional career has been spent solely at
the Northern Education Trust and he wouldn’t want it any other way.