Curriculum Leadership Team

We have a pool of subject specialists, bringing leadership and expertise to faculties at The Brunts Academy

Our Subject Leads are ambitious and passionate practitioners that have a range of responsibilities within their subject areas, which include:

• Working closely with the Principal to provide strategic direction and leadership own
• Curriculum area through developing and implementing policies which will result in high achievement, effective teaching and learning;
• Creating a climate which enables other staff to develop and maintain positive attitudes and confidence in delivering the curriculum;
• Leading on the development of appropriate specifications, schemes of work and giving guidance on teaching and learning strategies in own area to ensure continuity and progression for all individuals and groups;
• Leading on and working with team to formulate coherent plans (TIP’s) which identify clear targets, tasks, timescales and success criteria for curriculum development in line with the Trust’s aims and improvement plan;
• Ensuring appropriate curriculum targets are set and regularly monitor pupil progress, interrogate data to inform to inform the curriculum and take action as necessary;
• Ensuring effective assessment for learning processes and practices across own area;
• Leading effective development of pupils’ literacy, numeracy, specific subject study skills, information technology skills, work related learning; enterprise and citizenship through the curriculum areas;
• Monitoring and evaluating the quality of teaching and learning, share judgments with teachers and take appropriate action to improve further the quality of teaching so that it impacts upon learning;
• Ensuring the Principal is appraised of the progress of the area in relation to achievement targets and TIP success criteria;
• Helping colleagues to create an appropriate climate and environment for learning including displays, so that effective learning can take place;

Meet the Subject Leads

Daniel Straw

Subject Leader for Modern Foreign Languages

Mr Straw studied French and Spanish at the University of Leeds, and then completed his PGCE at the same university. He started teaching in 2008, and has held secondary school middle and senior leadership posts working in another academy trust. He leads an experienced MFL department who create opportunities for pupils to grow in fluency and confidence in their languages lessons, and to develop a keen interest in Spanish and French culture.

Collins Epie-Nanje

Subject Leader for Science

Mr Epie Nanje is a former DFID scholar of Huddersfield University where he obtained an MA in Education (Human Resource Development) with a distinction in 2007 and completed his PGCE at Loughborough University. Mr Epie Nanje has a strong knowledge of cutting edge educational research and practice and Prior to joining the Brunts Academy in 2018, he was the Lead Practitioner for STEM subjects at Heanor Gate Science College. Mr Epie Nanje is responsible for the strategic leadership and management of science across the Trust. He has successfully developed and implemented the new high-quality KS3 curriculum, maximising participation and progress of students.

Alex Emery

Subject Leader for Innovation & Digital

Mrs Emery Studied Interior Design and Architecture at The University of Huddersfield before moving onto gain a BA (hons) In Secondary Education and Design Technology at Sheffield Hallam University. She started teaching in 2012 at The Brunts Academy, the school where she was a student and studied at until going to university 2005. Mrs Emery joined the Trust as a Teacher of Technology, before going onto being Achievement Leader and in 2021, Lead for Technology and Digital.

Mrs Emery oversees the planning and delivery of the Technology and Digital curriculum, ensuring students are equipped with knowledge and skills to succeed in the ever-developing technological world. Her passion is ensuring all students receive equal opportunities to experience advanced technology such as robotics and virtual reality modelling, and to broaden the minds of all of our students into the exciting world of Digital Technology.

Craig Foster

Subject Leader for The Arts

Mr Foster gained a degree in Theatre Studies at The University of Derby and completed his PGCE at The University of Nottingham. Mr Foster has acted in and directed many plays whilst working in the industry and brings this knowledge to our children at The Evolve Trust.

 

Mr Foster has a passion for Theatre and performance and believes that all students should experience the benefits that these subjects bring and the value that they add to life. Mr Foster believes that all students should have access to a quality arts provision and this is one of his main aims as Lead for the Arts.

Jonathan Williams

Subject Leader for Physical Education

 

Mr Williams oversees all PE, making sure students are getting the very best in their lessons, outside within the Enrich & Equip program and finally school sports fixtures.

 

 

 

Iain Addis

Subject Leader for Humanities

Mr Addis studied History at Sheffield Hallam University achieving a BA (Hons) and then completed his PGCE at the University of Nottingham. He started teaching in 2007 in Nottinghamshire and has spent 10 years as a Head of Department in an inner-city Nottingham school.

Mr Addis oversees the Humanities faculty, comprised of History, Geography, Religious Studies, Psychology, Sociology, Politics, Philosophy and Childcare. He has a passion for modern history and politics, and believes that lessons should be exciting and engaging. Mr Addis is also an experienced leader of trips, having led many to Belgium and Germany over the past 15 years of teaching.

 

Thomas McDermott

Subject Leader for English

Mr McDermott provides strategic leadership and implementation for English and leads on curriculum development, ensuring the teaching of English meets the needs of the young people the school serves.

Completing both a Masters in Education and NPQMH, he fundamentally believes that good quality teaching is at the heart of education and improvement is a continuous process and development underpins all that we do within the Trust.

Mr McDermott has been teaching since 2011 across a range of schools and is passionate about fostering a love of reading and English for lifelong learning.

Jamie Hough

Subject Leader for Mathematics

Mr Hough is an experienced teacher of mathematics and has been the 2nd in Department for a number of years now. Mr Hough will be picking up the position of Subject Leader for Mathematics from September 2022.