About us

Jeanette Taylor BA (Hons) QTS, MA Education Research

Lead Officer, North Lincolnshire SCITT Partnership

I have taught for over 30 years in London, Hull and North Lincolnshire. For the past eight years I have worked for North Lincolnshire SCITT, moving into the post of Lead Officer in September 2024. I have a passion for teacher training and supporting staff development.

Josephine Buckle, Operational Lead, North Lincolnshire SCITT Partnership

Prior to joining the SCITT Team as Operational Lead, I was an Executive Headteacher/Headteacher for 20 years in North Lincolnshire and Wiltshire. I have also served as a School Improvement Officer and DfE National Leader for Education. Teaching is a highly rewarding career and I feel privileged to work within the North Lincolnshire SCITT Partnership, to ensure that our trainees become career-ready, confident teachers.

Vicky Crossley, Business Manager, North Lincolnshire SCITT Partnership

I have worked for North Lincolnshire Council for 23 years and for the past seven years for the North Lincolnshire SCITT Partnership as the Business Manager.

Steven Vessey, St Peter and St Paul Primary

I am currently a leading mentor at North Lincolnshire SCITT. I was inspired to become a SCITT mentor because I believe in giving back to the teaching profession and providing teacher trainees with excellent foundations to enable them to flourish into inspiring teachers. I am in my ninth year of teaching and specialise in teaching KS1. As a mentor, I have developed my coaching skills and my abilities to model and scaffold teaching strategies based on a range of teaching theories that support trainees in their practice. I thoroughly enjoy working with the teachers of the future and hope that the time I spend with them will inspire them.

Stacey Austin, Oasis Academy Henderson Avenue

I have been teaching in North Lincolnshire for the past 18 years and have experience of teaching children in Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.

I have had the pleasure of being a mentor for the past 10 years and have trained 10+ SCITT trainees over this time.

I have, through my interest in mentoring and coaching, obtained my NPQLTD and have been appointed the Pedagogy Lead for my academy.

Since joining the operational group on the North Lincolnshire SCITT, I have had the opportunity to support fellow colleagues that are new to mentoring with carrying out joint observations, filling in the PDM form and end of term review forms.

More recently, I have been working alongside Jeanette and other lead mentors to write guidance for mentors in the mentor handbook for the new 2024 ITT curriculum and help make changes to other forms that are used regularly by trainees and mentors.

Lynsey Starkie, Brigg Primary School

I have been teaching for almost 20 years and during this time I have taught across the Primary phases, although my heart belongs in the EYFS! I began working with the North Lincolnshire SCITT programme in 2016 and have developed my mentoring and coaching skills during this time by supporting Primary trainees.

As part of my role as a Leading Mentor I have supported new School Based Mentors to write termly reviews, carry out observations and give feedback to trainees. Since joining the Operational Task Group, I have worked alongside a team to create training materials and documents to support School Based Mentors in their delivery of their role through the Core Content Framework.

John Spouncer, South Axholme Academy

I have been teaching Physical Education for 23 years at South Axholme Academy.

have been involved with the SCITT programme (under various names e.g. GTP) for 18 years. I have been a Lead Mentor for (I’m guessing!) 6 years. I love being involved with the SCITT training programme as it gives me a significant input into the shaping and training the teachers of tomorrow.

I have been involved in contributing to the new course structure and leading small sessions on a variety of topics. I also help as a point of contact for other SBM’s if they need any advice.

Tom Massey, The St Lawrence Academy

I completed the North Lincolnshire SCITT in 2017-2018 after previously working in a variety of schools from primary special needs to mainstream secondary.

I chose the SCITT course as I felt the amount of time spent in school was imperative and was a natural step to what I had previously done. I wanted to be a history teacher and knew SCITT had great links with good schools in the area. I was very fortunate to experience two very different schools during my training. The first was Frederick Gough in Scunthorpe and my main placement was at South Axholme in Epworth.

A real strength of the course and the schools is the time and patience the mentors bring to the training. I was gaining knowledge of teaching from highly experienced teachers which pushed my own pedagogy. After spending my NQT year in an inner-city school in Birmingham, I have worked at the St Lawrence Academy in Scunthorpe since September 2019. I have now myself become a mentor for SCITT students, it is fantastic to give back to the people that helped me so much in achieving my dream of being a history teacher. I believe the North Lincolnshire SCITT is the perfect way for any aspiring teacher to train due to the support of the staff running the course and the highly experienced mentors in the school.

Carrieanne Pitois, Deputy Head Skirlaugh Primary School

I joined the SCITT programme as part of the 2015/2016 cohort and was lucky enough to have two fantastic KS2 placements at Holme Valley Primary School and Castledyke Primary School.

I then went on to complete my NQT year at Holme Valley and stayed there for five fantastic years as a Year 6 teacher and English Leader. In 2021, I moved schools and became Assistant Headteacher at Skirlaugh Primary School in the East Riding where I continue to work now as Deputy Headteacher and SENCO.

This year I am completing the NPQH programme and look forward to embracing a headteacher role in the near future.

Kelley Gibbons, KS1 Lead The Grange Primary School

I trained to teach with the North Lincolnshire SCITT Partnership, in 2015 after graduating Nottingham Trent university with a BA honours in childhood studies.

Choosing school based training was the best decision as it gave me a realistic insight to teaching as I was in school four days a week. Both of my school based mentors, and my SCITT mentor, were fantastic and so supportive.

After qualifying I secured a job at The Grange Primary school. I have just begun my ninth year teaching there in KS1. In those nine years I have led different subjects, including history and PE.

I am currently KS1 lead, teaching Y1, leading reading and I am becoming an Early Career Teacher mentor.

Charlotte Chelotti, St Lawrence Academy

I started my SCITT journey in 2021, having spent 10 years as a teaching assistant in a variety of settings. I had been very nervous to take my next step into teaching, despite completing my degree in 2012 and racking up experience as both a HLTA and an unqualified teacher. It felt as if there was no amount of experience that was going to convince me that I was finally able to undertake the task and I think it is that level of imposter syndrome that many members of the teaching profession share.

Eventually, I decided enough was enough and I enrolled. I am so thankful that I chose the SCITT pathway, as I consistently battled against self-doubt, even after passing my first placement with flying colours. I genuinely believe that if it had not been for the support of the SCITT team, in particular Jeanette, and my mentors; I would have really struggled in that first year. The course offered me so many opportunities, both in and out of school, to grow and develop the knowledge and skills far above just passing training. Although I may have felt overwhelmed at times in that first year, now that I am in the profession I fully apricate how well prepared the SCITT course has made me for life as a teacher.

I can not sugar coat the profession that I have chosen. It is a difficult and stressful career which is why having support it so important in being able to flourish. I completed my first placement at Sir John Nelthorpe. I enjoyed my time there a great deal, learned so much about what sort of teacher I wanted to be and had fantastic developmental support from my mentor. I moved onto the St Lawrence Academy, where again, I was challenged and supported by my mentor, who had not only knowledge and skill but also treated me as an individual and enabled me to overcome so many barriers, some that come with the responsibility of the profession and many of which I had imaged for myself through a sheer lack of confidence.

I have chosen to stay at the St Lawrence Academy. Many of my fellow SCITTs also chose to stay in North Lincolnshire, which is one of the strengths of the SCITT programme because you feel so well prepared and passionate about the context and demographics in which you train. I am still surprised by how far I have come in my career in such a short time. I have passed my ECT, launched KS3 Drama which I now lead, alongside teaching English. I have also taken on a middle leadership position and am now a house leader in charge of anti-bullying. I never thought I could feel confident enough to take on the responsibility that I have.

Yes, teaching is stressful. Yes, teaching is a balancing act. Yes, there are times when you feel like teaching takes over your entire life. However, the students make it one of the most enjoyable, exciting, rewarding jobs and no two days are ever the same. I still feel extremely privileged that I am trusted enough to influence and shape the next generation and provide them with confidence to take on opportunities and meet their potential. If you are considering taking your next steps into teaching, my advice would be to consider the SCITT route, especially North Lincolnshire SCITT.

Reece Preston, Sir John Nelthorpe

I’m Reece, I was part of the 2020/21 cohort; I am currently a Teacher of History and Business at Sir John Nelthorpe School, whilst I am also Year 8 Learning Coordinator, a role I have held for 2.5 years.

North Lincs SCITT provided me with the platform to develop into the teacher I am today, having worked in education prior to my training as a TA and Cover Supervisor, I found the mentoring from outstanding professionals allowed me to find my own style and enhance my pre-existing skills to become a confident member of the teaching community. The support from the SCITT team was unwavering and allowed me to progressively work on reflective practice and setting improvement targets.

I am happy to say I really enjoy my job in education, I have seen first hand the impact we as teachers can have on young minds from the perspective of class teacher and Learning Coordinator. It can at times be challenging, but the training and support from NL SCITT will springboard you with the skills required to be a success.

If I could give one piece of advice, it would be to find your own style, you are the person in front of those pupils and you need to feel comfortable and confident in order to deliver outstanding lessons.

Contact

Please contact Vicky Crossley, our Business Manager, she will be happy to answer any questions and queries you have.

Email: Vicky.Crossley@northlincs.gov.uk

Tel: 01724 297119

Follow us

Facebook