About the Team behind The EduCast

Aimee Taylor-Lester
Aimee is a 15 year old, Year 11 student current studying for her GCSEs.  Since Year 9, she has attended a Catholic Secondary School in Birmingham.  Throughout her short life she has attended an above average number of schools due to her parents moving house and location a lot.  She has experienced both Private and Mainstream Education and admits she can be outspoken and opinionated on the pro’s and con’s of both.
Aimee is currently predicted to achieve A / A*s across the board and like any teenager is excited, yet apprehensive about the year ahead.  Her long term objectives are to move in to a 6th Form where she wants to study English Language, RE, History and Law and from there to pursue a career in Criminal Law.

Gary Smart

Gary has worked in education for the past 11 years, from a gap-year Technician, to his current position as a senior member of staff in a Birmingham secondary school.
The past 11 years have given Gary a wealth of experience on all school issues from staffroom politics to student behaviour. As a senior member of staff and school governor, Gary has his finger on the pulse of the ever changing issues in secondary education.
He is a supporter and promoter of the roles of support staff in schools and believes that more accredited training opportunities should be available to non-classroom based staff.
Gary is also an accomplished writer and illustrator, having his first book published in 2010 and more recently, he has been involved in the release of a documentary on a 1985 cult classic movie.

Greg Brown

Greg is a knowledgeable Australian trained English Teacher, who has spent the best part of the last 5 years in UK. 

His vast experience as a Teacher in Australia and his continued experience in the Education arena in the UK, gives him a unique understanding on what "Good Teaching" is like on a global level. 

Currently Greg works as an Education Trainer, teaching Teachers how to teach in UK schools.
Contact
Greg at info@theeducast.com and put Greg in the subject line.

Heather Stack

Heather is an expert in the world of special educational needs, and has worked across a range of disciplines over the past 19 years on a local, regional and national level across the UK and overseas.
Trained as a secondary English teacher, Heather has taught in mainstream and specialist settings, and worked in special educational needs for Staffordshire’s SENSS and Warwickshire’s LABSS.

Heather established Learning Services (SEN) Ltd in 2001 as an independent consultancy service to schools and organizations, working on behalf of children and young people with SEN/LDD.  Her role has since expanded to incorporate working across 0 - 25 years in a range of settings across the public, private and third sector, through consultancy, workshop and inset delivery, analysis and report writing, conference and symposium speaking engagements and through support for policy, provision and practice.

Do you want Heather to help and support you and your school?
Visit learning-services.org.uk or find Heather on twitter (@hmstack) or on linkedin.


Justin James

Justin is an accomplished Executive Head Teacher, with over 8 years experience in inner London schools. 

His highlights include turning around a Primary School in a deprived area, with an extremely high concentration of EAL and SEN students into one of the best performing schools in the country. 

He has also been involved in working with schools up and down the country in implementing management and performance strategies that will enhance the lives of the educators and students in working towards a better future.

Contact Justin at info@theeducast.com and put Justin in the subject line.



Kati Pilkington

Kati is both someone who has been involved in the Education Industry for the best part of a decade and a new mum!
Originally from Australia, Kati came to the UK and has worked in Education in a number of a different roles and whose primary focus is on the safeguarding of children within schools.
Recently a new mum to Jasmin, Kati has had to face a number of decisions that will affect her and Jasmin now and for the rest of her life. Because of this, and in combination with her background in education, she is perfectly placed to have provided us with a unique insight into the world of early childhood education parenting decisions.

Profiles of our other contributors will appear here shortly!