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Who We Are
Committed to Educational Transformation
The Education Impact Network is a trusted provider of educational consultancy and training services, dedicated to fostering collaboration and driving excellence. We are committed to empowering schools and educational institutions to achieve their full potential. Our seasoned experts bring a wealth of experience, delivering customised solutions that meet the distinct needs of every client.
Our founding team
Our team is made up of dedicated, highly qualified professionals who are true experts in their respective fields. With extensive experience and sector knowledge, they are uniquely equipped to deliver comprehensive, top-tier services, ensuring exceptional results for our clients.
Hannah
Carter
Founder and Lead Consultant for Quality of Education and Leadership and Management
Hannah is a highly experienced school leader renowned for her ability to drive significant improvements in educational outcomes and foster rapid cultural transformation within schools facing challenging circumstances. As a Headteacher, she provided strategic and operational oversight for two large comprehensive schools serving a diverse and disadvantaged student population. Through innovative recruitment strategies and the establishment of effective processes and systems, Hannah achieved remarkable increases in student attendance and significantly reduced suspension rates. Her efforts garnered recognition from a Department for Education advisor, who described her leadership as "the most rapid and successful improvement of a school" they had ever witnessed.
Hannah’s leadership journey includes key roles within Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs). As Head of English, she achieved a staggering 40% increase in threshold grades and a progress score of +1.2 for disadvantaged students in her inaugural year. This success led to her promotion to Assistant Principal for Pupil Premium, where she earned the SSAT national award for the progress of Pupil Premium students and played a pivotal role in helping the Academy achieve a 'Good' rating from Ofsted. Subsequently, as Vice Principal, she was responsible for the Academy's operational management and quality assurance. During her tenure as Interim Principal for 15 months, she adeptly navigated the challenges posed by COVID-19, successfully launching online learning provisions that benefited both students and staff.
In addition to her leadership roles, Hannah served as KS4 Lead for English at Mascalls Academy and as an English teacher at Hillcrest School, where she developed strong skills in relationship building, stakeholder engagement, and organisational design. A CIPD-qualified professional, she excels in senior leadership and change management for large organisations. Beyond her direct school leadership, Hannah has contributed to national training initiatives for SAPERE and offered her expertise as a private consultant for school improvement.
Anita
Woodward-Benn
Founder and Lead Consultant for Safeguarding, Attendance and Pupil Welfare
Anita is a strategic school improvement leader recognised for her analytical and detail-oriented approach to safeguarding and attendance for school-aged children. With a robust background in educational consultancy, she excels at empowering leaders to enhance accountability and compliance measures in safeguarding practices. Anita’s collaborative nature and commitment to delivering high-quality solutions have consistently yielded effective operational practices across various educational settings.
As a Safeguarding Consultant, Anita provides expert advice to educational institutions, ensuring adherence to legislation and the development of robust quality assurance evidence. She delivers tailored solutions that strengthen organisational safeguarding strategies, including training and policy development, while facilitating reflective supervision sessions for Designated Safeguarding Leads.
During her tenure as Safeguarding and Welfare Lead at the University of Brighton Academies Trust, Anita successfully managed strategic priority plans, implementing rapid safeguarding improvements and operational guidance that were highly regarded by external auditors. Her previous role as Trust Attendance Manager showcased her ability to construct and monitor effective trust-wide attendance strategies, securing significant funding for attendance support interventions recognised as best practices by Ofsted and the Department for Education.
Anita's extensive experience in educational settings, combined with her academic background in Child Development and Youth Studies, equips her with a comprehensive understanding of the needs of schools and their students. Her professional development includes certifications in Youth Mental Health First Aid, Safer Recruitment, and Managing Allegations, underscoring her commitment to continuous improvement in safeguarding practices.
With strong memberships in various educational networks, Anita remains at the forefront of educational welfare and safeguarding initiatives.
Caroline
Spender
Founder and Project Manager. Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor
Caroline is a highly skilled project manager and dedicated advocate for children's mental health, with extensive experience in school governance and leading initiatives that promote the emotional and wellbeing of students.
She has a proven track record of driving impactful change through her role as MAT Children’s Mental Health Faculty Lead, where she ensures her expertise remains at the forefront of mental health developments.
In her role as a qualified Senior Mental Health Lead, Caroline spearheaded a trust-wide initiative to implement a mental health and emotional wellbeing policy for schools within the trust. Passionate about improving the wellbeing of children, Caroline is committed to creating nurturing educational environments where every individual can thrive.
As an accredited Youth Mental Health First Aid trainer, Caroline delivers comprehensive and practical training sessions to a diverse range of audiences, including educators, parents, carers, and governors. Her sessions focus on creating safe spaces for open dialogue and providing participants with the skills to identify and respond to mental health challenges. Her courses, whether online or in-person, have received consistently positive feedback for their informative and practical content.
Caroline’s strong project management skills, attention to detail, and effective communication have been instrumental in driving mental health initiatives and fostering collaboration within educational settings. In her current role as a MAT Business Change and Improvement Manager, she is dedicated to enhancing organisational efficiency and promoting collaborative working across the trust. Caroline’s expertise also extends to business development, with a track record of coordinating numerous projects, including the creation of a Pupil Wellbeing Podcast series.
In addition to her project management expertise, Caroline holds qualifications in mental health and counselling and is proficient in both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Her passion for improving the lives of children through education and mental health support remains the driving force behind her work.
Jennie Shearer
Founder and Lead Consultant for Literacy and Middle Leadership
Jennie brings over a decade of impactful leadership experience in literacy and whole-school improvement to her role as Co-Founder. With a deep understanding of the Ofsted framework, Jennie’s expertise lies in leading curriculum design and implementation, as well as ensuring high-quality teaching and learning that promotes strong educational outcomes. She has a proven track record of raising standards in reading and literacy across large secondary schools, driving progress through evidence-based interventions that support both student achievement and staff development.
As a Curriculum Leader of English and an experienced Literacy Lead, Jennie has successfully spearheaded initiatives that close attainment gaps and elevate the quality of education, particularly in challenging contexts. Her approach is founded on the principle that every teacher is a teacher of literacy, and she has embedded this ethos across schools, ensuring that literacy is integrated throughout all subjects. This empowers teachers to become champions of literacy in their classrooms, significantly boosting reading outcomes and curriculum engagement.
Jennie’s pastoral leadership, combined with her curriculum expertise, supports a holistic approach to education, addressing both academic and personal development to meet the diverse needs of students.
Her strategic leadership aligns closely with the Ofsted focus on ambitious curricula, personal development, and creating inclusive environments that promote high expectations and outcomes for all learners.
With a BA in English Education and a National Professional Qualification in Leading Literacy (NPQLL), Jennie is passionate about transforming literacy teaching and learning, ensuring that all students can thrive.
Our associate team
Our associate team is meticulously selected and rigorously vetted, embodying the principles of exceptional leadership and school improvement championed by the founding team. Each member brings a wealth of expertise and shares our vision of empowering educational leaders to deliver rapid, sustainable improvement. Together, we are committed to driving positive change in schools and making a lasting impact on children's learning outcomes.
Our Advisory Board
At The Education Impact Network, we are proud to be supported by an Advisory Board made up of respected experts from across the education sector. Our board includes Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) executives, former His Majesty's Inspectors (HMIs), and other senior leaders who have a deep understanding of both the academic and pastoral needs of schools.
This diverse group of professionals helps to quality assure our work, ensuring that we deliver evidence-based, effective strategies tailored to each school’s unique challenges. With their invaluable insight and oversight, we are able to maintain the highest standards in everything we do, from safeguarding and literacy initiatives to whole-school improvement plans.
Their involvement guarantees that our services not only align with current best practices but also anticipate future trends, equipping schools to thrive in a rapidly evolving education landscape.
Join Our Mission
Together, We Can Make a Difference
Embark on a journey of educational improvement with us. Leverage our expertise to enhance the leaders impact and performance.
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