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Our Primary Governance Board is our strategic management group comprised of educational leaders from across the region who work with us on all aspects of course governance.
We meet formally three times a year, but are in regular communication about course developments and the regional educational landscape. If you would like to become a member, then please use the link below, providing some details of your current position, experience and areas of expertise / interest.
Amanda Fewkes
The Fen Rivers SEMH
Special School Headteacher
Amanda Fewkes, Headteacher / Designated Safeguarding Lead / Mental Health First Aider / Senior Mental Health Lead BSC (Hons), PGCE, Postgrad Diploma Education, NPQH, MCCT, FCCT, MHFA, YMHFA I have worked in education for 27 years, 17 of those in educational leadership. During this time I have taught from Early Years Foundation Stage children to Secondary age children and enjoy the challenges that each age and stage brings. I worked as a SENCO for 15 years, as well as leading as Headteacher in three previous schools, before joining Fen Rivers two years ago. During this time I served as a Chair of Governors in a Primary school as well as being on the PGCE Management Committee at UEA. I am also a Mental Health and Youth Mental Health First Aider and a Fellow of The Chartered College of Teaching. I am a passionate advocate for positive mental health and wellbeing, firmly believing that my staff team and the pupils we serve will all thrive and achieve great things if we care for their wellbeing and they are able to be their authentic selves; feeling seen, heard and held in mind. I am currently undertaking Masters Level study in Leadership of Mental Health and Wellbeing in schools, as well as in therapeutic and trauma informed practice. I joined the Primary Governance Board with a goal of promoting routes into Special Education, develop understanding of what SEMH is and what it is not and to ensure mental health and wellbeing is considered. I joined the Primary Governance Board again recently with a goal of promoting routes into Special Education, develop understanding of what SEMH is and what it is not and to ensure mental health and wellbeing is considered. I have interviewed candidates for the PGCE programme, hosted PGCE students and have appointed some in my role as Headteacher.
Sonia Innes
VNET Education CIC
Education Director
Sonia Innes is Education Director for VNET Education, a not-for-profit school improvement company which supports around two hundred schools in Norfolk and surrounding East Anglia. Sonia is an experienced education consultant, adviser and ex-school leader with 14 years as a headteacher in three primary schools. Sonia is delighted to be a member of the Primary PGCE Professional Management Committee and enjoys working alongside the team to see new teachers flourish into their early careers. Through my contribution as one of the programme’s internal examiners, I have seen first-hand that the UEA Primary PGCE is a well-planned programme which enables students to emerge as high-quality reflective practitioners.
Suzie Hayes
Executive Headteacher, Unity Federation, Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies
I have been working in education for 20 years - mainly in small schools in Norfolk taking up my current position as Executive Headteacher of Unity Federation in September 2022. I am passionate about giving our pupils the best possible chances and value a creative curriculum where everyone can thrive.
I have been involved with ITT for many years - including working on a secondment for Bishop Grosseteste University setting up and leading an ITT Hub in our local area. Working alongside trainee teachers is such a wonderful experience - both as an individual and for the school in general. I have mentored a vast number of students over the years and now actively encourage staff within my schools to do so. The benefits to their own professional development are enormous and it is amazing to be giving something back to our future teachers.
I have worked with UEA in the past - interviewing potential candidates for the PGCE programme and hosting many UEA students. We also have teachers within the Federation who trained at UEA. I am delighted to be working with the UEA more closely again.
Sheree Brock
Recreation Road Infant School
Assistant Head Learning and SENDCo
I am currently Assistant Head for Learning and SENDCo. My teaching and leadership experience is across the infant phase. I am very passionate about children having opportunities to be successful in a holistic way at Recreation Road Infant School. I wanted to join the Primary Governance Board as I am Induction Mentor and I enjoy working with ECTs as they take those first steps into their teaching career. I also wanted Recreation Road Infant to continue having those strong links with the UEA. I have interviewed candidates for the PGCE programme, hosted PGCE students, and appointed some in my role as AHT. At Recreation Road Infant we have collaborated with UEA on numerous occasions supporting lectures, seminars, and interviews. We offer trainees placements and many of our staff body are former UEA graduates. Our Previous Head Teacher was also a part of the Primary Governance Board.
Carolyn Ellis-Gage
Headteacher
Parkside School
I have been in education since I graduated from UEA with my PGCE in Primary Education in 2005. I enjoyed 12 years in mainstream primaries across Norfolk, working my way from class teacher to Senior Leadership roles before making the move into specialist education. I have been at the Parkside Special School for seven years, four as Head Teacher. I am the Chair of the Norfolk Special Schools Headteacher Association and I work closely with the other specialist provisions in Norfolk.
I enjoy working with the PGB, supporting their inclusive ethos and helping to ensure the teachers of the future have a good working knowledge and understanding of the diverse needs of children and young people across the county. I like how it keeps me up to date and in the loop of new ideas and practices too.
I enjoy working closely with the UEA PGCE partnership as I know that the culture and ethos of the course is inclusive and supportive of diversity. The appointments we have made from the PGCE course have been positive, with a flexible and supportive approach to teaching the children and young people in our school.
Helen Laflin
Headteacher
Browick Road Primary and Nursery
I have been working in education for over 20 years, starting my career as an Early Years teacher in Suffolk. I have had various roles over the years, including Key Stage Leader and Deputy Headteacher. I am now enjoying my second headship in a Norfolk school. I am passionate about getting the best people into classrooms to teach our children and this was the main reason for wanting to join the Primary Governance Board.
I have a strong attachment with UEA as I completed my own PGCE there in 2004. As a teacher, I have mentored trainees and have appointed UEA PGCE graduates as a school leader. My school currently hosts PGCE trainees.
Miriam Jones
SENCO, Head of Learning Support
Langley School
I joined Langley School as Head of Learning Support (Prep and Senior sites) in January 2024, after eight years as a Primary PGCE Lecturer and Tutor at UEA, specialising in Primary Science and particularly supporting SEND. I also led the module Children and Special Education for the BA Education. Prior to this I was a Primary Headteacher at Reepham Primary for six years. At Reepham I was involved in the training of many PGCE students, which is where my interest in the course started. I have worked within Education as a teacher or lecturer for 28 years working in a variety of settings including first, primary and church schools. I have held governor roles in four schools, and the role as trustee in a special school in Norwich. I would very much like to be involved in the future development of the PGCE course.
As a PGCE Lecturer I worked with many students over eight years, and before this as a Primary Headteacher I trained and employed students on the course over my six years at the school. I have nothing but admiration and respect for all members of staff who work on the PGCE, and the contribution of students and staff to the wider education community in the East is invaluable.
Mark Carlyle
Improvement Director
St Benet’s Multi Academy Trust
I was a headteacher in both Norfolk and Suffolk for fourteen years, during which time I was involved in creating a multi academy trust and also worked in the leadership group of a teaching school alliance. I was a trainer for primary and secondary SLEs, was vice chair of the Norfolk Primary Heads Association and delivered a programme in Suffolk for new headteachers. I am currently an improvement director for a multi academy trust, proving strategic support for school leaders, as well as being part of the central Trust leadership team. I joined the Primary Governance Board because the links between schools, MATs and higher education providers are essential in securing the best routes into the profession for trainee teachers. To be able to contribute to joint practice development with the UEA programme is something that adds great value to the work I do and I can see firsthand the excellence and expertise that exists, supporting and developing the next generation of teachers.
The UEA PGCE Partnership has for many years been a key part of the recruitment process for me as a headteacher. UEA graduates have time and again shown the core attributes necessary to be successful teachers and I have seen many go on to fulfil a variety of roles in the schools I have worked in, whether that be advanced skills teachers or senior leaders. The quality of guidance and support during their training has undoubtedly prepared them for the rigours and rewards of the profession and given them a very secure platform from which to build their careers.
Katie Leightell
Education and Partnership Advisor for Children's Services
Norfolk County Council
Katie is an Education and Partnership adviser for Children’s Services at Norfolk County Council, and a current lead within the Norfolk Learning Ambition. She has a particular interest in workforce development in the county, which encompasses working collaboratively to better enable CPD and routes into education and teaching careers, to meet local need.
During her time as an adviser at NCC, Katie spent many years specialising in Primary English where she enjoyed supporting schools across the county with their school improvement journey within this subject. It was through such school improvement that Katie was successful in being commissioned by the DfE as an External Expert, to work with schools nationally. As part of her specialism in English, and role as a lead moderator for writing in Norfolk, Katie has worked extensively with the Standards and Testing Agency (STA) in a number of different roles, working across the northern counties of England and the Midlands. Although no longer an English specific adviser, Katie continues to take a keen interest in both English and assessment practices and continues in her role as a lead moderator for Norfolk, each year. Prior to joining the Local Authority in an advisory capacity, Katie was a Primary School Teacher and English subject leader, who also retrained as Secondary English, due to enjoying the experience of working within a Norfolk middle school and having the opportunity to specialise, and subject teach to a greater extent. During her time at the ‘chalk-face’, she was also a Leading Teacher for English, and went on to lead the Norfolk Leading Teacher team.
Moving down from her home county of Durham, Katie studied English at UEA, and while at university volunteered at a local after-school club in Larkman and has also volunteered as an independent visitor for children and young people in care. Such experiences were the inspiration to continue her studies at UEA through the Primary PGCE, in 1998. Throughout her career, and as a consequence both her own life-experience and ensuing voluntary work, Katie has remained committed to tackling inequity and disadvantage, through opportunities provided within education.