Our Team

Our growing team of Associates are a mixed bunch, covering primary, secondary, special and MAT contexts. But they all have two things in common: experience in school leadership and expertise in PURE coaching.

Their personal experience of seeing the impact of coaching within their own roles has fuelled a desire to spread this positive approach to school colleagues far and wide.

Catherine Hulme

(Owner Director)

Catherine was a Secondary English Teacher and Assistant Headteacher (Teaching and Learning) before qualifying as an ILM Wellbeing and Executive Coach and ILM7 Coaching Supervisor. She also has vast experience as a Primary School Governor, receiving an NGA Finalist Award for Outstanding Governance. She joined Leadership Edge as an Associate in 2019 and became Director in 2022.

Amanda Harrison

Amanda has been the Headteacher of two large secondary schools, and continues to hold a special interest in supporting schools in challenging circumstances. She is an ILM qualified Executive Coach with experience of coaching many leaders and teams on their journeys to improvement and wellbeing.

Anthony Welch

Anthony’s career in primary education spanned over two decades, culminating in the role of CEO at a multi-academy trust. On returning to his Welsh homeland, Ant decided to follow his passion for supporting others to achieve their ambitions and applies his ILM Executive Coaching qualification across a number of high-impact consultancy roles.

Harroop Sandhu

Harroop has 17 years of experience as a leader in various educational areas. She is an EMCC qualified coach, a DEI consultant and Assistant Principal at Harris Ockendon. Her passion lies in understanding human and organisational behaviour and providing support beyond the professional realm to acknowledge the unique needs of the individual.

Carol May

Carol was Headteacher of a successful primary school in Cumbria where she experienced the power of coaching as she worked with numerous leaders across teams in her own and other schools. Now a qualified ILM Executive Coach and with a Leadership Masters Accreditation, she specialises in working with school colleagues at all levels to develop their insight and impact.

Chris Randall

Chris started his coaching journey whilst a School Improvement Officer in Sandwell. He went on to lead and support a range of teachers and leaders in challenging schools in the Black Country, culminating in the Directorship of a Teaching School Alliance. Chris is a Leadership Edge accredited Master Coach with an additional PGDip in Coaching

Dave Smith

Currently Principal at Blue Coat CoE Academy in Walsall, Dave has successfully developed a coaching ethos both in his own schools and others he works with. Having gone through the Leadership Edge 3-Tier Programme himself, he is an accredited Master Coach and seeks to support other schools to harness the power of coaching to drive school improvement.

Duncan Partridge

Duncan is an experienced international school Principal, both in the UK and across the globe, with an MA in International Education. He is a qualified Leadership Coach and has published a book on the impact of developing coaching in schools. He is also Vice Chair of a local school governing board in his now home town of Ealing, London.

Helen Drinkwater

Currently Deputy Headteacher of a 3-form entry infant school in Birmingham, Helen became an SLE in 2012 and using the skills she had acquired through various CPD pathways worked to develop staff within her school and when working with other leaders during SLE visits. She embarked on the Leadership Edge 3-Tier Coaching Accreditation Programme and has now been coaching for over a decade.

Jan Rudge

As the Founder and former Director of Leadership Edge and co-author of our 2021 book Pure Coaching, Jan continues to be a highly valued member of our coaching team.

She has held a wide spectrum of leadership roles including primary headteacher, Educational Action Zone lead and a NCSL representative.

Jan become a qualified coach in 2005, and has continued to lead an array of school leadership development opportunities, through NPQs and bespoke models.

Jean Robinson

Jean is Level 7 coach and has coached over 60 Executive and Senior Leaders both individually and in teams. She facilitates and assesses on NPQs and has particular expertise in special schools and SEND. After 20 years in leadership roles, including as a consultant for the Specialist School and Academies Trust, she was recognised by Downing Street for Services to Education.

Justyn Waterman

Justyn is a certified Transformative Coach and accredited Leadership Edge Master Coach with a keen interest in helping overwhelmed leaders re-engage with their vision and purpose. Justyn brings 15 years of experience as a primary school middle and senior leader across both the state and independent sectors in London.

Seema Sethi

Seema is an accredited ILM Level 7 Executive Coach and Mentor, with 25 years’ experience of working in secondary education as a Deputy Head and a middle leader in the UK and internationally. She has worked in private and public sector in some challenging contexts, using coaching to develop teams and individuals.

Melanie Glazzard

Mel is a consultant in Education providing English Curriculum support in Early years, KS1 and KS2. Mel divides her time working for the National English Hub; writing and delivering CPD, providing intensive support and coaching leaders and delivering specialist NPQ's for the Teaching School Hubs. She is an accredited Leadership Edge Master Coach and has introduced coaching to SLE's and leaders, developing school to school support across the region.

Mike Wilkes

Mike’s experience as a secondary school Deputy (Pastoral Care) and a Headteacher with 1200 on roll plus a Focus Provision for students with special needs, stimulates his continued interest in inclusion and safeguarding. He is an accredited Leadership Edge Master Coach and applies his expertise across a number of roles including with a local Teaching School Alliance, Secondary Fair Access Panel and as a school improvement consultant.

Wendy Jackson

Currently Headteacher at Foxyards Academy in Tipton, Wendy has been part of the Leadership Edge family since it began. Applying coaching throughout her career, as SLE, SENCo and Leadership Facilitator, Wendy has a deep passion and purpose for herself and colleagues she supports and develops.

Sue Webb

Sue is an experienced primary Headteacher with an array of coaching accreditations and qualifications, including ILM Executive Coaching and AoEC Systemic Team Coaching certification. Sue also holds a key interest in values-based education and mental health in schools.

Suneta Bagri

Suneta first trained as a Coach in her role as AHT of a large primary in Birmingham. She continued to use a coaching approach in all of her leadership roles thereafter which include DHT, HT, ExecHT and SIP across a variety of contexts. She is now a multi-award winning coach with credentials covering Reflective Supervision, Mental Health First Aid, NLP and Mindfulness. She remains passionate in providing colleagues the safe space for introspection to support their wellbeing.

Wendy Garrard

Wendy has extensive Headship experience and significant expertise in training and facilitation within Educational Leadership. She serves a range of educational settings and organisations and is always keen to broaden her experience beyond Education. She has a wealth of experience of Initial Teacher Training and Early Career teachers.

Cazzie Jude

Cazzie is an experienced education leader, recognised as an outstanding early years leader in the UK and internationally. She has an MEd in Leadership and Management, NPQH and ILM L7 in coaching and mentoring. Currently working as an early years headteacher in the Middle East and facilitating on NPQs, Cazzie is passionate about empowering others through coaching.

James Kerfoot

James is in his third Headship at Rudheath Senior Academy. Currently undertaking the NPQEL, he is also an NPQML/SL facilitator. Passionate about staff development, he has presented award-winning CPD on creative teaching and leadership, nationally and internationally. An accredited ILM and Leadership Edge Coach, James has used coaching throughout his 20 years in senior leadership.

Katrina Batey

Katrina has almost 20 years of experience as a Primary school teacher and Deputy Headteacher. She is a certified Personal Performance Coach and trauma-informed Wellbeing Coach, with a Masters in Psychology and Neuroscience of Mental Health. Her passion is using coaching as a powerful vehicle for developing self-awareness, self-esteem and wellbeing.

Stephen Joseph

Stephen supports the Leadership Edge Associates with videos that promote the culture of PURE coaching, maintains the websites and designs published materials. He works in 9 schools across a Multi Academy Trust helping to lead a media team, having over 10 years experience in primary education.