Kirklees Council – Our Kirklees Futures Learning Summit 2023

1. Sharon Gray OBE NLE

Sharon is currently an Education Consultant at Wholehearted Learning, a co-opted member of ‘engage in their future’ - representing special schools nationally for young people experiencing severe social, emotional and mental health difficulties , a member of the Youth Justice Board strategic overview for education in custody and the development of our first secure school, Board Champion for neurodivergence. She is currently working with Kirklees LA – SEND transformation plan and is a school improvement partner for both special and mainstream settings. Sharon’s work and purpose is in taking systemic approach to help adults, teams, school, communities, local authorities to create environments that enrich the emotional well-being, creativity and learning of children and young people. The focus is to release a child’s innate desire to learn and for them to discover joy in their learning and so achieve the best outcomes possible. Working with staff, she aims to enable and facilitate transformational working practices with those working in mainstream settings and specialist settings, with vulnerable children, young adults and their families, who face multiple challenges, including, mental health difficulties, inequality, poverty, challenging behaviour and addiction. She has been a Headteacher for 21 years. This includes 12 years headship leading special schools including residential units for children and young people experiencing severe social, emotional and mental health difficulties (SEMH) and 6 years as the Headteacher of a larger than average mainstream school with an enhanced provision for children excluded from other schools due to experiencing significant social emotional and mental health difficulties, two nurture units and a provision for vulnerable 2 year olds. During this time she became the Executive Head whilst supporting an additional school in need. Sharon was an Ofsted inspector for 9 years and a BSO accredited inspector. This enabled her to have a detailed knowledge and understanding of the inspection process and gain new ideas and insights from different schools. Her philosophy is one of authentic inclusion. She aims for everyone within the community that she works with to see themselves as a responsible and vital part of securing positive outcomes for all. She works systemically to enable everyone to be a successful leader and a lifelong learner.

2. Matthew Burton

Matthew isn't your ordinary television celebrity. He isn't a singer or an actor, but a teacher who won the hearts of the nation on the hit Channel 4 documentary TV show, Educating Yorkshire. An event featuring Matthew is candid and authentic, as this genuine individual's passion for teaching is infectious. When the show started, Matthew was the Assistant Headteacher and the English teacher at Thornhill Academy, but his love for his students' future has led to him becoming the appointed headteacher. Matthew has stated that people assume the TV show is the highlight of his career, but for him, it is his students' success that makes his hard work worthwhile. One of the pinnacle moments on the show was when a student with dyslexia flawlessly recounted a poem with Matthew's help, who was inspired by The King's Speech. When he reflected on the moment, Matthew described how it was "a symbol of the bond between a teacher and a student". In his motivational speeches, Matthew explores this moment in his career, discussing how it was the pinnacle in his understanding of the power of teaching. Matthew leads workshops on all things teaching - from getting the most out of an academically challenged child to maintaining order in a chaotic classroom. His hands-on presentations are honest and can drastically alter other people's perspective. Taking examples from his own work as a teacher, Matthew will offer tried and tested strategies to ensure both success and wellbeing for students, as he believes that you can't have one without the other. As an expert on academia, Matthew is also a popular keynote speaker, regularly booked for teaching events up and down the country. He has dedicated his life to raising the aspirations of the next generation, a sentiment that he inspires in his audience. He believes that no matter where a child is from, whether born in a privileged or underprivileged area, they all deserve to have the same opportunities, pride in themselves and dreams for their future.