The Greenwich Learning Partnership is working with School Improvement Advisors from the Royal Borough of Greenwich School Improvement Service.

Matthew West, Head of School Improvement

Matthew West is the Head of School Improvement in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, with a rich background in education. He has dedicated his career to enhancing teaching and learning across London boroughs and Kent.

Matthew started as a teacher in Islington, Camden, and Hackney, gaining insights into the challenges and opportunities of urban schools. His passion for education and leadership led him to senior roles, where he drove school improvement initiatives.

As an Ofsted inspector, he contributed to enhancing educational standards across the UK. His training in mainstream and Montessori education provides a unique perspective on teaching methodologies and a child-centred approach.

As Head of School Improvement, Matthew supports schools in Greenwich to achieve excellence, ensuring every student accesses high-quality education. Known for engaging with educational professionals, he drives ambitious and achievable initiatives. His dedication to creating equitable learning environments for all students is central to his work.

Michelle Booker, Senior School Improvement Advisor

Michelle Booker is a dedicated and highly experienced Senior School Improvement Advisor with 30 years of service supporting schools in Royal Greenwich. As an Improvement Partner, Michelle works closely with school leaders, offering strategic guidance and targeted support to drive continuous improvement in teaching, learning, and leadership.

In her role as the Key Stage 1 (KS1) and Key Stage 2 (KS2) Assessment Lead for the local authority, Michelle has played a pivotal role in helping primary schools navigate statutory requirements and enhance their internal assessment processes. Her expert guidance ensures that schools implement robust, secure systems, fostering the precise and purposeful use of pupil progress and attainment data to drive improvement and inform curriculum development.

Michelle also serves as a lead Local Authority (LA) officer for the Educate Against Racism (EAR) Partnership, where she champions diversity, equity, and inclusion in education.

Her extensive background includes experience as a Chair of Governors, where her leadership and governance skills have helped shape effective school policies and practices. Passionate about fostering excellence in education, Michelle remains a trusted advisor and advocate for schools, staff, and students.

Barbara Foster, Senior School Improvement Advisor

Michelle Booker is a Senior School Improvement Advisor with 30 years of experience supporting schools in Royal Greenwich. As an Improvement Partner, she collaborates with school leaders, providing strategic guidance and targeted support to drive improvements in teaching, learning, and leadership.

As the Key Stage 1 (KS1) and Key Stage 2 (KS2) Assessment Lead for the local authority, Michelle has been instrumental in helping primary schools meet statutory requirements and enhance internal assessment processes. Her expert guidance ensures that schools establish robust systems for using pupil progress and attainment data to drive improvements and shape curriculum development.

Michelle also leads the Educate Against Racism (EAR) Partnership, advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion in education. With experience as a Chair of Governors, she has contributed to shaping effective school policies and practices. Passionate about educational excellence, Michelle remains a trusted advisor and advocate for schools, staff, and students.

Jo Atkins, School Improvement Advisor

Jo has spent over 12 years teaching in Southwark, thriving in its dynamic, diverse schools. She has held several senior leadership roles, gaining extensive experience across all age phases. In 2004, Jo became a School Improvement Advisor for the Royal Borough of Greenwich, focusing on improving mathematics outcomes.

Jo is passionate about helping children grasp mathematics through problem-solving, manipulatives, and representations. As a strategic partner and Local Leader of Maths Education for the London SE+ Maths Hub, she supports schools to drive improvements in math education.

Jo also collaborates with teachers and leadership teams to ensure high-quality provision, and plays a key role in developing Early Career Teachers.

Cathy Bee, School Improvement Advisor

Cathy trained at Froebel and after a successful 20 year teaching career from NQT to DHT, she joined RBG in 2004. She has many areas of expertise, including particular specialisms in outdoor learning, the EYFS curriculum and assessment and EYFS Leadership. She has successfully led many RBG professional development projects and events for schools and settings, most recently these include the Outdoor Learning Project, a Year 1 curriculum and pedagogy group and School Peer Reviews.

Lizzie Camp, School Improvement Advisor

Lizzy began her teaching career in 1992 at an inner-city primary school in Southwark.   She took up the post of English School Improvement Advisor for the Royal Borough of Greenwich in 2004. She is passionate about teaching and learning -  in particular the use of great literature in the Primary English Curriculum. Lizzy works closely with teachers, subject leaders and leadership teams to ensure the best possible provision and outcomes for pupils. 

Lizzie Church, School Improvement Advisor

Lizzie is currently on a part-time secondment as a secondary school improvement adviser, specialising in English and literacy provision. She also works as an English teacher at Thomas Tallis school. Lizzie runs network meetings for English subject leaders and organises a number of enrichment opportunities, including the RBG Great Debate, the transition book club, as well as the RBG poetry and story writing competitions. She also facilitates the EAR Curriculum Hub, involving colleagues across all phases.

Rachel Clarke, School Improvement Adviser

Rachel has over 30 years of experience in education, starting her career as a secondary mathematics teacher and Head of Department. She later moved into school improvement, working as an adviser in several local authorities across London and the Southeast. Over the course of her career, Rachel has led both national and local school development projects, served as a registered Ofsted inspector, and spent five years at the Department for Education in the School Standards Division.

Tomris Ibrahim, School Improvement Adviser

Tomris began her career as a maths teacher in Greenwich and advanced to leadership and consultancy roles, supporting schools locally and nationally through Department for Education initiatives. With experience as an Ofsted inspector, she now focuses on holistic school support, particularly improving staff well-being and reducing stress, crucial for maintaining a healthy school environment.

She is committed to fostering collaborative partnerships, prioritizing effective communication and humility. Passionate about inclusion, Tomris advocates for opportunities for disadvantaged students, believing every student deserves the chance to discover their strengths and ambitions, empowering them to become successful individuals.