Claire Geisler – SCITT Director

Claire is a highly experienced Kirklees Strategic Learning Partner who has worked collaboratively with many schools to provide support and challenge for Senior and Middle Leaders. She has worked closely with Senior Leadership Teams to support their school improvement journeys and has regularly been involved with Ofsted inspections.

As a Strategic Learning Partner Claire has significant experience of supporting the performance management of Headteachers, leading in the recruitment of Headteachers and supporting and challenging governing bodies in their role.

Until recently Claire was the Strategic Moderation Manager for Kirklees and led a highly effective team of LA and school-based moderators for KS1 and KS2.

Before taking up the post of SCITT Director Claire was the strategic lead for Kirklees Appropriate Body. This role included the responsibility and accountability for ensuring that ECTs received their statutory entitlements, checking that ECTs were receiving a programme of support and training based on the Early Career Framework (ECF) and that Early Career Teachers (ECTs) were fairly and consistently assessed.

As a Kirklees Learning Partner, Claire’s involvement with the SCITT has grown over recent years. During this time, she has delivered both Primary and Secondary Core Training sessions, been a Secondary Tutor, designed and delivered the New Mentor Training and been a member of the Quality Assurance Group.

In Sept 2022 Claire became the Acting SCITT Director and continues to develop this highly regarded ITT partnership.

Claire Minogue – Primary Lead

Claire has been involved in Primary education for nearly 30 years. This has involved working as a Teacher, and Senior Leader in Primary schools in London, Wakefield and Kirklees. Her most recent role was as the Executive Headteacher of a Federation of three small schools in Kirklees. Before undertaking headship, Claire worked for the Local Authority for seven years as a Maths Consultant completing an MA in Early Mathematics whilst in this role.

Claire has been involved in the SCITT as a School Co-ordinator and Tutor since 2014 and became the Primary Lead in September 2020.

Cathy Scott – Business Manager

Cathy is the heart of KCSCITT, and often the reason why so many of our trainees choose to train with Kirklees and Calderdale SCITT. Her knowledge and understanding of the routes into teacher training, the entry criteria, student finance and the trainee’s journey in general is exemplary. As the first point of contact for so many stakeholders, the advice, guidance and support that Cathy offers is second to none and her efficiency in dealing with questions and queries is exceptional. She is a full-time member of the team and is dedicated to the teacher training provision. Cathy is passionate about ensuring that trainees and schools get the support they need in what is a challenging but highly rewarding year.

As the KCSCITT Business Manager, Cathy is responsible for the strategic and operational management of finances, human resources, facilities, marketing and communications as well as overseeing the efficient day-to-day running of the SCITT and providing support for the SCITT staff and trainees. Her role is pivotal in ensuring effective communication between schools, trainees and SCITT staff.

Cathy is a highly skilled, longstanding member of the team who has provided invaluable support to over 800 trainee teachers over the past 13 years. The high quality of her work and the significant contribution that she has made to KCSCITT was recognised nationally when she was in the final three for the ‘Administrator of the Year’ at the NASBTT Awards. In our recent Ofsted inspection (2023) Cathy was recognised as an ‘exceptional Business Manager’.

Cathy’s academic achievements are a BSc Psychology from the University of York and an MSc in Marketing from the University of Huddersfield.