Viv has worked at Westcourt since 2006 when she was an NQT. During this time, she has taught across all year groups with Upper Key Stage 2 being her main specialism. Having been in Year 6 for the majority of her teaching career, Viv has been a county moderator for writing for the past 4 years. This is a role that Viv relishes; she is able to support others in different schools and identify good practice that develops her own teaching and thinking.

After being a Phase Leader for a couple of years, Viv became Deputy Head in March 2018. Along with this, she took on the role of English and Assessment. Viv has loved being able to introduce a reading rich curriculum to the school and raise the importance of reading and writing across the school.

Viv is very excited about her role as Assessment Associate this year. She is enthused by the new system and is looking forwards to working with colleagues both within and outside her school to ensure that the assessment system is robust, fit for purpose and a tool that can be used effectively to promote progress within schools.

Originally from South Africa, Alanah is currently the Early Years Lead and Nursery teacher at The Federation of Barnehurst Schools. She is a passionate, enthusiastic teacher who has experience teaching across Early Years to Ks2, in London, Bexley and Kent, since starting her career in 2005. Over her years she has held the position of Assistant Head, subject leader, DSL and now EYFS lead.

Her passion for building relationships with the people she works with, as well as the families in her school community, is something that she holds close to her heart. She believes that these close relationships are the key to any positive development. Alanah values creating a welcoming and engaging learning environment for her children and her EYFS team. Through her support and guidance, many learning environments have been transformed.

She has high expectations for herself, her team and the people she collaborates with and models an ethic of excellence.

Tamara Hunter has been working in education since 2005 and has taught across all key stages in Kent and Greenwich. Her passion lies in early education where she has led many Early Years settings. She has also been a moderator in Bexley and an external early year’s school advisor.

Tamara is the Deputy Head Teacher at the Federation of Barnehurst Schools and currently leads the curriculum and holds the post as English Lead. She believes that progress is achieved when children and teachers have an emotional link with their learning and she is an advocate for Global Citizenship. Tamara leads talks on how to create a global curriculum within primary education across the UK.

She has held multiple leadership roles and loves the ability to work with so many people who are passionate about education.

Matthew is an award-winning teacher, writer, speaker and influencer with a passion for EDUTech, community collaboration and equal access to education.

Matthew joined the Teach First Leadership Development Programme in 2018 and has previously worked in corporate responsibility, community investment, school development and Her Majesty’s Prison Service (HMPS). He is currently in the final year of an MBA in Educational Leadership and has undertaken a number of research projects concerning gamification, attachment theory and knowledge democracy.

Claire is Co-Associate for Inclusion and Mental Health. Although new to the Trust, she is settling in quickly and is enjoying getting to know her new school community.

In a very varied career, which has involved a number of years teaching in Australia, Claire has taught at Primary, Middle, Secondary and University level. She has completed the SENCo award and is continuing with her studies, to complete her Masters.

Within a previous M.A.T Claire was a Lead Practitioner for Inclusion and one of her schools attained the Centre of Excellence with the IQM. She is now embarking on this process with Westcourt Primary. She has led many subjects including maths and English and has enjoyed many roles in Senior Leadership, but particularly enjoys developing and empowering staff within the field of inclusion.

Clare has worked at Lessness Heath Primary School since 2001 since joining the school as an NQT. During her career Clare has taught in all Key Stages, led Maths and Science across the school and held the post of Leading Literacy teacher for Bexley Borough. Clare has been leading inclusion across the school for the last five years and during this time achieved her NASENCO and NPQSL qualifications. She is passionate about inclusion and achieving the highest standards for all children in her care, and this has been recognised with Lessness Heath achieving and retaining Centre of Excellence status for inclusion awarded by the Inclusion Quality Mark.

Clare feels it is a real privilege to be asked to be an Associate for the Trust and is excited to have the opportunity to work collaboratively with Inclusion leaders across the Trust to ensure the best possible outcomes and opportunities for all children.

Natalie started her teaching career in 2012, with an Early Years PGCE from the University of Cambridge. Since then she has focused on teaching Reception and Key Stage 1, continually striving to be an outstanding practitioner in the field. Based at Springhead Park, the newest addition to the Primary First Trust, Natalie is responsible for Key Stage 1 as well as leading maths for the school. Having successfully mentored several fantastic teaching assistants and learning support assistants, Natalie was delighted to be appointed as the Primary First Trust Support Staff Associate.

Gary first joined Barnehurst Juniors in 2011 as an NQT and became PE leader in 2013, which coincided with the year the government funding of PE began. During this time, Gary has helped the school on a journey from relatively little sporting activity to having a reputation that is one of the best in Bexley, both in terms of participation and success. This has been recognised with two Sainsburys School Games Gold awards for the school, by Ofsted and Incyte in their reports, and with our webpage also being used as an exemplar for other schools by Bexley council.

Away from Barnehurst, Gary is also the vice-chair of Bexley Primary Sports Council and has been manager of the Bexley girls district football team since 2017, whose many achievements include winning the national championship for Bexley in 2019. The ambition to plan, and more importantly deliver, these sporting events helped him achieve the Bexley Mayor award for excellence in 2020, something which makes me very proud.

Gary has taught in years 4-6, has moderated writing on behalf of Bexley Council for a number of years, and has achieved over 94% combined SATS expected standard in each of his completed years in year 6.

Jo has recently joined Lessness Heath Primary School as a Specialist Art Teacher/HLTA/Cover Supervisor working across all year groups.

Jo began her creative adventure by gaining a BA (Hons) Public Art & Design (Sculpture) at Chelsea College of Art & Design. She has worked in education since 2003, beginning as an Art/Construction Technician, and climbing the career ladder to work as an Art and Photography Teacher in both Secondary Schools and Further Education colleges.

Jo is a natural leader, and has combined her passion for new ideas, with organisational skills, by working (summer 2019) as a Project Manager in Tanzania for Raleigh International, encouraging the youth to be the ambassadors of change, with particular reference to deforestation, climate change and sustainability. Jo will continue her environmental challenge (summer 2021) by working in Mozambique as part of a Marine Conservation/Research project run by Love The Oceans.

Jo's enthusiasm and ideas percolate, enthusing others and refreshing the eyes of many, keeping an open-mind as to how the world could be redesigned, and a desire for infinite new possibilities. She prides herself as a forward-thinker, being flexible and adapting to change. She is highly honoured to be given the position as Project Lead-Art, being passionate about enabling every child to fulfil their optimum potential and committed to building exceptional schools.