SIAS Inspectors

 All SIAS inspectors registered with the National Society are issued with photo ID Badges which are evidence that they have undertaken the necessary enhanced CRB check. These badges are carried throughout an inspection. The Lichfield Diocesan Board of Education affirms and endorses this practice.
Joan Furlong: SIAS manager  

 Revd Huw BISHOP
I have just retired as the headteacher of St Peter’s Collegiate VA High school and Language Specialist College in Wolverhampton. I have enjoyed a lifetime in education and am deeply committed to Church schools, making a contribution at the local and national level. I achieved SIAS inspector status in 2005 and have inspected in both Primary and Secondary schools. I am also an ordained priest in the Church of England. I shall be working for the Lichfield Education Department this year.

Sue BLACKMORE NSIN 307
Diocesan schools’ adviser and SIAS inspector since 2005. Prior to this I taught in a variety of primary schools for 10 years. During 2004 I undertook a Farmington Fellowship (Oxford) focusing on the Foundation Stage in Church of England schools. I have a keen interest in the Foundation Stage as well as ICT. I am an active member of my local church, where I jointly lead the junior choir, co-ordinate Christian Aid events as well as participating on the Parochial Church Council.

Rachel BROWNHILLS
I am currently Headteacher at a Church of England Primary School in Staffordshire and am involved in church links both locally and internationally. As a Christian, having taught in church schools and non-church schools I came to realise , in my current role particularly, how important our Church School ethos is. It truly forms the firm basis upon which everything else evolves. I wish to raise the profile of church schools and help to celebrate and develop the positive work that goes on within them. It is a privilege to go into schools to carry out SIAS inspections and I greatly enjoy it.

Mark COOPER
My current role is Director of Learning in a high performing CofE 11-18 Secondary School. I have been teaching 18 years. I am also an AST in Religious Education. My degree is in Theology from Hull University and PGCE from Birmingham. I am a trained Mentor for Birmingham University and have been part of their RE ITT programme for many years. I have run both local and national INSET courses in Religious Education and in aspects of teaching and learning. I have been a member of Wolverhampton SACRE and was instrumental in writing their Agreed Syllabus in Religious Education. I have been a SIAS inspector for 4 years.

Joan FURLONG NSIN 98
I love children and am passionate about Church Schools. Educated to M.A. level, my teaching career covered the entire age range of Nursery, Primary & Middle schools - last post being Deputy Head of a CE(A) Middle school. Main subject responsibilities were always Religious Education and Collective Worship - with PSHE & Literacy. My RE expertise was recognised by Norfolk LA when I was seconded by them as Primary RE adviser for a year. I have also spent 15 years being a core tutor/ trainer for the Stapleford House (Nottingham University) RE modules, part of their distance learning B.Ed and M.A. degrees. I have always been fascinated by spirituality, and wrote a dissertation on the Spiritual Curriculum in the primary school as one part of my M.A. qualification. It is wonderful to see the emphasis on spiritual development grow in schools, within RE as well as across the curriculum. I authored a book to this effect for the National Society. For the last 17 years I have held the post of Schools' Adviser in Lichfield Diocese (205 schools)
I am the SIAS inspection manager, trainer and critical reader for Lichfield, as well as representing the Midlands Dioceses at the National Society. I am also now 1 of the 12 accredited National Society trainers of Inspectors nationally, and a Quality Assurance Consultant for National Society materials.
Over 12 years, since inspection began, I have done 45 OFSTED inspections - working mainly for WEMDIS - the joint Birmingham and Lichfield Diocesan Ofsted company and have done 46 Section 23, and 15 section 48 -SIAS inspections. It is a privilege & joy to come to a school for a day; listen, support, encourage and be part of the community and its on-going development – and yes - to also inspect! . I have been a Foundation Governor of my local Church Controlled school for ten years - essential, in my view, to gain first hand experience of the Governor perspective in our Church schools & support the marvellous work they do!
In my ‘spare’ time I love counselling, prayer ministry, serving in my local Christian fellowship & ‘Churches together’. Never so happy as by the sea! But my husband, grandchildren & children always have first place out of work hours!

Mary GALE
I am the long-standing headteacher of St Mary’s C First school in Stone. In addition I work for Staffs L.A. as a consultant, carrying out a variety of professional and support roles in schools. My most challenging experience was facilitating a RC primary school to close!
I have been a member of Staffs SACRE for many years supporting the development of R.E.
I also work closely with Lichfield Diocese, contributing to its schools’ committee, and as a trainer and encourager. I achieved Church school inspector status in 2002 (section 23) - retraining for SIAS inspection in 2005. I find the process of inspection stimulating and developmental. I enjoy the professional support network of inspectors in Lichfield Diocese, where we learn so much from one another and wrestle with difficult and ever-changing issues.

Dr David GENTLE NSIN 209
Dr David Gentle is a self-employed educational consultant with recent headship experience. He is a School Improvement Partner (SIP) having worked for five local authorities. He has worked with a Middle East government on a major reform project for schools and has been involved in other school improvement projects. He has extensive experience of working in a wide range of schools. This includes two headships of large urban comprehensives in Birmingham. During the period of these headships, the schools improved significantly in terms of performance, provision and popularity. He has experience as a headteacher adviser for Birmingham LA. His doctorate, awarded by the University of Warwick in January 2004, involves research into school improvement and leadership.
David is a member of Knowle Parish Church. He leads a group of young people in weekly meetings that explore how Christianity impacts on daily life. He is the Safeguarding Co-ordinator for this very large Church. He supports The Leprosy Mission, with which his wife is locally, nationally and internationally involved.
Further details may be found on his web-site: www.drgentle.co.uk

Helen GILBERT
I have recently retired early as headteacher of a large Church Controlled Primary school in Sandwell. I achieved SIAS inspector status early in 2009, and have successfully completed several inspections in the Diocese.

Mr Andrew GILROY NSIN 007
Andrew became an Education Consultant in October 2001, following four successful headships in a range of primary and one middle school in three LEAs. He has worked in the field of professional development for headteachers and teachers for more than thirty years. The work included secondments to Sheffield Polytechnic and DCHE, and for seven years he led the well-regarded Loughborough University Summer School in Primary School Management.
As part of his work as an Education Consultant, Andrew has assisted governors with their Headteacher Performance Reviews in over 100 schools. These have ranged in size from small two-teacher primary schools to large secondary schools and colleges with well over 1000 pupils.
Andrew has been a Registered Section 48 Inspector for Church of England schools since the inception of the S48 regime and inspects between ten and fifteen schools each year. He has published materials concerning school self-review and S48 inspection in the ‘Helping Hand’ range.

Lizzie MCWHIRTER NSIN 244
Educated at University of London. MA in Religious Education.
Wide experience of church schools as RE Adviser for Coventry Diocese.
Organise and deliver training for teachers, clergy, governors and those who work with children in the church.
Former lecturer in RE at University of Hertfordshire and Religious Affairs Producer and Presenter for local radio.
National Society trained and experienced inspector from Jan1999.
Re- trained for SIAS inspections Sept 2005 and involved in re- training inspectors.
Update training twice yearly [Lichfield Diocese]
Godly Play accredited trainer from 2000.
News Editor for RE Today from May 2006.
Written materials for Collective Worship and RE including ‘ Be Bold.’ [CHP, 2004]
Married to an Anglican priest and Army chaplain, we currently live in Rutland.
Actively involved in parish ministry and regimental life.
Member of Iona and Northumbrian Communities.

Julie MOORE
An active career in education spanning 35 years, including 16 years inspection experience. Headteacher of two Warwickshire Primary Schools. Local Authority Inspector for Primary Education (Early Years) and then Inspector for Learning and Assessment, cross phase in both primary and secondary schools. School governor for 18 years and am currently Vice-chair of a federated governing body in Solihull.

Mrs Marianne PHILLIPS NSIN 586
I have been a headteacher of 3 schools. The most recent was Newport C of E Junior School (1995 – 2006). Just before I left NJS to become an inspector, we were inspected by Ofsted and SIAS. Both inspections judged the school to be 'Outstanding' and we were awarded 'Outstanding Provider Status by the DCSF. The Chief of Inspectors, Christine Gilbert, stated our achievements over the 12 years of my headship made us the 'best of the best'.
I am a confident, persuasive manager, who tries to lead by example. As a head I worked to implement rigorous, whole school structures and systems, that drove teaching and learning standards and encouraged a positive, caring and supportive team environment.
My role as an Inspector for Ofsted and NATSOC has widened my experience of schools and helped me to work with a larger, more varied group of professionals. As an inspector I am regularly called upon to make judgements about schools, helping them to move forward. I eagerly look forward to the prospect of my new role as SIP with Birmingham LA from April 2008, and feel that the challenges set to achieve accreditation have helped to contribute to my skills base, widening my expertise.

Mrs Susan TAYLOR
I have just retired as headteacher of Beresford Memorial (A) First school in Leek. I completed my SIAS inspector training in 2010 and am enjoying serving Lichfield church schools as a SIAS inspector.

Rosemary WOODWARD
I am one of Lichfield Diocese’s team of Schools’ Advisers. Before joining the team in 2007, I was a primary school teacher in Surrey, with responsibility for RE, PSHE, spirituality and music. I was also involved in the wider world of RE following my study for an MA in the subject.
As a Church school adviser, I am involved in all the areas of school life that make church schools distinctively Christian. I was awarded SIAS inspector status in 2008.
My own particular area of interest lies in developing awareness of global perspectives within teaching and forming school partnerships to encourage links. I see this as having particular relevance within the area of community cohesion.

Rev Alison Morris from Walsall is currently training and will be joining us in 2012.