From September 2024 LNW will be expanding our services within schools and delivering a comprehensive offering to help prepare children for the Trafford Entrance Exams in their own school settings.
The core team delivering this support are Helen Marshall, Amy Summers, Jo Wormstone and Ruth Pearson whose professional biographies are detailed below.
Amy Summers
Amy has been a qualified primary specialist since 2008, working across both the state and independent preparatory school sectors with all year groups from Reception through to Year 6. She earned her Masters in Education in 2017.
Throughout her career, Amy has held various roles, including Deputy Head Teacher and Acting Head. She has been responsible for planning curriculum progression, developing and delivering phonics training, and more recently, supporting Early Careers Teachers. Amy has led extensive professional development support for her colleagues focusing on teaching content, differentiation, and assessment.
Amy is dedicated to providing sessions that meet the needs of all learners, whether in groups or one-on-one settings. She is passionate about fostering pupil progress through engaging and inspiring sessions, maintaining high expectations for both herself and the children.
Helen Marshall
Helen Marshall, BA (Hons), QTS, has had a lifelong passion for teaching, a dream that began at the age of seven. She graduated with First Class Honours in Primary Education from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2008 and has dedicated herself to the profession ever since. Initially starting her teaching career in Sheffield, Helen eventually moved to Manchester, a city she loves and has called home for many years.
Helen's extensive teaching experience spans across Key Stages 1, 2, and 3/4, including work in alternative provision and with EOTAS (Education Other Than At School) students. Her primary specialism lies in KS1-2. Notably, she has significant experience working with SEND children, including in a specialist ASD unit.
Currently, Helen serves as LNW's Relationship Manager, a role she thoroughly enjoys. She is also the Head of the 11 Plus programme, a position that aligns perfectly with her passion for nurturing children's potential and building their confidence and self-belief. Since 2018, Helen has successfully led the 11 Plus course at LNW, developing a comprehensive programme that not only meets the demands of entrance exams but also supports students' mental preparation by fostering positive mindsets, self-esteem, and a can-do attitude. Her extensive knowledge of these exams has been instrumental in helping numerous students and their parents navigate the complexities of various entrance exams, from Trafford Grammar Schools to Independent Schools across Manchester, Cheshire, and even London.
Jo Wormstone
Jo Wormstone, BA (Hons) in Geography and Management from the University of Leeds and a PGCE from Liverpool Hope University, is a dedicated educator with 22 years of experience. She began her teaching career at an Outstanding school in one of the most socially deprived wards of Leeds, West Yorkshire. There, she also contributed to the school's status as a Teaching School by mentoring 3rd and 4th-year students.
After relocating to Manchester, Jo spent 12 years at a school in Urmston, where she took on the role of Maths Lead. To enhance educational standards, she completed continuing professional development with the North West Maths Hub. She also established a schools partnership hub for cluster schools to share best practices and continued to mentor teaching students. Her expertise lies particularly in reasoning.
Most of Jo's career has been dedicated to Key Stage 2 (predominantly Year 6), but she has taught across all Key Stages, including Key Stage 3/4 in an alternative provision setting for children with behavioural or SEMH challenges.
Since 2019, Jo has been working with LNW, enjoying the opportunity to tutor and deliver interventions to local schools in Urmston and Timperley, as well as in alternative provisions. As a Partner with LNW, Jo takes lead responsibility for the Year 4 11+ course preparations and deputises for the leadership, organisation and delivery for the Year 5 11+ course. Jo has extensive experience preparing and teaching children for the Trafford School 11+ exams as well as the exams for private independent schools. Passionate about teaching all aspects of the curriculum, Jo particularly enjoys Maths, English, and Humanities.
Ruth Pearson
Ruth Pearson is a Partner at Learn North West and serves as the Key Stage 1 lead. A former student of Loreto Grammar School, Ruth qualified as a teacher in 2019 and has since worked across Key Stages 1 and Lower Key Stage 2 at a local Primary School. She has a strong focus on early reading strategies and has completed additional training and professional development in this area, becoming fully trained with Read Write Inc. (RWI). Ruth’s expertise in early reading led to her taking on the role of Reading and History Lead at her school, where she has emphasised the importance of early reading and mathematics education, especially through her experience in Reception.
As Reading Lead, Ruth has gained extensive knowledge of the RWI reading scheme, completing a year of training that equips her to train other teachers within her team. She is passionate about providing children with a well-rounded educational experience and believes in promoting positivity, motivation, and acceptance in the classroom. Ruth strives to create an environment where all children feel accepted for who they are and are motivated to achieve their best.
Ruth's teaching experience extends across various subjects, including VIPERS lessons for reading, Maths, Science, and all other foundation subjects. She is highly skilled in accommodating children with Special Educational Needs (SEN), including Down Syndrome, ADHD, and Autism, always prioritising their social and emotional well-being. Additionally, Ruth has experience in preparing students for Entrance Exams in both Year 4 and Year 5, demonstrating her strong subject knowledge in this area.
With her dedication to inclusive education and her commitment to supporting children's social, emotional, and academic development, Ruth Pearson is a valuable asset to Learn North West and the educational community at large.
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