Elected secondary teachers

published:31 Aug 2009

The following secondary teachers have been elected to the GTC Council:

Andy Connell
Barbara Hibbert
Pete McAleer
Andrew McKinnon
Gail Mortimer - Chair of Council
Annette Pateman
Elizabeth Purnell
Alice Robinson
Colin Surrey
Kathy Thomson
Tom Trust


Scroll down for member biographies.

Andy Connell - Secondary teacher

Andy Connell is a secondary school teacher and was elected onto the Council in 2008 having previously served on Council from 2000-2004. He sits on the Registration and Regulation Committee.

‘I have been teaching since 1969 and have had letters/articles published in the TES, Times etc, but always believed in multi-faceted life. So I am also family guy and have triplets, two sons, one daugher, whose mother is Hungarian. I have dabbled in most sports, including rugby and cricket, am probably best at marathon running but wrecked my hips, so now both are artificial.  I enjoy acting, most recently playing the Michael Caine part in ‘Little Voice’. I also sing in the church choir and a solo travelling show featuring hits of the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s. I have made several CDs.

‘Since going part time I have done some research into aspects of Westmorland political history and had academic articles published.  This reflects my political interests:  I’m a Lib Dem and a local councillor, and am tiresomely knowledgable about trains and bus services.'

Declaration of interests

b) Any unpaid office held in a professional or public body, including those which are associated with education. Offices include posts such as President, Chair, Chief Executive, Treasurer, Council Member or Secretary.

• Appleby Town (Parish) Council
• Chair- Appleby Liberal Democrats
• Examiner (Assistant) AQA

c) Membership of professional bodies and trade or other associations which is unpaid, either educational or non-educational.

• ATL School rep

Barbara Hibbert - Secondary teacher

Barbara Hibbert is a secondary teacher and was first elected to the Council in 2004 and re-elected in 2008.  She is the Vice Chair of the Registration and Regulation Committee.

Barbara is Head of History at a large 11-18 comprehensive school in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.  She teaches politics at sixth form level.

She has a particular interest in the links between schools, universities and students.  In 2006 Barbara completed a PhD about students’ experience of the transition from A Level to undergraduate study of history.

She is an elected member of the Historical Assocation Council and a member of the Historical Association Secondary Committee.

Barbara is representing the GTC on the Schools Group developing the new Humanities Diploma.

'I am also interested in improving teachers’ professional standing in the community and the particular pressures on middle managers.'

Declaration of interests

b) Any unpaid office held in a professional or public body, including those
which are associated with education. Offices include posts such as President, Chair, Chief Executive, Treasurer, Council Member or Secretary.

• Council Member of Historical Association

c) Membership of professional bodies and trade or other associations which is unpaid, either educational or non-educational.

• National Union of Teachers

Pete McAleer - Secondary teacher

Pete McAleer is a secondary teacher.  He sits on the Policy Research and Committee.

'As a chalk face teacher of 30 years plus experience I have a particular interest in issues relating to classroom management.

'The drive to raise standards has inevitable effects on work-life balance and the daily stress encountered by "ordinary practitioners". I am concerned that these pressures are both recognised and understood.

'I am also aware of the difficulties experienced by NQTs leading to a large percentage of young professionals leaving within their first five years and would like to devise accepted strategies to address this problem.'

Declaration of interests

b) Any unpaid office held in a professional or public body, including those which are associated with education. Offices include posts such as President, Chair, Chief Executive, Treasurer, Council Member or Secretary.

• President of South West Federation – National Union of Teachers
• Member of North Somerset Teachers Consultative Committee
• Member of Sacre Team (N Somerset)

c) Membership of professional bodies and trade or other associations which is unpaid, either educational or non-educational.

• Cnlthas (Irish Cultural / Music Organisation)

Andrew McKinnon - Secondary teacher

Andrew McKinnon is a secondary teacher and was elected onto the Council in 2008.

'I have been happily married for 34 years and have two daughters, aged 27 and 20.  I trained at Sunderland College of Education from 1970 to 1973, and graduated with the Open University in 1979.  I have taught for 35 years in secondary schools in Nottingham.  A geographer by trade, I teach all the humanities subjects.

'Since 1999 I have been Head of Humanities at the River Leen School.  This was originally a fresh start school.  Add to this the fact that I have worked in a Grant Maintained School and been through Special Measures, and I have the full set!  I am currently looking forward to early retirement.

'In my spare time I enjoy reading, eating out, visiting the western front, playing tennis and long distance running and walking.

'I follow non-league football and am the Chairman of Barrow AFC National Supporters’ Club.

'I consider it a great honour to have been elected onto the GTC Council.'

Declaration of interests

None declared.


Gail Mortimer - Secondary teacher

Gail Mortimer is a secondary school teacher. Gail was elected onto the Council 2004 and re-elected in 2008. She was recently elected Chair of Council and began this post on 1 September 2009. Prior to this she was Chair of the Audit Committee.

Gail has taught full time in state secondary schools for 32 years. In October 2008 she took up a post as an Advanced Skills Teacher in Kent having been an AST and Head of English in a large 11-18 comprehensive school of 1500 pupils in Rochdale.

She has a strong commitment to state education, both personally and professionally, and a tremendous respect and admiration for fellow teachers.  She believes strongly that issues affecting the recruitment and retention of teachers, such as workload and pupil behaviour, have to be addressed. She also supports the right of teachers to have effective professional development.

'My aims of membership are to represent the voice of classroom teachers, to raise the morale and esteem in which the teaching profession is held and to ensure that teachers are given the professional respect and recognition that they justly deserve.'

Declaration of interests

None declared.


Annette Pateman - Secondary teacher

Annette Pateman is a secondary teacher and was elected onto the Council in 2008.  She sits on the Policy & Research Committee.

‘I qualified as a science teacher in 1991. Since then I have:

• worked as a form tutor
• worked as an ethnic minority achievement teacher
• worked in an advisory capacity
• delivered INSET
• taught citizenship and RE
• taught one of the new BTEC Diplomas.

'Currently I am working as a supply teacher, mainly in secondary and some primary settings in Lincolnshire. I have also worked with community groups and am Chair to a local community group. I worked as manager of the Multicultural Development Service, Lincolnshire County Council, which was a county-wide service. I stood in local town council elections. I am an NUT equal opportunities representative and am also on the steering group of the NUT Black Teachers conference.

'I am particularly interested in the position of ethnic minority rural and other rural teachers and also in the position of supply teachers. However, I worked in a number of London boroughs and so understand the challenges of more urban-based teachers.

'I am married with three children. One just left university, one is at secondary school and the youngest is at junior school. I hope that my teaching and also service management experience will be of value to the council’.

Declaration of interests

a) Posts held in the course of full and part time employment, self employment or practice, including partnerships and directorships.

• Anti racism consultant (self employed)

b) Any unpaid office held in a professional or public body, including those which are associated with education. Offices include posts such as President, Chair, Chief Executive, Treasurer, Council Member or Secretary

• Chair Lincoln International Centre Planning Group
• Trades Union Liaison Officer and women's officer for the N. Hykeham and Sleaford Branch Labour Party
• Vice Chair of Sleaford Branch Labour Party

c) Membership of professional bodies and trade or other associations which is unpaid, either educational or non-educational.

• Equalities Officer, Lincolnshire East Midlands - NUT

f) Any other direct or indirect and material financial interest relevant to the Council’s work.

• Husband is Head of Libraries and Adult Education at Lincolnshire County Council (post-19 education)

Elizabeth Purnell - Secondary teacher

Elizabeth Purnell is a secondary teacher and was elected onto the Council in 2008.

I teach science in a large 11 – 18 comprehensive school in the North West.

I am Divisional Secretary for the NUT.  I have a strong commitment to state education.  I work to support and implement policies that raise the status of teaching in order to recruit, retain and motivate quality professionals.

Declaration of interests

b) Any unpaid office held in a professional or public body, including those which are associated with education. Offices include posts such as President, Chair, Chief Executive, Treasurer, Council Member or Secretary.

• Divisional Director NUT Warrington

Alice Robinson - Secondary teacher

Alice Robinson was a Council Member from 2000-2004 and was re-elected in 2007 and again in 2008.

Alice Robinson currently teaches in an 11–18 Comprehensive School. Her main teaching area is (post-16) history. As an assistant headteacher she is responsible for learning and teaching, assessment reporting and recording, child protection, and KS4 performance.

Declaration of interests

c) Membership of professional bodies and trade or other associations which is unpaid, either educational or non-educational.

• Executive Member Association of Teachers and Lecturers

Colin Surrey - Secondary teacher

Colin Surrey is a secondary teacher and was elected onto the Council in 2008.

'I have taught in the secondary sector for over 12 years, entering the profession as a mature student, qualifying as teacher of technology specialising in Graphics and resistant materials. I’m presently employed in an 11-18 mixed comprehensive in Hertfordshire. I am also working as a moderator and examiner for OCR and AQA, and am currently NASUWT Negotiating Secretary for Hertfordshire.

'I have a strong commitment to state education and am opposed to the creeping privatisation of state education, especially through the government’s academy programme. I’m interested in issues affecting the recruitment, retention and rewarding of teachers, and I am also aware of the difficulties experienced by NQTs leading to a high percentage of young teachers leaving the profession prematurely.

'The drive to raise standards has unfortunately had avoidable effects on the work-life balance of teachers and added to that the daily stress related to pupil behaviour has I believe had an overall  detrimental effect on the morale of many classroom teachers and members of senior leadership , I am concerned that these pressures are both recognised and addressed .

'On the GTCE Council I would hope to fairly represent teachers, working to promote diversity and the best interests of all teachers. I see the GTCE acting as independent body to raise the moral, esteem and status of teachers’ professional standing in the community, ensuring that teachers are given the professional respect and recognition that they justly deserve.

'I would work to ensure that the GTCE carries out its main function to a high standard, that function being maintaining a register of teachers and regulating the profession, ensuring that natural justice prevails during the exercise of these functions and that teachers do not suffer detriment without good cause.'

Declaration of interests

b) Any unpaid office held in a professional or public body, including those which are associated with education. Offices include posts such as President, Chair, Chief Executive, Treasurer, Council Member or Secretary.

• County Secretary, Hertfordshire NASUWT
• Herefordshire CC Children, Schools and Families Scrutiny Committee

Kathy Thomson

Kathy Thomson is a secondary teacher who joined the Council in January 2010. She replaced Peter Butler, who stood down in December 2009.

Kathy writes:
'I am an Advanced Skills teacher and I’ve taught English to the boys of St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School in Newcastle for the past sixteen years, where I am also a Union Rep and the Professional Tutor responsible for all Initial Teacher Training and Newly Qualified Teachers. I also work for Newcastle LA as their AST for ITT and NQT, a position I’ve had since 2002.

'I am currently President of my NUT Newcastle Executive and in this role I am aware of the many challenges facing teachers, especially those in their early careers. I believe that in order to sustain the high professional standards of the current generation of teachers we must attract and retain the highest quality new teachers.

'Careful recruitment is only the first step and I am anxious about the current poor rate of retention. All teachers need on going support and CPD; however, it is essential for new teachers. I believe that it is vital to offer Early Career Teachers effective guidance and learning. To this end I continue to work closely with my LA, the Northern Diocese, Newcastle University, the NUT and the TDA to champion a bespoke and seamless three year induction plan encompassing the ITT, NQT and ECT (Early Career Teacher).

'I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to work as a Council Member and hope that I will be able to use it effectively to support teachers.'

Declaration of interests

b) any unpaid office in a professional or public body, including those which are associated with education. Offices include posts such as President, Chair, Chief Executive, Treasurer, Council Member or Secretary.

• President, NUT Newcastle Executive
• Chair, Newcastle University Partnership Committee

Tom Trust - Secondary teacher

Tom Trust is a secondary teacher and was elected onto the Council in 2008.

'A zoology graduate from the University of London (1969) I drifted into teaching via a private “cramming college” in Great Russell Street.  After a couple of enjoyable years I took a year out to complete a Cert. Ed., then looked for work outside of London.  I was appointed to Redruth County Grammar School for Boys (1972), just as Rory McGrath of TV fame was entering the 6th form.  Four years later the school merged with the local Secondary Modern to create a Comprehensive.  By then I was an ATL rep and attended a number of ATL conferences.

'I began marking O-Level Biology papers for the University of London Board and have stuck with it.  I was a team leader for many years – though I have dropped out of that responsibility with my election to the GTC.

'My last seven years at the school saw me as a Teacher Governor where I made myself so unpopular with the Head that early retirement became an attractive option.  Thus in 2003 I joined the ranks of the supply teacher.

'Outside of school I am married (26 years) with no children.  I have coached football-men, boys and women – and spent 14 years as a local radio sports broadcaster.

'I enjoy reading and writing, having published a novel two years ago.'

Declaration of interests

a) Posts held in the course of full and part time employment, self employment or practice, including partnerships and directorships.

• Edexcel examiner

c) Membership of professional bodies and trade or other associations which is unpaid, either educational or non-educational.

• Association of Teachers and Lecturers Union (ATL)