Victor Allen
Gemma Woodhouse
Stuart Nicholson
Mike Crossley
Jonathan Dunn
Elizabeth Coley
Rachel Hadley-Leonard
Julie Robinson
Partner, Employment & Education at Penningtons Manches Cooper
Gemma specialises in both contentious and non-contentious employment law and has a keen interest in all aspects of discrimination law. Since her qualification in 2007, she has been involved with a significant Court of Appeal decision, a number of tribunal hearings and appeals to the Employment Appeal Tribunal. She has also provided corporate support in relation to business transfers and reorganisations and advised on the terms of compromise agreements, employment contracts and employee handbooks. In addition, Gemma has provided guidance to clients on the implications of TUPE and the terms of commercial outsourcing arrangements. Gemma advises independent schools and academies on a number of HR and education specific issues, including safeguarding responsibilities and compliance requirements. She regularly writes in the ISBA Bursar’s Review and provides training to schools on employment updates, safeguarding requirements and management of staff including performance management. Gemma hosts several forums for HR directors, managers and Bursars within independent schools. Listed by Chambers UK as 'up and coming', Gemma has been described as having a 'good tactical approach to dealing with HR issues', being 'very swift with her advice' and as an adviser who 'acts in the client’s best interests'. She is a member of the Employment Lawyers’ Association and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
Stuart started his career teaching physics and later also taught business studies. For over a decade he was a boarding Housemaster, but also spent five years as a development director, running alumni relations and fundraising, before three headships in ISA schools. He retired from headship in 2021, before being immediately inveigled back into running boarding at another ISA School and he eventually stepped back from the front line of schools in August 2023.
He is currently treasurer of CIFE, the Association of Independent Sixth-form colleges, has been a trustee of AEGIS, the Association for Education and Guardianship of International Students, and when required is a Team Inspector for ISI. He also runs his own consultancy, helping schools, students and parents.
Stuart is a great advocate of ISA; during his headships he served in regional ISA posts as well as on the National Executive and as the Association Chair. He has renewed his close links with ISA recently as a governor for an ISA school and as one of the Independent Trustees on the ISA National Executive.
Mike Crossley retired as Headmaster of Langley Preparatory School in 2022.
With over 25 years’ experience as a senior manager in three leading schools, and fourteen years as a Head, Mike offers a wealth of knowledge in the world of education in general and has recently started additional work as a freelance mental health instructor for a leading mental health trust.
Mike is also a much practised ISI school Inspector, experienced leadership and middle management trainer and he qualified as a Head through the government’s National Professional Qualification for Headship scheme via the National College of School Leadership. He is also an ILM Level 7 executive coach and mentor who is currently working with newly appointed Heads for IAPS.
Jonathan held senior leadership roles in the maintained and independent sectors for 21 years before building a thriving consultancy. His principal roles included two headships: focusing on school improvement planning, use of data to improve academic performance, pastoral care and emotional wellbeing. He currently works with middle and senior leadership teams to transform the experiences and outcomes for children.
Elizabeth Coley is an independent educational consultant, having previously been Head teacher of two independent schools. Her teaching experience over more than thirty years ranges from Nursery to Advanced Level in both maintained and independent schools, and her main subjects include music, mathematics and religious education. Elizabeth was awarded a DfES best practice research scholarship in 2001 for research into the classroom practice of NQTs and their recruitment, training and retention. She has also published various texts in mathematics, music and reasoning, been an external tutor and QTS assessor for teachers following the GTP and OTTP routes into teaching, and has been a governor of four independent schools. She has retired as a Reporting Inspector for ISI, having previously been an Ofsted Registered and Additional Inspector for twelve years in addition to working for ISI for nearly eighteen years.
Julie Robinson, General Secretary, ISC
Julie was first a teacher then head of two co-educational, day and boarding prep schools for children aged 3-13. She led education and training for IAPS for five years and was appointed General Secretary of the Independent Schools Council in 2015.
The ISC’s data analysis informs advocacy of the sector and Julie has appeared in the national media regularly. Live appearances include Newsnight, Sky News, The Today Programme, BBC, and Channel 4 News. The ISC is a representative body working with a range of other organisations linking the independent education sector and government policy. It brings together the independent school associations AGBIS, GSA, HMC, ISA, IAPS, ISBA and the Society of Heads along with affiliate associations BSA, COBIS, SCIS and WISC. The ISC’s three priority areas of activity are: research/data; media/communications and policy/public affairs. ISC seeks to support, inform and promote the sector, rebutting untruths and explaining the value of independent education to wider society.
Julie advocates working together for the benefit of children in all kinds of schools. She is a trustee of the School Partnerships Alliance and a school governor at a state school as well as an independent school in London.