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Cragside Primary School

Senior leadership team

The senior leadership team at Cragside Primary School consists of Rebecca Jackson (headteacher), Lucy Howells (deputy headteacher), Lisa Hall (assistant headteacher), Louise Lennox (assistant headteacher) and Sam Wolff (SENCo)

Rebecca Jackson - Headteacher

Rebecca Jackson has been the Headteacher of Cragside Primary School since 2018, bringing over 30 years of experience in education. Her diverse career spans roles as a Learning Support Assistant, classroom teacher, and EOTAS (Education Other Than at School) tutor. 

Rebecca Jackson has been the Headteacher of Cragside Primary School since 2018, bringing over 30 years of experience in education. Her diverse career spans roles as a Learning Support Assistant, classroom teacher, and EOTAS (Education Other Than at School) tutor. She has also successfully led two other schools as Headteacher.

A dedicated advocate for educational excellence, Rebecca is a Fellow of both the Chartered College of Teaching and the Royal Society of Arts, as well as an associate member of the Association of Education Advisers. Her expertise extends to published work, having contributed a chapter to School Improvement, where she explored strategies for reducing the cost of education and improving accessibility for all students and their families.
Under Rebecca’s leadership, Cragside Primary School was the lead school for the Arts Council-funded Creativity Collaboratives, a national initiative exploring the role of creativity in education. The school now leads North East Primary Innovators, a newly established network of six schools dedicated to driving educational improvement and excellence. This initiative champions collaborative leadership and innovation in teaching and learning, fostering a culture of continuous development across the region.
In 2024, Rebecca further enhanced her leadership skills by completing the prestigious Leaders for Impact program, an initiative led by the Royal Opera House designed to cultivate visionary leaders in education and the arts.
In March 2025, Rebecca was delighted to receive the The Educators' Trust 'Inspirational Educator Award'.  

 Lucy Howells - Deputy headteacher

With a teaching career spanning 25 years, Lucy Howells brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to her role as Deputy Headteacher at Cragside Primary School, a position she has held since 2019. Lucy has played a pivotal role in the development and leadership of school communities, contributing in various capacities at different points in her career, including English Lead, Assistant Headteacher, Special Needs Coordinator, and Thrive Practitioner.

Lucy holds a degree in English Literature and Language from Birmingham University, as well as  a PGCE, a Postgraduate Certificate in Innovative Curriculum and Pedagogy and the National Professional Qualification for Headship.  Her passion for curriculum development was showcased in 2023-24 when she served as the Lead Teacher at Cragside for the Rethinking Curriculum Project, a pioneering initiative by the Chartered College aimed at championing innovation in primary education. Through this work, Lucy has helped Cragside Primary School continue to push the boundaries of creative and inclusive curriculum design.

Lucy’s dedication to fostering a nurturing, inspiring environment at Cragside Primary reflects her long-standing commitment to both the academic and personal growth of every child in her care.

Lisa Hall  - Assistant headteacher

Since beginning her teaching career in 1996, Lisa Hall has dedicated herself to shaping young minds across the North East, working in schools in Durham, Gateshead and Newcastle during which she has taken on my roles, including English lead and SENCo. 

Joining Cragside Primary in 2008, she initially led music across the school and continues to lead the ever-popular Key Stage 2 choir. Currently, Lisa teaches Year 6 for two and a half days, and as assistant head teacher, she is part of the senior leadership team where her influence reaches beyond her classroom. 

She leads the school’s creativity initiatives, which included the 3-year Arts Council England funded pilot programme, 'Creativity Collaboratives'.  As well as this, she leads on arts and culture programs across school, including Artsmark, fostering a vibrant, engaging environment where children can explore, express and grow.  

Louise Lennox - Assistant headteacher

Louise Lennox has been a dedicated member of Cragside for nearly 23 years. Currently, she teaches Year 3 four days a week and serves as an Assistant Head Teacher, which allows her to work pastorally with children across various year groups. She also manages the organisation of lunchtime support provision and oversees school attendance.

Since joining Cragside in January 2002, Louise has led maths across the school, navigating numerous changes both nationally and within the school. She is also a Primary Mastery Specialist with the Great North Maths Hub, a role she has held for the past four years. Through this position, she has gained accreditation as a Professional Development lead in maths. Currently, she leads a work group of 12 teachers in the ‘Sustaining’ phase of the maths mastery programme, which provides her with valuable opportunities to learn from other specialists and her work group members.

Her previous roles include serving as a Leading Maths Teacher and a Primary Maths Consultant for the Local Authority. Louise also holds an Open University qualification as a Specialist Primary Maths teacher. Passionate about the subject, she loves discussing, learning, and teaching maths, and is a strong advocate for helping everyone see themselves as a mathematician.

Sam Wolff - SENCo
Sam Wolff has been a class teacher and Special Educational Needs Coordinator at Cragside Primary School since April 2020. Before this role, Sam worked at a school in the east end of the city, teaching primarily in Years 2 and 6. Sam has a strong interest in supporting children with special educational needs and other vulnerable groups, ensuring they have access to inclusive education and can fully participate in all aspects of school life.

Sam brings personal experience in caring for family members with neurological conditions and neurodivergence. Professionally, Sam has worked as a teaching assistant, a 1:1 home tutor, and a camp counselor at a camp for adults and children with developmental disabilities.

Sam holds a degree in Psychology from Newcastle University and completed a PGCE at Sheffield Hallam University. In 2023, Sam earned a NASENCO qualification from Northumbria University, receiving an award for the best postgraduate academic performance in the faculty.

Alongside a commitment to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), Sam also trained as a moderator for the local authority in Key Stages 1 and 2 and has completed the NCETM Maths Mastery Programme.

 

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