Geoff Baker, Head of Service
Geoff has overall responsibility for the Directorate of Children’s Services large scale strategic contracts let under the Governments Private Finance Initiative. In addition to managing DGfL and the Paragon Project he supports the Traded Services Management Board strategy and the DCS audit response compliance programme with Turina Wharton.
Shirley Hackett, Education Improvement Adviser
Shirley started her career as a secondary school teacher and has taught P.E science, mathematics and ICT in a number of schools. In 1997 she was appointed Inspector for ICT and consequently took a key role in contract negotiations for the Dudley PFI ICT Managed service in 1998. She is the education lead officer for ICT, managing a small team of experienced teachers and has a key link role within Dudley Grid for Learning Client team and the links with RM senior management teams. She has experience as an Ofsted team member – primary/secondary and a secondary school improvement partner.
Ian Longmore , Contract Officer
Ian ensures the day to day operational compliance of the DGfL contractors RM. This includes best value benchmarking of the contract and additional services, invoice payment and performance monitoring. He also undertakes procurement for individual school ICT projects.
Ian Cope, IMS Officer
Ian is responsible for all aspects of the Information Management Systems provided through the DGfL. He ensures that Dudley schools can make the most effective use of their IMS and that school and pupil data is recorded, analysed, presented and transferred in a way that is both secure and meets Local Authority and statutory requirements. Assessment data to support raising attainment is a particular focus.
Fiona Hingley, PFI Partnership Manager
Fiona is the Client Officer for the Paragon PFI project under which Summerhill and Colley Lane Schools were rebuilt and run.
Her role includes operational compliance, performance monitoring and invoice payment, benchmarking of facilities management, third party income pricing, promotion of partnership working and dispute resolution. Fiona has also supported the Directorate on other complex school partnership projects.
Dan McLaughlin, IMS Consultant
Dan provides the traded service supporting individual schools in the effective use of data. He also gives vital support to the application and development of IMS including assessment, target setting, reporting to parents and attendance. Together with Ian Cope he guides the development of the Integris software used in Dudley schools and supports the IMS training programme.
Dennis Wyatt, DGfL Portal Project Manager
Dennis has been a member of senior staff in a local secondary school for a number of years. His role within DGfL is to work closely with schools and Children’s Services on the introduction of the DGfL Learning Platform. Now that the roll out is complete, his work with schools and Children’s Services is to help embed these new technologies into daily practice.
John Davies, Future Learning Adviser
John leads the learning futures agenda for Dudley. Previously taught in both secondary and primary phases he is now responsible for developing innovative e-learning solutions and resources that exploit the range of technologies provided for Dudley Schools through its PFI project. He is co-author of The Learning Journey an interactive resource developed in partnership with Futurelab to promote key 21st century competencies needed by all learners. He is the Editor of ICE (Internet Channel for Education) a unique internet search experience which guarantees to deliver the rich web based resources quickly and safely to all teachers and learners. John also spends time consulting with young learners across the Borough and continues to advise and support schools exploring the potential of mobile technologies to raise educational standards. He is a QCA curriculum consultant and a member of Sir Jim Rose’s Primary Curriculum review group. He has worked with Becta and CEOP on e-safety issues
Heather Jeavons, KS1/2 ICT consultant
Heather joined the DGfL team from a Dudley Primary School in 2001.
She has extensive experience in schools ranging from a classroom teacher through to senior management. Her main role is supporting the development of ICT as a subject and a cross curricular learning tool. She is working with schools to embed the use of ICT into the curriculum. The current focus is developing the use of VLE’s within primary, special and secondary schools. She is also a qualified ICT Mark assessor, working with a number of schools to achieve this accreditation.
Michael Parkes, ICT Consultant
Although not directly part of the DGfL team Mike works very closely with DGfL colleagues to provide support and training especially to secondary schools. He was the LA Secondary ICT consultant and has a wide range of experience especially in development of thinking skills and personalised learning. Currently Mike is leading the work around use of Open Source software and changes to the secondary curriculum.
Jennie Topple, Admin Officer
Jennie runs the DGfL Office and provides administrative support to the Client Team including supervision of general office staff, reception, financial monitoring, requisitions, order placing, organising/minuting meetings conferences.
Rebecca Croft, Admin Assistant
Rebecca provides administrative support to the Client Team, including order processing, word processing and maintaining web information. One of her particular duties is organising and minuting the often complex and technical meetings in which colleagues are involved. .
Megan Smallman, Clerical Assistant
Megan undertakes a wide range of general office duties and provides clerical support to DGfL Client Team.
