Kate Potts - SCITT Director

Kate has worked in the Education Sector for over twenty-five years in a variety of settings and roles, teaching across all age ranges. She has enjoyed a variety of middle and senior leadership roles, where she has been at the forefront of Teaching & Learning, providing training for colleagues in and across a variety of schools, and at local and national education conferences. Kate has a Masters in Education, and continues to keep abreast of new research in teaching. Throughout her diverse career, Kate has continued to teach in the classroom, a role she loves which enables her to ‘keep in touch’ with the changing classroom climate. Kate went into teaching because she wanted to ensure young people had access to a fair, broad and high quality education. Since becoming the SCITT Director, Kate continues to pursue this by striving to enthuse the teachers of tomorrow by providing a high quality training for our future educators.

Sophie Cabral - Deputy SCITT Director / Secondary Lead

Sophie leads the Secondary Programme and is responsible for the professional studies curriculum, leading the team of subject hub expert colleagues, mentor development and trainee progress. Sophie has worked in a variety of schools, and on various education projects within London and beyond, including Portugal, Finland, West Africa, and Pakistan. She continues to be a practising teacher with a particular interest in post-16 geography education which was the basis of her PhD. She has worked in several roles within schools from head of department to senior leadership responsible for teaching and learning and continuing professional development. She has led training for middle leaders and aspiring senior leaders as well as leading Early Career Teacher development. In her current role as Deputy Director of Sutton SCITT Sophie is committed to not only ensuring the highest standards of initial teacher training for new entrants to the profession but also to sharing the enthusiasm and joy of working with young people that is at the heart of why she became and continues to be a teacher.

Amy Royle - Primary Lead

Amy joined the Sutton SCITT team in September 2021 and began leading the Primary Programme in September 2022. Before coming to teaching training, Amy taught across the primary phase spending the majority of her time working in Key Stage 2. In 2016, Amy completed the SENCo Qualification and worked within an inclusion team to ensure high quality provision for children with special educational needs. Amy is a passionate practitioner who loves the time she spends in the classroom. She currently teaches in Year 6 at Abbey Primary School where she thrives on the challenges and successes faced when working with children and the ability to make a difference to young lives. In her role as primary lead, Amy enjoys being able to have a wider impact on teaching and learning by inspiring future generations of teachers. Within this role, Amy is responsible for designing the primary professional studies curriculum, leading professional studies sessions as well as organising school placements and overseeing trainee progress. In her spare time, Amy is an avid reader, challenging herself each year to beat her annual reading goal. She also enjoys playing tennis and discovering new cuisines.

Rachel Fagan - SCITT Manager

Rachel has worked in a variety of roles including administration and the corporate world of finance. Most recently she has worked in schools firstly as a Headteachers’ PA and for the last eight years as SCITT Manager for Sutton SCITT.  As SCITT Manager, Rachel oversees the journey a trainee takes; from initial interest in teaching, to application, enrolment, training and school supervision. Rachel has an excellent working knowledge of ITT compliance and supports trainees with bursaries and student finance. She works with the partnership and liaises with all partners to ensure trainees have a successful and enjoyable training year. Rachel has an excellent understanding of the rigours of education having supported her own children at school and then following the journey of her son who recently trained to be an English teacher. Rachel loves the diversity of her role and brings a caring and fun-loving positivity to the SCITT. Rachel is the first port of call for all well-being and prides herself on making a ‘mean cup of tea’!