Governance

Catherine Reading

Catherine Reading is the Chair of the Durham Sixth Form Centre Local Governing Board. She is currently the Director of the Centre for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and Outreach at Durham University, leading initiatives in teacher education and professional learning. From 2017 to 2023, she served as Director of Professional Programmes, overseeing key areas of teacher education and leadership training in the School of Education.

With a BSc (Hons) in Medicinal Chemistry from University College London, Mrs Reading’s early career focused on neuropharmacology research before transitioning to education. After completing a PGCE in Science at Durham University in 1993, she taught in secondary schools across London and the North East, holding leadership roles in teaching and learning.

Since joining Durham University’s School of Education in 2009, she has contributed to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, focusing on curriculum development and technology-enhanced learning. She has a particular interest in the role of artificial intelligence and digital technology in education and has led projects to enhance teaching and learning through innovation. Mrs Reading is also deeply committed to promoting inclusivity, ensuring that education is accessible and supportive for all students, and advocating for equity in professional development opportunities.

A Senior Fellow of Advance HE, Mrs Reading is dedicated to supporting the strategic vision of Durham Sixth Form Centre, ensuring that all students receive high-quality education, excellent support, and enriching opportunities to achieve their full potential.

Joanne Lain

Mrs Lain is the Principal of Durham Sixth Form Centre, taking up post in September 2023. She graduated from the University of Durham with a BA Honours degree in Geography, before completing her PGCE in Secondary Education at Newcastle University. She began her career in 1994, teaching Geography in a school in the Lake District. She then taught in London for several years, before taking up a post as Head of Geography at Durham Sixth Form Centre in 2001. In her leadership roles Mrs Lain has had responsibility for teaching and learning, professional development and performance management and has undertaken an active role in governance for a number of years. She also trained as an Ofsted inspector in 2021-22 but has since stepped back from that role.

Gillian Askew

Ms Askew is employed in the Student and Library Services of Teesside University as a Specialist Study Support and Strategy Tutor, providing one-to-one multi-sensory tuition to students with Specific Learning Difficulties. She is a Dyslexia Guild Associate and a member of the Association of Learning Developers in Higher Education. Prior to this she worked for four years in the Funding Directorate of the Education and Skills Funding Agency, monitoring providers of 16 to 19 education nationally and was a DfE Accessibility Associate.

After attending the universities of Durham, Wales, Sheffield Hallam, and York she has a BA Honours degree in education, plus teaching and postgraduate qualifications in SEN, Asperger’s Syndrome, and Dyslexia & Literacy, and is qualified to give advice & guidance. She has held posts in local FE colleges, universities, and local authorities’ education departments: assessing, supporting, and lecturing students with SpLD, chronic illnesses, and mental health challenges; co-ordinating and managing academic student support services and family learning programmes; managing the provision of adult skills courses across a large county; and contract managing post-16 providers within a mayoral combined authority area. Her particular interest is inclusivity including the support available to enable all students to maximise their potential and the training for staff to facilitate this.

Jose Cruz da Angela

Dr Cruz da Angela is an experienced Director, having held a number of corporate leadership and analytical roles across the private and public sectors. He is currently the Head of Data Strategy and Pricing at One Family.

Prior to his current role, Dr Cruz da Angela was Director of Analytics at Chill Insurance (insurance broker in the Republic of Ireland). He has extensive experience leading, managing and nurturing data science and analytical teams in Fintech and in the UK Civil Service where, as an Operational Researcher, he supported ministerial teams in the delivery of government priorities. He holds a PhD in Physics from Durham University, and lives with his wife and daughter in Durham city.

Steven Gardiner

Mr Gardiner is the Facilities Manager at Durham Sixth Form Centre, appointed in June 2018. Mr Gardiner previously worked at Freeman’s Quay Leisure Centre for ten years where he gained multiple qualifications in management and building operations. Mr Gardiner holds his NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety and has ensured the premises and facilities of the school continue to support a safe and well maintained environment for students, staff and visitors. With skills and experience in management and building operations, Mr Gardiner provides assurance that risk management is reflected and implemented effectively in school policy and practice and that there are effective risk strategies in place to safeguard and promote students’ welfare. Mr Gardiner has two young sons and volunteers as Head Coach for his eldest son’s football team in his spare time.

Lyndsay Keech

I am a parent of three children living in Newton Hall and passionate about striving to create opportunities and progression routes for children/young people in our beautiful region in the NE of England. I currently work in the IT Sector for a global IT company called Oracle in an Account Management position overseeing key strategic customers focused on sustaining these key customer relationships and identifying any further expansion. I am people focused and started my career in Adult Education with Durham County Council creating employment opportunities through training progression in the community. I progressed to working in the Private Sector in DXC, Ernst and Young and Oracle and I am very interested in creating employment opportunities for young people within this sector and more broadly through Apprentice, Intern and Graduate schemes to create a thriving economy in our region.

Bianca McElrue

Mrs McElrue is a Learning Director for a global financial services company, with over 20 years’ experience working in the private sector predominantly focused on client service, support and education. She is also a passionate advocate for Diversity & Inclusion, having recently served as the co-chair of the women’s employee resource group. After being born and raised in County Durham, she lived in the North West of England, France, Spain and London, before returning to the North East to work and raise her family. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Modern European Languages from the University of Liverpool and a Master’s Degree in Online and Distance Education from the Open University. She has two teenage sons, is a keen runner and an avid reader.

James Miller

Mr Miller holds a Masters Degree in Classics from Durham and is Head of Department for Classical Civilisation, Philosophy, and Theology and Ethics (Religious Studies) in which role the school’s constant push for improved student educational experiences and achievement outcomes is always the key priority. Over twenty years at the school he has filled a variety of other roles alongside this: in Progression (with a focus on Oxbridge applicants), as a Lead Teacher (with changing emphases on educational technology, on literacy and on Aspirations with the More Able), as part of school workgroups on wellbeing and coaching, and as a mentor and coach to many trainees and ECTs over the years. He has a particular interest in pushing extra-curricular experiences in the school and runs Classics Soc., Latin Club, and has been involved in student DofE and staff hiking groups and led many foreign and domestic trips.

Nicole Race

Mrs Race was born in Chester, but grew up in Oban in the Highlands of Scotland, where she attended Oban High School. Mrs Race moved to the North East of England in 1990 where she studied at Darlington College before attending Teesside University to study business and marketing.  Mrs Race is currently a student at the University of Northumbria where she studies project management.

Mrs Race has over 20 years of experience in the further education sector, in a variety of different roles spanning course development, delivery, quality assurance and program coordination/management. She is an experienced management coach and trainer and currently works for North Tyneside Council with responsibility for developing and delivering professional development to the management team. Mrs Race has worked across industries, in the private, public and charity sectors. Mrs Race has two daughters, one of whom attended Durham Sixth Form Centre.  Mrs Race is also a Life Coach and she is member of Hunwick Harriers, where she offers her services as a Running Coach.

Lee Bone

Mr Bone is Vice Principal at Durham Sixth Form Centre. He graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Geography Education and started his teaching career at DSFC in 2006, as a teacher of Geography and Humanities. During his time with us, Mr Bone has held various roles including Head of Geography, Head of Humanities, Leader of Learning (Curriculum): English and Humanities, Assistant Headteacher and Senior Assistant Headteacher. Mr Bone was also seconded to the LA for a year (part time) as an Education Development Advisor, supporting other schools in the County and further afield. As Vice Principal, Mr Bone oversees all pastoral, progression and student support matters including behaviour and attitudes (including attendance), personal development (including careers education and enrichment) and groups (MA, SEN, Disadvantaged).

Lesley Thompson

Miss Thompson is Vice Principal at Durham Sixth Form Centre. Miss Thompson graduated from the University of Hull with a BA Honours degree in French and a PGCE in Secondary Education. She has worked at Durham Sixth Form Centre since 2001, during which time she has held a variety of roles, including teacher of French, Head of Modern Foreign Languages and Assistant Headteacher. In 2012, she was appointed to the role of Deputy Headteacher to work closely with the Headteacher to oversee the strategic leadership of the school. As Vice Principal, Miss Thompson is responsible for attainment, achievement and Centre quality assurance.