Joanne studied animal and plant biology at the Universities of St Andrews and Sheffield before completing her PGCE at Sheffield Hallam University and beginning her teaching career in Sheffield in 1996. She spent seventeen years in primary education before moving to Handsworth Grange as a ‘closing the gap’ teacher, where she completed a master's degree in Inclusive Education, led EAL provision and contributed to the school winning the KS4 Pupil Premium Award in 2015.

She became SENDCo (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator) in 2016, gaining the National Award for SEND Co‑ordination, and joined Silverdale in 2023 with extensive SEND expertise and nearly three decades of teaching experience. Joanne is committed to her own professional learning and is an Autism Education Trust trainer. She values the strong partnerships she builds with students, families and external professionals, believing these relationships are central to effective inclusion.

Outside of school, Joanne is happiest in the hills and mountains where you will often find her walking, running, cycling or climbing.

Joanne joined the Senior Leadership Team in September 2026 and is excited to help drive Silverdale’s inclusive ethos forward.