Meet our Principals and Heads

Claira Salter - Principal,  XP and XP East

Claira became Principal of XP Doncaster Secondary Schools in April 2022.

She was previously the headteacher at Green Top, one of the XP trust Primary Schools, leading a successful OfSted inspection in the Autumn term 2021. Having worked at the trust since its inception in 2017, Claira has had many different leadership roles and responsibilities, including leading safeguarding, SEND, EYFS, expeditionary learning and Teaching and Learning for several years.

Claira has been recognised as a System Leader of Education leading training for both the local authority and local teaching schools. Her passions lie in supporting both teachers and students to be the best version of themselves. Claira has valued the opportunities to develop her practice as both a teacher and leader through networking with schools both in the UK and as part of the EL education schools in America. 

Andrea Tunney - Headteacher, Norton Infants and Norton Juniors

Andrea joined Norton Infant School in April 2014 as Headteacher, having worked for 9 years as a Deputy Head at a large 3 form infant school in Doncaster, and prior to this, an EYFS and KS1 teacher at an infant School in Mexborough for 11 years. Andrea’s teaching experience ranges across the infant phase, with the majority of her experience being in Year 2. She has experience as an end of KS1 moderator for Doncaster Local Authority, as well as a leading maths teacher supporting KS1 maths within the authority.

Andrea’s passion lies in infant education. She believes that every child deserves the best possible start in life and they all deserve high quality early learning, that provides the foundations they need to make the most of their abilities and talents as they grow up. In February 2018, Norton Infant School was judged Good by Ofsted with leadership identified as a ‘key strength.’

Norton Infant School joined XP Schools Trust in July 2018.

Jayne Ogle - Headteacher, Plover

Jayne became Head of Plover in November 2018.  Prior to this, Jayne was Assistant Head at Green Top where she led on the implementation of the first Learning Expedition as the school became a part of the XP Trust.

Jayne previously taught at primary schools in the East Riding of Yorkshire Local Authority.  Teaching for over 12 years in KS2, Jayne had many leadership roles which included Maths and the implementation of a thematic curriculum.

An advocate for Restorative Practices, Jayne believes that relationships are the key to success in any school community.  

Plover joined the XP Trust in June 2020.

Julie Mosley - Principal of XP Gateshead

Julie became Principal of XP Gateshead in September 2023 after joining the founding leadership team at XPG in April 2021.

Julie is an experienced teacher and secondary leader of 30 years, who has worked in a wide range of diverse and challenging roles across many different schools. She brings a breadth and depth of experience to XP - teaching and learning, subject, curriculum and pastoral leadership.  Julie has held leadership positions across several areas of  large secondary schools - Sixth Form pastoral leadership,  subject leadership of Mathematics, whole school leadership of staff CPD as an Assistant Headteacher,  overall inclusion and pastoral responsibility as a Deputy Headteacher and responsibility for 700+ Year 7 and 8 students as a Head of School. 

Prior to working in XP Trust, Julie worked in school improvement, providing leadership support and developing leadership capacity in primary and secondary schools across Northumberland and Durham. 

Teaching and learning has been central to Julie’s work along with teacher development and she has worked closely with lots of different schools and teams of teachers in every school phase as a lead trainer in the TEEP model (Teacher Effectiveness Enhancement Project). She has also worked as an Advanced Skills Teacher in secondary Mathematics. In 2019 she developed OPTIC (OPtimising Teacher Impact in the Classroom) a research informed model of teaching and learning which has been implemented across schools in the Endeavour Academy Trust in Middlesbrough.

Kirsty Laing - Headteacher at Carcroft School 

Kirsty is the Headteacher at Carcroft, being appointed to this position in September 2016.

Prior to taking up the role of Headteacher, Kirsty was the Deputy Headteacher at Carcroft between September 2015 and August 2016. Before moving to Carcroft School in 2015, Kirsty was an Assistant Headteacher in both Barnsley and Doncaster, whereby she led Teaching and Learning, both at a school and Multi-Academy Trust Level. 

Kirsty's passions lie in leading Teaching and Learning across the primary phase, supporting Teachers to be the best version of themselves, in turn supporting the pupils of Doncaster to be the best they can be. Whilst working in Barnsley, Kirsty supported a number of Teachers through the delivery of the Improving and Outstanding Teacher Programme; something in which she found a real privilege, being able to support Teachers to further improve their craft. In addition, Kirsty was also a Y2 moderator both in Barnsley and Doncaster, supporting the Local Authority to ensure that Teacher Assessment was consistent across the borough. Kirsty is keen to continue to develop her knowledge and understanding around high quality Teaching and Learning, ensuring that the students in her care receive a high quality education underpinned by research in order to give them the very best start in life- socially, emotionally and academically. 

Kelly Overson - Headteacher at Green Top School

Kelly became Head of School at Green Top in January 2022.  Prior to this, Kelly was Assistant Head at Green Top where she led on crew, systematic teaching and maths.  Before taking on the role of Head of School, Kelly led maths across the XP Trust working with maths leads and teaches in both our primary and secondary schools.

Kelly has worked at Green Top since leaving school at 16.  She started her journey as an apprentice before developing IT across the school.  She later became a higher level teaching assistant specialising in teaching ICT whilst completing a degree in Education.  Kelly completed Initial Teacher Training at Green Top in KS2 eventually finding her passion of teaching in year 6.

Kelly believes that relationships are the key to success in any school community and is passionate about crew for both students and staff!