Sonia Thomas
Sonia has been involved in education for over 20 years. She began her career as a teacher, and then moved into a range of middle and senior management positions in London colleges. She began her work with schools 9 years ago, developing alternative provision for Key Stage 4 learners. She has led departments and faculties from unsatisfactory to outstanding and has led on national pathfinder projects to raise achievement and widen access to education.
Her responsibilities have included curriculum development, strategies to raise achievement and retention, learner support, and developing whole-institution systems and processes for tutorial, enrichment and one-to-one support. Her last post was Associate Director of Curriculum at Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College.
For the last 6 years Sonia has been a consultant and during this time has worked with over 90 different post-16 institutions, and developed a very good understanding of effective practice in the sector and considerable experience of working with schools, colleges, work-based learning providers and Local Authorities.
Her consultancy work has involved high-level strategic working across boroughs and with a range of partners to develop the 14-19 curriculum offer and the effective application of best practice. It has also included delivering Sixth Form Reviews – including the observation of teaching and learning – to support schools in improving standards and outcomes and in preparing for inspection. She has worked as Assistant Director for East London on the London Wide Value Added project, for Tower Hamlets Local Authority and Harrow Local Authority.
Sonia is Ofsted trained and experienced in observation and the use of data to drive improvement. She is also a trained and experienced Leadership Coach and has led on leadership development – with a particular focus on the development of Curriculum Managers.
Sonia has a strong ethos of inclusiveness and highly values collaborative and partnership working. She brings to her work a highly practical focus and a range of effective strategies to improve outcomes and progression opportunities for learners. She believes in promoting a culture of high expectation and that with the right challenge and support all learners can achieve to their potential.