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Our resident education experts
At Access Education, when we say, 'Education software made by education experts for education experts,' we truly mean it. Our resident experts have been in your shoes – as ex-teachers, senior leaders, governors, and more – so it’s safe to say they know a thing or two about your challenges.
And with that experience, they are at the at the forefront of thought leadership within the EdTech space. In other words, you’re in safe hands.
That’s why over 9,000 schools, academies and trusts look to us for guidance and support in the day-to-day operations of their educational institutions and in the pursuit of delivering an outstanding education.
Emma Slater - Curriculum, Teaching & Learning Expert
Meet Emma, who is dedicated to supporting schools in their pursuit of digital learning excellence.
10 Years experience as a Lead Practitioner and Head of English in LEA and Trust run schools across SE London developed her passion for developing knowledge and skills rich curriculum. As a PiXL Associate working with 100’s of schools up and down the country and as an author of T&L resources for OUP, Collins and York Notes she gained a profound understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the education sector.
Her dedication to education led her to a pivotal role as Director of Education at GCSEPod, where she merged her love for education with her publishing experience to pioneer a values-driven approach to EdTech. Emma championed the cause of providing diverse and inclusive learning content that delivers a rich curriculum in a form that supports all pupils to learn succeed.
Now, at The Access Group, Emma brings her skills and experience in strategy, education, and product development to oversee the growth and delivery of innovative 'big ideas' that support the education sector. Her passion for supporting schools in their curriculum journey is deeply rooted in her extensive classroom experience.
Asmaa Ahmed - Senior Customer Success Manager, Education Specialist
Meet Asmaa, an education specialist with over 11 years’ experience across teaching and EdTech. A former primary school teacher and mental health lead, Asmaa brings first-hand understanding of classroom practice, pupil wellbeing and the pressures schools face when trying to support every learner effectively.
In her role as Senior Customer Success Manager at The Access Group, Asmaa works closely with schools to help them embed GCSEPod in a way that feels practical, purposeful and sustainable. Her focus is on helping teachers strengthen engagement, build student confidence and use digital learning to support meaningful progress.
Asmaa is particularly passionate about SEND and inclusion, and has authored a series of articles for Teach Secondary and Teach Primary, sharing practical ideas around accessibility, confidence-building and inclusive classroom practice. She also co-founded the GCSEPod Champions network, bringing educators together to share best practice, celebrate impact and shape the future of digital learning.
Her work is driven by a belief that EdTech should support teachers, remove barriers for pupils and help every learner feel that success is within reach.
Sophie Jaques - Content Strategy & EdTech Expert
Sophie began her career at Routledge in academic publishing, working on English Language and Linguistics titles, first as an Editorial Assistant and later as a Development Editor on university-level textbooks. From there she moved to the British Sociological Association, supporting editors and editorial boards across their journals portfolio to ensure high-quality research reached its audience efficiently, and where she first developed her instinct for developing the systems and workflows that make good publishing possible at scale.
She joined GCSEPod in 2019 and is now Content Product Manager. Sophie talks directly to teachers to shape the content strategy, keeps the platform aligned with curriculum changes, and makes sure the learning experience is pedagogically sound at every level, from Key Stage 3 through to GCSE.
Now, Sophie is leading the next chapter for GCSEPod's content: preparing for the new national curriculum. As well as working on the content, she is working on embedding AI into reporting and admin tools for teachers, to support reducing time spent away from the classroom. Her focus is on using AI to reduce the workload teachers carry, while keeping the things that matter most - quality, safeguarding, and improving learning outcomes for students - firmly at the centre.
Nicola Ransford - Education Payroll Expert
Meet Nicola, our dedicated professional with a rich background in the Public and Education Sectors spanning over 12 years. Initially immersed in payroll processing for local councils and schools within our Payroll Bureau, Nicola has spent the past 9 years as an onboarding consultant. In her most recent role as Payroll Product Owner, she actively seeks out improvements to the onboarding process, emphasising a commitment to enhancing customer experience.
Nicola's expertise extends to onboarding a diverse range of educational institutions, from small independent schools with approximately 30 employees to large multi-academy trusts boasting over 3000+ employees. Her in-depth knowledge encompasses education legislation, including the Green and Burgundy books, and she is well-versed in the intricacies surrounding LG and Teachers pension processing and reporting requirements.
With over a decade of experience, Nicola brings a wealth of insights and solutions to streamline processes and enhance the overall onboarding experience. Her commitment to excellence and understanding of the nuances within the Education Sector positions her as a reliable partner for institutions seeking top-tier payroll solutions.
James Kirby - Education Finance Expert
Meet James Kirby, an education finance expert whose wealth of knowledge evolved from his extensive background in finance for schools, particularly within the Hampshire Local Authority, the second-largest LA in England.
Drawing on his experience, James possesses a deep understanding of how LAs operate, including their budgetary and financial requirements. He applies this knowledge to navigate the intricacies that filter down to the school level, where he helps enhance financial processes and ensures efficient reporting back to the LA.
In his current position as Senior Consultant at Access, James leverages his comprehensive finance knowledge to aid our education finance customers. From implementation and migration to CPD and training, he imparts his expertise to schools, academies, and trusts.
Additionally, James collaborates with LAs to streamline reporting requirements, ensuring a harmonious meeting of both school and LA needs.
James is a fountain of knowledge in all aspects of education finance, and he goes above and beyond to support our customers in any way possible.
Rachael Evans - Learning Content Creator, Shaping the Education Content Experience
Meet Rachael Evans, a Learning Content Creator at Access GCSEPod, part of The Access Group's Education division. Rachael began her career as a Learning and Development Officer at Ageas Insurance, creating multi format content, including eLearning, podcasts, videos and infographics, that turned complex regulatory requirements into learning which built staff skills and performance. She then moved to Access's own Learning Designer team, in Financial Services and Compliance, sharpening her instinct for turning complicated, high stakes information into content that's clear, human and genuinely engaging.
She joined Access GCSEPod as a Learning Content Creator, commissioning and editing content from freelance subject specialists and mapping specifications across various exam boards at GCSE, as well as curriculum content at Key Stage 3. She's also exploring more visual ways to format assessment content, helping students and teachers get more from every assessment.
Rachael works closely with subject matter experts, teachers and specialists, drawn to writing that feels human and taps into a genuine connection with the topic rather than simply delivering the facts. She also works across teams on initiatives that enhance the experience for customers, teachers and students, from shaping how AI supports content production to developing new formats like Examiner Insight, with every piece reviewed and signed off by the specialists who know it best.
A naturally creative person, when she's not working Rachael can be found walking her dog Ronnie, curled up with a good book, or planning her next trip to Center Parcs, her favourite place in the world.
Callum Donnelly - Education software specialist for independent schools
With 6+ years of experience working exclusively in the education sector, I specialise in enhancing parent engagement and communication within the independent education landscape. My focus is on leveraging technology to support schools in improving their communication strategies, ensuring that parents are well-informed and involved in their children’s education journey.
I have had the privilege of supporting hundreds of independent schools across the UK, helping them effectively utilise software solutions to foster better parental engagement. My commitment to this sector stems from a personal connection to education – my mother is a headteacher, which has given me a deep appreciation for the unique challenges schools face daily.
Jonathan Skelley - Finance Software Expert, Local Authorities
Meet Jonathan, who works with local authorities across the country to help them support their maintained schools with connected finance and budgeting software.
Jonathan partners with more than 40 local authority finance teams, helping them find smarter, more efficient ways to support their schools. His focus is on taking mundane, time-consuming tasks away from school business and finance managers, so they can concentrate on the financial health of their schools.
Drawing on a deep understanding of how authorities operate, from consolidated oversight across every school to the reporting and value-for-money pressures central teams face, Jonathan helps authorities bring their schools' finance systems together. That means better value from buying as one, less admin for stretched central teams, and the confidence that comes from a single, consistent view across every school.
Jonathan is a genuine partner to the authorities he works with, and goes out of his way to help them and their schools get the most from their systems.
Rhiannon Hulse - Education Software Expert
Meet Rhiannon, a content strategist with 20 years of experience and a genuine passion for education — and for what happens when schools and trusts have the right tools behind them.
Rhiannon knows that when admin runs smoothly and systems work together, teachers teach, staff thrive, and students get more of the attention they deserve. That belief drives everything she writes and commissions at Access Education - from practical guides for school business managers to thought leadership for MAT leaders navigating complex decisions.
With two decades spent getting under the skin of complex industries and translating what matters into content that actually helps, Rhiannon is focused on one thing: making sure the people running schools and trusts have clear, honest, useful information at every stage, so they can make decisions with confidence.
When she's not doing that, you'll find her hiking, reading, or working on her memoir.
