About Us
Pennine Learning provides inspiring and enriching Religious Education (RE) through expert guidance, local knowledge, and practical support. We work alongside schools, teachers, and communities to strengthen RE and collective worship, ensuring it is engaging, inclusive, and impactful.
Our services
- Tailored support for schools and teachers.
- Collective worship planning and development.
- Local expertise and interfaith engagement.
- Guidance on your locally agreed RE syllabus.
- RE courses and professional development.
- Staff training to build confidence and capacity.
- Syllabus implementation and resource support.
Our work is based on an ethos of public service, local understanding and unrivalled expertise in our core areas. Our vision is to ensure education broadens horizons, stretches minds and builds bridges.
Meet the team
Jake Womack
Co-Director/RE Adviser- Email: [email protected]
- Phone:
Jake is a high performing practitioner and Head of Department of Ethics, Philosophy and Religion. He coordinates the Secondary RE Networks for Leeds, Kirklees and Manchester/Salford and the Primary RE Networks for Tameside and Oldham. Jake is the professional advisor to Oldham SACRE.
Helen Rivers
Co-Director/RE Adviser- Email: [email protected]
- Phone:
Helen is a part-time primary school teacher and spends the rest of the week working as an RE consultant in Leeds. Helen coordinates the Primary RE Networks for Kirklees, Leeds and Manchester/Salford. Helen is the professional adviser to Leeds SACRE.
Emma Salter
RE Adviser- Email: [email protected]
- Phone:
Emma is an academic and researcher in the fields of Religion and Education. She is an examiner and curriculum advisor for the International Baccalaureate. Emma is the professional advisor to Kirklees SACRE.
Liam Spencer
RE Adviser- Email: [email protected]
- Phone:
Liam is a secondary Assistant Headteacher for KS3 behaviour and progress. This role includes EDI Lead, LGBTQ+, ethnicity and gender inclusion, and the teaching of RE and PSHE. Liam is the professional adviser to Tameside SACRE.
Nina Corke
RE Adviser and Primary Network Lead- Email: [email protected]
- Phone:
Nina is a part-time primary school teacher and RE subject lead in her school. Nina leads the Oldham and Tameside Primary Networks, alongside Jake.
Rob Laycock
Accounts- Email: [email protected]
- Phone:
Rob has ten years’ experience in local authority finance, followed by a further ten years in his current position as a Primary School Business Manager. Rob provides financial administrative support to Pennine Learning, balancing this alongside his family commitments and active involvement at a local cricket club.
Esther Womack
Administrator- Email: [email protected]
- Phone:
Esther has eight years of administrative experience working in a secondary school as an administrative manager and latterly as a personal assistant to the leadership team. She also has a background in teaching. Esther now works part time for Pennine Learning supporting with administrative tasks and organisation.
Amy Wilby
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone:
An experienced senior educational leader, I currently serve as an Assistant Headteacher with responsibility for Curriculum and as a Trust-wide DEIB Champion. Since qualifying as a teacher in 2009, I have held a range of middle and senior leadership positions, including Specialist Leader of Education (SLE), Associate Assistant Headteacher, Head of Faculty and Head of Year. My expertise spans curriculum design, school improvement and personal development, with a particular focus on PSHE, SMSC, enrichment, student leadership and inclusive practice. Passionate about equity, inclusion and belonging, I have led whole-school and trust-wide initiatives that raise aspirations, strengthen outcomes and ensure every young person can thrive. Holding both an NPQSL and a Master's degree in Educational Leadership, I am committed to evidence-informed practice and collaborative leadership. As Network Leader for Personal Development, I am excited to bring together colleagues from across schools to share effective practice, develop innovative approaches and champion high-quality personal development provision that enables all young people to flourish.