Meet the team
Simon Hickton
Founder and CEO
As a former primary head of ten years, leading the team here at Cornerstones is a real privilege. My main areas of expertise are school leadership, assessment and the role of ed tech in reducing teacher and senior leader workload. Developing our online platform Maestro, has been a real labour of love but knowing how much it has helped schools to reduce their workload makes it all worthwhile.
Melanie Moore
Deputy CEO
As a former primary deputy headteacher and teacher of over 30 years I remain incredibly passionate about teaching, learning, leadership and curriculum development. Over the last ten years I’ve written and produced multiple curriculums and have recently written my first book about curriculum design – Curriculum Simplexity released by Routledge September 2024.
The Cornerstones Team
As a Senior Support Officer, I am dedicated to understanding customer needs and maintaining loyalty by communicating regularly with their senior leadership team to arrange bespoke training and support with our curriculum advisers. My focus is customer satisfaction and making sure our customers have all the support they need.
Nicole Alexander
Senior Support Officer
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As a Senior Support Officer, I am dedicated to understanding customer needs and maintaining loyalty by communicating regularly with their senior leadership team to arrange bespoke training and support with our curriculum advisers. My focus is customer satisfaction and making sure our customers have all the support they need.
I work as a Senior Manager here at Cornerstones, utilising my experience in primary education across the UK, USA, and Spain. My role is to ensure that our customers always receive the best support we can provide and help to develop a product to save teachers time.
Rachael Ashforth
Senior Manager
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I work as a Senior Manager here at Cornerstones, utilising my experience in primary education across the UK, USA, and Spain. My role is to ensure that our customers always receive the best support we can provide and help to develop a product to save teachers time.
Megan, the Senior Design Officer at Cornerstones, leads the creation of visual content, utilising her first-class BA (Hons) in Graphic Design
and Illustration. Her role involves designing educational resources and marketing materials, contributing significantly to the visual
representation of Cornerstones’ educational philosophy.
Megan Atkinson
Design Manager
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Megan, the Senior Design Officer at Cornerstones, leads the creation of visual content, utilising her first-class BA (Hons) in Graphic Design
and Illustration. Her role involves designing educational resources and marketing materials, contributing significantly to the visual
representation of Cornerstones’ educational philosophy.
Finance Officer
Steve Barnett
Finance Officer
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Finance Officer
As a former primary deputy headteacher and Literacy lead, I really enjoy working with senior leaders and teachers to implement curriculum changes. I also love supporting subject leaders in leading their subjects using the amazing Maestro platform effectively. One of the best parts of my job is visiting schools and seeing our teaching ideas come to life, and I am proud to represent Cornerstones in the South of England.
Janet Carroll
Senior Curriculum Adviser
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As a former primary deputy headteacher and Literacy lead, I really enjoy working with senior leaders and teachers to implement curriculum changes. I also love supporting subject leaders in leading their subjects using the amazing Maestro platform effectively. One of the best parts of my job is visiting schools and seeing our teaching ideas come to life, and I am proud to represent Cornerstones in the South of England.
Every day is different at Cornerstones, and it works incredibly well for someone as creative as me. As a Senior Manager, I am responsible for how we communicate with schools, and how we share our work more widely with others. You might also spot me in a video or two, sharing some artistic tips and techniques!
Dale French
Senior Manager
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Every day is different at Cornerstones, and it works incredibly well for someone as creative as me. As a Senior Manager, I am responsible for how we communicate with schools, and how we share our work more widely with others. You might also spot me in a video or two, sharing some artistic tips and techniques!
I’m a former English and philosophy lecturer. I studied in Scotland and journeyed to Japan and discovered a love for teaching and curriculum development. I love being a senior curriculum adviser! Working with such a diverse range of educators worldwide is a real privilege to help them develop their curriculum into a bespoke learning experience for children.
Laura McLaughlin-Hart
Senior Curriculum Adviser
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I’m a former English and philosophy lecturer. I studied in Scotland and journeyed to Japan and discovered a love for teaching and curriculum development. I love being a senior curriculum adviser! Working with such a diverse range of educators worldwide is a real privilege to help them develop their curriculum into a bespoke learning experience for children.
As a Curriculum Adviser here at Cornerstones, I use my knowledge of primary education to help me support schools build their curriculum. I have worked as both a primary teacher and tutor in a range of year groups throughout the primary phase and have subject leadership experience in Geography. I really enjoy meeting with our fantastic schools and developing curriculums that will inspire the children who will be using our resources.
Lauren Myson
Curriculum Adviser
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As a Curriculum Adviser here at Cornerstones, I use my knowledge of primary education to help me support schools build their curriculum. I have worked as both a primary teacher and tutor in a range of year groups throughout the primary phase and have subject leadership experience in Geography. I really enjoy meeting with our fantastic schools and developing curriculums that will inspire the children who will be using our resources.
Cathryn, the Online Security Manager at Cornerstones Education, ensures the company’s compliance with legal and regulatory standards, maintaining ISO 27001 certification. Her multifaceted role encompasses collaboration across teams to uphold the highest security standards.
Cathryn O’Shea
Online Security Manager
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Cathryn, the Online Security Manager at Cornerstones Education, ensures the company’s compliance with legal and regulatory standards, maintaining ISO 27001 certification. Her multifaceted role encompasses collaboration across teams to uphold the highest security standards.
Nick, a Senior Manager, oversees finance, CRM, and business information reporting at Cornerstones. His expertise in English Language and marketing, combined with experience in various management roles, contributes to the company’s strategic planning and operational efficiency.
Nick Purcell
Senior Manager
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Nick, a Senior Manager, oversees finance, CRM, and business information reporting at Cornerstones. His expertise in English Language and marketing, combined with experience in various management roles, contributes to the company’s strategic planning and operational efficiency.
After 30 years in primary education as a teacher and senior leader, I was excited to come and work for Cornerstones to write the updated early years curriculum content. I now work as a senior curriculum adviser, sharing my experience and passion for teaching in the early years with schools nationwide.
Gill Quantrell
Senior Curriculum Adviser
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After 30 years in primary education as a teacher and senior leader, I was excited to come and work for Cornerstones to write the updated early years curriculum content. I now work as a senior curriculum adviser, sharing my experience and passion for teaching in the early years with schools nationwide.
As a Curriculum Support Adviser, it’s my role to support teachers to use Maestro in the way that works best for them. As a primary teacher for over 17 years, I know how important time is so I always want to help teachers get the most out of Maestro. You’ll often find me on live chat, answering any questions that you have.
Al Ritchie
Curriculum Support Adviser
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As a Curriculum Support Adviser, it’s my role to support teachers to use Maestro in the way that works best for them. As a primary teacher for over 17 years, I know how important time is so I always want to help teachers get the most out of Maestro. You’ll often find me on live chat, answering any questions that you have.
Gary, a Senior 3D Motion Design Officer, started his design career in 2017, working within various industries. He designed most of the explainer videos within the Cornerstones curriculum, collaborating with the marketing and curriculum teams. Recently, he’s expanded into designing and developing the new Cornerstones Education Website.
Gary Wood
Senior 3D Motion Design Officer
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Gary, a Senior 3D Motion Design Officer, started his design career in 2017, working within various industries. He designed most of the explainer videos within the Cornerstones curriculum, collaborating with the marketing and curriculum teams. Recently, he’s expanded into designing and developing the new Cornerstones Education Website.
As the Senior Standards Officer, I create and make sure that our resources are always of the highest quality and accurate for our teachers. I’m always working on our resources to provide the best resources to support teachers.
Vanessa Wright
Senior Standards Officer
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As the Senior Standards Officer, I create and make sure that our resources are always of the highest quality and accurate for our teachers. I’m always working on our resources to provide the best resources to support teachers.