Joanne Smith

Joanne Smith is the Schools Relations Lead with Portal Training. Jo is relatively new to the Work Based Learning Sector but has over 30 years of experience in education. 

Jo started teaching in 1992 in the UK in middle schools and quickly developed a keen interest in additional and special educational needs, leading specialist provision for Speech and Language & Communication needs. Back in 1999 Jo swapped her job, house and car for a year, to teach in Queensland, Australia as part of the Commonwealth teacher exchange programme. An incredible experience professionally and personally. 

On returning to the UK, Jo returned to Wales and married. She worked with Torfaen Advisory Service with the School Improvement Team as Basic Skills Co-ordinator working with a dedicated team across all phases, raising two children and enjoying a return to the classroom and working as Deputy Head at Greenmeadow Primary School. Jo moved to Caerphilly in 2016 to take up the headship of Coed Y Brain Primary School, steering her crew through the unchartered waters of the pandemic and curriculum reform, cultivating strength and courage; Believe to Achieve, the school motto. 

A career change and walking the Camino Primitivo has led Jo to her Portal family where she works with schools to support their professional learning journey with quality leadership and management qualifications.   

As an Associate Jo is looking forward to collaborating with leaders across Wales to learn with and from each other, to empower each other as difference-makers. 

Outside of work, Jo loves hiking and the call of the mountains, planning an adventure or making sourdough.