Sinéad Culora

After graduating from the University of Ulster with a degree in Politics, Sinéad Culora moved to London in 1997, where she spent nine years working as a management accountant in the City of London. However, teaching had always been at the back of her mind, and in 2009 she took the leap into education, training through the excellent SCITTELS programme in Newham.

Sinéad went on to spend five years teaching in East London before moving to Malta for two years, where she taught English to adults. Upon her return, she rejoined the primary sector in late 2017, becoming Assistant Headteacher at Nightingale Primary School in South Woodford in 2020 and subsequently Associate Headteacher in 2024. In September 2026, she took up the role of Headteacher at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Hornchurch.

Outside school, she enjoys reading, walking, cinema and live music, although much of her time is inevitably occupied by thinking about the futures of children and young people.

She says the rapid development of artificial intelligence and its implications for education, childhood and the skills young people will need for the future are increasingly important considerations for schools.