Specialisms
- School Improvement
- Curriculum
- Coaching
- Mathematics
Jason brings his extensive knowledge as an inspector to any deployment with school or academy leaders. He is particularly skilled at combining the inspectorial aspect with advice in a manner that leaders can access easily. Jason also reads extensively and has wide knowledge about pedagogy, school improvement, SEND and leadership.
Jason works closely with secondary and primary schools with a particular expertise in Mathematics and Sixth form oversight. Jason regularly leads Quality Assurance Review for Challenge Partners in Secondary and SEND schools. Jason also has expertise in performance management at a schoolwide and trust level.
He is well versed in making impartial, evidence-based recommendations to Trust CEO and CFOs that meet the rigorous requirements of appraisal criteria. This also includes being part of Head Teacher performance reviews.
Cindy O'Sullivan
Leadership Development
SEND
Coaching & Mentoring
More About Cindy
About Cindy
Cindy moved from headship into consultancy after 8 years as a head teacher and 25 years in teaching. Most recently she was head of an outstanding all-through special school in Surrey and worked with other schools across the county through school-to-school support.
Cindy was part of the Surrey Safeguarding Children’s Partnership and has been heavily involved in multi-agency working across Surrey. Prior to this, she worked in Islington as head of school in an MLD Primary.
Cindy specialises in leadership coaching and development, with experience as a SIP, head teacher mentor, peer reviewer, and supporting head teacher appointments and appraisals.
She has extensive knowledge of multi-agency practice and relationship-based approaches, taking a holistic approach to strategic school improvement and governance.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Education (NZ)
- Diploma of Teaching (NZ)
- MA Special and Inclusive Education (IoE)
- NPQH
Claire Walley
School Improvement
SEND
Inclusion
More About Claire
About Claire
Claire offers a wide range of services for young people, families, and schools. She supports parents in navigating the complex world of Special Educational Needs, working closely with families to ensure the best outcomes for their child.
Her services include EHCP Health Checks, diagnosis guidance, school searches, advocacy, and support with appeals and meetings.
Claire also provides supportive services directly for young people, whether individually or alongside their support networks. These include mentoring, advocacy, exam support, and tutoring.
For professionals, she offers coaching for SENCOs, auditing, meeting support, staff training, and budget reviews. Following a successful 16-year career in school improvement, SEND, safeguarding, and the arts, Claire began consultancy work in 2021.
Claire has held leadership roles including Deputy Headteacher, Assistant Headteacher, Consultant, and SENCo across state and private schools in London, the Southwest, the Midlands, and the USA.
She holds a First-Class Honours Degree in Fine Art, alongside a PGCE in Art and Design, NPQSL, and the Inclusive Leadership Award. She also achieved Gold Flagship status from the Inclusion Quality Mark at her previous school.
Throughout her career, Claire has ensured strong outcomes for young people—whether through academic success, specialist placements, or pathways into employment.
As a working mother, she understands the challenges families face and is passionate about helping young people achieve a fulfilling and successful adult life through a creative and personalised approach.
Sarah Brinkley
Leadership & Management
Teaching & Learning
School Improvement
More About Sarah
About Sarah
Sarah holds a range of qualifications including a BA (Hons), MEd, NPQH, and CMgr. She began her career after graduating from the University of Sussex as an English teacher, starting in Hove before moving to Oxfordshire where she progressed into senior leadership roles.
Her leadership experience includes Assistant Headteacher roles with responsibility for sixth form, Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), and later Deputy Headteacher overseeing teaching and learning.
Sarah has served as a headteacher twice over a period of 10 years, before moving into executive leadership as an Executive Headteacher and Director of Education within a trust.
Most recently, she led teams across four counties in the South East as Director of Secondary Education within a large multi-academy trust (MAT).
She brings extensive expertise in headteacher appraisal, school improvement, and leadership development, alongside a strong focus on school culture and ethos.
Sarah supports trusts and schools with self-evaluation, quality of education, attendance, personal development, and leadership and management, taking a collaborative, side-by-side approach to ensure sustainable long-term improvement.
Sarah Johnson
Leadership
SEND/AP
Behaviour
More About Sarah
About Sarah
Sarah has worked in education for over twenty years. As a qualified teacher, she has held roles across mainstream schools, Pupil Referral Units, Alternative Provision, and psychiatric in-patient services.
She is the author of “Behaving Together: A Teacher’s Guide to Nurturing Behaviour”, supporting educators in developing effective and nurturing behaviour approaches.
Sarah’s recent work includes her book series “All About SEMH”, providing practical guidance for both primary and secondary school teachers.
As a member of the Department for Education’s Alternative Provision stakeholder group, she has contributed to national policy development, including the SEND and AP green paper, and has chaired a range of panels and events within the education sector.
Vicky Matthews
School Improvement
Leadership Development
Curriculum
More About Vicky
About Vicky
Vicky has over 20 years of experience in education, including more than 14 years in senior leadership roles across both primary and secondary settings. She has served as a Deputy Headteacher and Leadership Consultant in a range of contexts.
She holds the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) and is a qualified Advanced Skills Teacher.
Vicky currently works as an Educational Consultant across the South-East, East, and London regions, bringing extensive experience in inspection and school improvement.
She also works closely with the States of Guernsey and Sark as an Educational Adviser, School Improvement Partner, and independent inspector.
Vicky has a strong interest in curriculum design, quality assurance, and professional development, including teacher training and whole-school improvement.
She delivers regular training across all phases of education, including governance, with particular expertise in inspection readiness and practice.
George Athanasiou
Wellbeing Advocate
Leadership Specialist
Inclusion & SEND
More About George
About George
George Athanasiou is a highly acclaimed educator and motivational speaker, known for inspiring and empowering leaders and educators worldwide. With a background as a Headteacher and Local Authority Adviser, he is recognised for delivering innovative and effective educational strategies.
As a passionate advocate for wellbeing and employee care, George supports organisations in prioritising their people. He believes that the best leaders truly understand and connect with their teams, creating environments where individuals can thrive.
Through engaging keynote presentations and practical workshops, he has helped organisations build a culture of care that drives both wellbeing and performance.
George’s expertise includes leadership development, mentoring and coaching, workplace efficiency, inclusive education, curriculum design and delivery, and school performance improvement.
He has a proven track record of delivering customised solutions that improve pupil outcomes and organisational performance. George has successfully supported schools preparing for Ofsted inspections, from those in crisis to high-performing institutions.
His strong communication and collaboration skills have earned him a reputation for building lasting professional relationships with clients and partners.
As an international speaker, George works with educators worldwide, promoting best practices and celebrating the strengths of the British education system. His dedication has earned him widespread recognition and respect across the sector.
Phil Abbott
School Improvement
Strategic Development & QA
Curriculum
More About Phil
About Phil
Phil is a freelance Education Consultant with over 25 years of experience in the sector, including 13 years as a Headteacher. He is passionate about supporting school leaders in developing strategic oversight, high-quality pedagogy, and ambitious curricula.
Based in Nottinghamshire, Phil works both locally and nationally, travelling to a wide range of venues to support schools and deliver impactful training.
He is regularly commissioned to deliver CPD sessions online and in person. However, his real passion lies in working directly with leaders and staff on-site, providing practical, tailored support.
Phil is known for his ability to quickly build strong relationships, identify key strengths and areas for development, and create effective strategic action plans through coaching and collaboration.
He is a dedicated advocate for disadvantaged and vulnerable pupils, consistently striving for excellence and ensuring that no opportunity for improvement is overlooked.
Mike Serridge
Culture & Climate
School Improvement & Self-Evaluation
Leadership/Coaching
More About Mike
About Mike
With over 34 years of experience in education, Mike is a passionate advocate for leadership development across schools and the wider education system. He has extensive expertise in leading and managing all aspects of school improvement.
His contributions were recognised when he was nominated for the Hampshire Education Award for Outstanding Contribution to Education in July 2023, following a distinguished 12-year tenure as Headteacher of Harrow Way Community School.
As a headteacher, Mike placed strong emphasis on developing a positive school culture and climate, recognising their importance in driving success. A strong culture encourages staff to go the extra mile—often referred to as discretionary effort—and plays a vital role in staff retention and long-term stability.
Mike is designated as a Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) and Local Leader of Education (LLE). His previous roles include working as a data consultant for SSAT and as a Leadership and Learning Partner (LLP) with local authorities.
He has also mentored new headteachers in Hampshire and continues to support the sector as a co-opted governor in a secondary school.
Rachael Bishop
Wellbeing Advocate
Leadership Specialist
Inclusion & SEND
More About Rachael
About Rachael
Rachael has extensive experience working within local authorities in front-line child and adult protection services, as well as a wide range of public service roles leading into corporate management. She has worked across diverse sectors, developing a strong understanding of risk, impact, and complex challenges.
With over 20 years of experience in safeguarding, Rachael has built deep expertise across multiple settings and industries.
Her experience includes Child and Adult Social Care, Human Resources, Higher and Further Education, Primary and Secondary Education, the NHS, Mental Health Services, the Prison Service, the Police, Substance Misuse Services, Domestic Abuse Services, and the Youth Offending Service.
Rachael has also held key leadership roles as a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Head of Safeguarding, bringing valuable strategic and operational insight to safeguarding practice.
Melanie Harte
1-1 Staff Coaching
Coaching Training
Student Coaching
More About Melanie
About Melanie
Melanie is a coaching specialist with over 20 years of experience in education. She began her career as a qualified MFL teacher in large comprehensive schools in Surrey and has held roles including Subject Leader.
She has always been passionate about professional development, finding great reward in supporting others to grow. Melanie first trained as a coach in 2005 and began applying coaching approaches within her teaching, leadership, and mentoring roles.
She later became a Coaching Lead, implementing a whole-school coaching programme for both staff and students.
Since 2019, Melanie has focused on facilitating a wide range of coaching approaches—from informal ‘corridor coaching’ to in-depth coaching cycles.
Her experience includes 1:1 staff coaching, training for teaching assistants, teachers, and senior leaders, as well as facilitating student peer coaching.
Melanie is a registered member of the EMCC and offers 1:1 coaching for school leaders, teachers, and students. She also delivers training to help schools embed a strong coaching culture.
Dan Tresman
Opening New Provisions
Turnaround School Improvement
SEF/SDP Development & ISS Audits
More About Dan
About Dan
Dan holds the NPQH and National SENCO Award. He is the Founder and CEO of Light Years Education, where he recently opened a new special school that achieved an ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted rating at its first inspection.
He was the founding Headteacher of Light Years School until April 2024, leading the development of specialist provision for children with Autism, SEMH, and associated SEND needs.
Prior to this, Dan served as Headteacher at a residential special school, where he led a rapid and successful transformation—improving the provision from ‘Inadequate’ to ‘Good’ within just 20 months across both care and education.
With over 15 years of experience in education, Dan has held a range of leadership roles including Executive Headteacher, Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher, Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), and SENCO.
Dan specialises in rapid school improvement and turnaround projects, Independent School Standards audits, opening new provisions, curriculum development, and SEF/SDP writing.
Jason Philipsz
School Improvement
Curriculum
Coaching
Mathematics
More About Jason
About Jason
Jason brings extensive experience as an education inspector, offering valuable insight to school and academy leaders. He is skilled at combining inspection expertise with practical advice that is accessible and impactful.
He has broad knowledge of pedagogy, school improvement, SEND, and leadership, supported by extensive professional reading and experience.
Jason works closely with primary and secondary schools, with particular expertise in Mathematics and Sixth Form provision. He regularly leads Quality Assurance Reviews for Challenge Partners across secondary and SEND schools.
He also supports performance management at school and trust level, providing impartial, evidence-based recommendations for CEOs and CFOs, including Headteacher appraisals.
Kerri Edge
Leadership coaching
School Improvement
Inclusion
Safeguarding
More About Kerri
About Kerri
Kerri began her career in secondary education, working across a variety of roles over 15 years. Her most senior role was as Headteacher of an all-boys High School in Chatham, Kent, where she successfully improved standards and secured the strongest Key Stage 4 outcomes in the school’s history.
She then joined a Multi-Academy Trust in Medway, Kent, where she has spent the past 8 years as Director of School Improvement and later as Deputy CEO. Alongside this, she also served as an Executive Headteacher of a secondary special school, gaining extensive experience across both mainstream and specialist education.
Kerri brings a strong track record of school improvement and raising standards, working closely with school and academy leaders to deliver meaningful and sustainable change.
She is deeply committed to supporting all children, particularly those facing barriers to learning, and is passionate about improving life chances through high-quality education.
Kerri has extensive experience leading schools through successful Ofsted inspections, and is highly skilled in coaching leaders through a balance of challenge, support, and honest communication.
She values effective governance and has direct experience working with governing bodies, Local Authorities, and political leaders to champion schools and drive improvement.
Known for her strong relationships and communication skills, Kerri is widely respected for her ability to mentor, inspire, and support leaders, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed.
Amy Smith
Behaviour
SEND
Inclusion
More About Amy
About Amy
Amy Smith is the Director of Education for the Inclusive Education Trust (IET), an Alternative Provision Trust based in Surrey. She is recognised for her strong leadership and commitment to educational excellence.
Between May and June 2024, Amy successfully led all IET schools through Ofsted inspections, with each school maintaining their Outstanding judgements—a testament to her strategic vision and high standards.
Prior to this, she served as Head of School at Wey Valley College, where she led the school to achieve an Outstanding rating across all areas in 2018.
With over a decade of experience in the Alternative Provision (AP) sector, Amy has held leadership roles across London, Cambridgeshire, West Sussex, and Surrey.
She played a key role in establishing the TBAP Residence through the Department for Education’s Social Innovations Fund, supporting vulnerable young people at risk of entering care or the youth justice system.
Amy began her career in mainstream education, leading several Outstanding Performing Arts departments. Her creative background informs her approach to behaviour management, focusing on inclusivity, creativity, and personalised support.
In addition to her work with IET, Amy serves as Vice-President of PRUsAP, representing Pupil Referral Units and Alternative Provision settings nationally.
She is a passionate advocate for inclusive education, championing creative and therapeutic approaches that ensure all young people have the opportunity to thrive.
Ann Fearon
School Improvement
Leadership Development
Coaching & Mentoring
More About Ann
About Ann
With a career dedicated to education, Ann has worked across a wide range of roles and settings. Most recently, she spent 14 years as Headteacher of a large, diverse 11–18 secondary school, where she led the school to achieve an Outstanding rating across all areas.
Ann brings extensive expertise in inspection processes and school improvement, offering support in areas such as inspection preparation, self-evaluation, leadership structure and design, leadership development, and departmental reviews.
She has a particular interest in supporting women into educational leadership, alongside strengths in data analysis and organisational effectiveness.
Ann has also supported schools in improving staff recruitment and retention, with a strong focus on staff wellbeing to help schools attract and retain high-quality teachers.
In addition to her leadership experience, Ann is a trained counsellor and experienced coach and mentor. She supports individuals and leadership teams to navigate challenges, develop their skills, and achieve meaningful, long-term success.
Catherine Priggs
Curriculum
Leadership & Management
Preparing for inspection
History
More About Catherine
About Catherine
Catherine has nearly 20 years of experience in education, working across roles including history teacher, head of house, subject leader, senior leader, Director of a Teaching School, and CPD lead for a Teaching School Hub supporting over 240 schools.
As a senior leader for over a decade, she led professional development, teaching and learning, appraisal, and educational research, and supported trainee teachers and Early Career Teachers as a Professional Tutor.
Catherine has worked as a Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) since 2014 and as a freelance education consultant since 2019, supporting schools and multi-academy trusts across a wide range of school improvement priorities.
She has extensive experience in training, mentoring, and coaching, working with professionals from trainee teachers through to senior leaders.
Catherine is highly involved in history education, contributing as a member of the Historical Association’s Secondary Committee, a Quality Mark Assessor, and a Senior Assessor for UK and international exam boards.
She is committed to lifelong learning, holding qualifications from the Universities of St Andrews and Cambridge, including an MA (Hons), PGCE, MEd, and NPQH.
Catherine has authored educational publications and regularly presents at national conferences and professional events.
Darren Aisthorpe
School Improvement
Leadership Development
Curriculum
More About Darren
About Darren
Darren has over 30 years of experience in education, serving in roles including Headteacher, Vice-Principal, and Executive Headteacher across both the UK and international settings.
He has also worked as a School Improvement Partner and Consultant Headteacher, with leadership experience spanning early years, primary, secondary, and sixth-form education. His most recent role was in an all-through school serving pupils aged 0–18.
Darren’s expertise includes leadership, school improvement, and school reviews, as well as designing staffing structures, leading headteacher performance management, and developing the curriculum, including transition from primary to secondary phases.
He also brings strengths in teaching and learning, safeguarding, and school amalgamation, and has supported both middle and senior leaders, as well as governing bodies.
Darren is known for building strong professional relationships, offering both support and constructive challenge to help schools achieve sustained improvement.
He holds a B.Ed. (Hons), M.A. (Ed), and NPQH.
Jonathan Ferstenberg
SEF & Development Planning
Academic, Pastoral & Personal Development
Rapid Improvements in Outcomes
More About Jonathan
About Jonathan
Jonathan brings over 25 years of successful school improvement experience, having served as a MAT Director of School Improvement, Headteacher, senior academic leader, Head of Sixth Form, and Head of Personal Development Studies.
He specialises in using collaborative reviews, coaching, and strategic support to help schools achieve rapid and sustainable improvements, even in the most challenging contexts.
As Director of School Improvement within a MAT serving areas of high disadvantage, Jonathan supported three schools to improve their Ofsted judgements while helping others maintain Good and Outstanding ratings within just over three years.
As a Headteacher, he successfully transformed a school facing closure—balancing the budget, increasing enrolment by one-third, and achieving record Year 13 outcomes within three years.
In another leadership role, he led rapid improvement in disadvantaged areas, taking a Sixth Form from underperformance to the top 4% nationally for Level 3 Value Added in just two terms.
While also serving as Head of School, he oversaw a significant improvement in Progress 8, achieving +0.34 in one year, demonstrating his strong impact on outcomes.
Paul Jensen
SEND/Inclusion
Leadership & Management
School Turnaround
More About Paul
About Paul
Paul Jensen is an experienced education leader with over 20 years of senior leadership experience, including 11 years as Headteacher of a specialist school for autistic boys in Surrey, which achieved an Outstanding rating across all areas in May 2023.
Prior to this, Paul held Deputy Headteacher roles in SEN schools across Merton and Richmond, leading teams through strategic change and improved outcomes for young people with special educational needs.
He has championed pathways into employment and independence, ensuring that students are well prepared for life beyond education.
Alongside his leadership roles, Paul has supported staff undertaking NPQH and NPQSL qualifications, helping to develop future school leaders.
He has also served as Chair of the Specialist Phase Council in Surrey, representing headteachers in discussions with Local Authorities and the Department for Education.
With a strong passion for developing people, Paul now offers coaching and mentoring to education leaders, focusing on school improvement, staff development, and building inclusive learning communities.
Claire Majumdar
School Improvement
Quality Assurance
Safeguarding
More About Claire
About Claire
Claire is a highly accomplished senior leader with a proven track record of driving systematic school improvement, raising standards, and achieving high performance.
She brings extensive expertise in quality assurance and evaluation, having served as a senior director for quality assurance within a large multi-academy trust, a Headteacher, and a full-time Lead Inspector with Ofsted.
Throughout her career, Claire has led schools through significant improvement, developing tailored strategies for sustained success. Her work includes designing bespoke curricula aligned with high standards and delivering effective, embedded leadership.
She has successfully implemented customised CPD programmes that enhance teaching quality and lead to improved academic outcomes.
Claire also has strong expertise in safeguarding, ensuring compliance with national standards through bespoke training and support, including for Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs). Her work embeds safeguarding deeply within school culture, creating safe and supportive environments.
She is passionate about supporting young people—particularly those from challenging backgrounds—to achieve their full potential and secure positive futures.
Ian Curry
Safeguarding & Child Protection (including contextual safeguarding and DSL development)
Behaviour, Culture & Relational/Restorative Practice
Alternative Provision, Inclusion & Pastoral Systems
More About Ian
About Ian
Ian brings over 25 years of senior leadership experience across secondary, special, PRU, and international settings, with a strong track record of driving sustainable school improvement.
As a former Deputy Headteacher and School Improvement Partner, he has led whole-school developments in safeguarding, behaviour, attendance, inclusion, and pastoral care, consistently improving outcomes for children and young people.
Ian specialises in strengthening safeguarding culture, embedding relational and restorative practice, and designing behaviour and alternative provision systems that reduce suspensions and improve school climate.
As a consultant, he supports primary, secondary, special, and international schools through strategic advice, reviews, policy development, coaching, and mentoring.
His work has helped schools secure stronger inspection outcomes, establish effective internal alternative provision, and develop trauma-informed staff teams.
Ian has also supported Headteachers, senior leadership teams, and governors, and contributes to multi-agency safeguarding through his work with Stand Against Violence and CAPE.
His approach is relational, practical, and evidence-informed, with a strong commitment to ensuring vulnerable learners are supported and able to thrive.
Andrew Lagden
School Improvement
Leadership Development
Training
More About Andrew
About Andrew
Andrew Lagden is an experienced independent education consultant, supporting national organisations, trusts, schools, and local authorities with a strong track record of delivering significant school improvement.
He has worked as an external adviser for the Department for Education (DfE) for over 12 years, supporting the development of academies, free schools, and multi-academy trusts.
Andrew also spent over 18 years as a school inspector, working with Ofsted contractors, and has served as a School Improvement Partner across both primary and secondary phases.
He currently provides school improvement and quality assurance consultancy, as well as acting as an external adviser for CEO and headteacher performance management.
His expertise includes supporting trusts and free schools with due diligence, strategic planning, governance, and growth.
Andrew also supports recruitment of senior leaders, evaluates appraisal systems, and conducts pupil premium reviews.
He regularly delivers national leadership conferences and training across a wide range of educational policy areas.
Leah Morgan
Executive and leadership coaching
School improvement
Curriculum and assessment
More About Leah
About Leah
Leah has over 25 years of experience in primary education, working across roles including classroom teacher, headteacher, executive leader within a multi-academy trust, and education consultant across the East and South East of England.
She has extensive expertise in school improvement, curriculum development, and high-quality teaching and learning, supporting schools to achieve sustainable improvement.
Leah is an EMCC-accredited coach, working with both individual leaders and leadership teams to support meaningful and lasting change through reflective practice.
She holds the NPQH, NPQEL, and a Master of Arts in Professional Studies in Education, demonstrating her strong commitment to professional development.
Her work is grounded in compassion, curiosity, and collaboration, creating spaces where leaders can think deeply, share ideas, and innovate to drive improvement.
Emily Bere
Safeguarding
SEND & Inclusion
DSL & SENCo coaching/mentoring
More About Emily
About Emily
Emily brings over 25 years of experience in special needs education, having held leadership roles including SENCo, Deputy Head, Head of Secondary School, and Head of Sixth Form College.
As an Autism specialist, she also has extensive expertise in profound and multiple learning disabilities, moderate learning difficulties, and hearing impairment, working effectively across both mainstream and specialist settings.
Emily specialises in designing and developing SEND provision, working closely with senior leaders to establish and expand services such as sixth form colleges, resource provisions, and inclusion hubs.
She understands the challenges schools face with limited budgets and increasing demand, and is skilled in creating innovative, tailored solutions that deliver strong outcomes and outstanding provision.
Emily also has extensive experience leading safeguarding reviews and strengthening safeguarding systems, with deep knowledge of legislation and practice in both mainstream and SEND settings.
She offers a wide range of services including reviews, policy development, SEND provision design, and mentoring and coaching for teachers, DSLs, SENCos, and leadership teams.
Gayle Adam
SEND Leadership
School Improvement & Mentoring
ISS
More About Gayle
About Gayle
With over 30 years in education—including 27 years focused on SEND and 16 as a Headteacher—Gayle brings extensive leadership experience across a wide range of specialist settings.
A qualified NPQH holder and former Executive Headteacher in Brighton & Hove, she most recently led an Outstanding independent special school, providing high-quality education and holistic support for ASD learners aged 4–19.
Her expertise includes school improvement, mentoring and coaching new headteachers, and quality assurance, alongside strong knowledge of Independent School Standards and regulatory frameworks.
As a trained School Improvement Partner (SIP), she supports schools in raising standards, strengthening leadership capacity, and delivering inclusive, high-impact provision.
Her experience spans specialist settings including SEMH, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), complex needs, and Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD), across both maintained and independent sectors.
Gayle has supported schools with inspection readiness, SEND strategy, and compliance, as well as mentoring leaders to build confidence and strategic capacity.
Her approach is collaborative, reflective, and evidence-informed, focused on enabling sustainable improvement and achieving the best outcomes for children and young people.
Kate Whittlesey
SEND Reviews
SEND Training
SEND Investigations
More About Kate
About Kate
Kate is an Independent Education Consultant specialising in SEND and whole-school improvement. She has experience across all age ranges, from early years through to post-16 education.
Her extensive background includes roles in Trust Leadership, Director of SEND provision, SENCo, Local Authority advisory roles, and MAT Trustee, giving her a broad and strategic understanding of the education system.
Kate has built a strong reputation for driving sustainable school improvement, successfully supporting schools at all stages—from those requiring rapid improvement to those achieving Outstanding outcomes.
Her work includes delivering whole MAT and school SEND reviews, as well as providing coaching, mentoring, training, strategic consultancy, and SEND investigations across the UK.
Marion Hampton
Inclusion
SEND
Equalities & Diversity
More About Marion
About Marion
Marion is a SEND Advice and Support Consultant, working with Headteachers, Inclusion Managers, and SENCOs to develop inclusive practice across schools.
She supports schools in strengthening whole-school professional development, focusing on effective teaching and learning strategies for pupils with complex SEND needs.
Marion specialises in linking assessment with teaching and intervention planning, ensuring that provision is tailored to meet the individual needs of each learner.
She is committed to improving outcomes for children and young people, driving high standards and outstanding progress through a deep understanding of each pupil’s needs and context.
Marion places strong emphasis on pupil voice, recognising its importance in shaping effective learning strategies and improving both behaviour and engagement.
Her consultancy work is grounded in integrity, honesty, and professionalism, offering both challenge and support with equal rigour to achieve sustainable improvement.
Lois Knight
Curriculum Development
Quality Improvement
Staff Development
More About Lois
About Lois
Lois is an experienced, ambitious, and creative leader with a strong specialism in post-16 education. She brings expertise in educational leadership, curriculum development, coaching, training delivery, and quality improvement.
She has a focused specialism in specific learning difficulties and disabilities, with a strong commitment to inclusion across all aspects of education and employment.
Lois has worked as a teacher, senior leader, principal, and governor across both mainstream and specialist settings, consistently improving outcomes for vulnerable and disadvantaged learners.
She has extensive experience leading multi-disciplinary teams across education, care, and therapeutic services, as well as overseeing a wide range of cross-college functions.
Lois combines strategic leadership with a practical and collaborative approach, supporting learners across a variety of subjects, age groups, and levels to achieve meaningful and sustained success.
