Debbie Davis

Debbie is a former headteacher and education consultant with deep expertise in safeguarding, SEND and leadership development. Six headships across primary and secondary phases sit behind that experience, including independent special schools in residential settings and an interim Head of College role for children with SEMH and extreme behavioural needs. Three of those schools served children’s homes for SEMH, CSE and special needs, and each was judged good. In every one, Debbie was the lead professional, DSL and SENDCO for children in residential and crisis care with EHCPs and complex needs.

Safeguarding runs through her work. Debbie is qualified and trained in safeguarding supervision by the NSPCC, and delivers 1:1, group and ad hoc supervision for a number of established providers, including some serving the international sector. Qualified to advanced level as a DSL, she delivers basic, advanced and governor safeguarding training to several local authorities and serves as an independent foster panel member.

Her school improvement experience includes roles as Systems Lead and Director of School Improvement for a local authority. As Systems Lead, Debbie provided the executive leadership that moved a school forward after an inadequate judgement, rebuilding quality of education and establishing effective safeguarding. Ofsted later recognised the improving picture and the impact of a more academic, carefully sequenced curriculum.

In leadership development, Debbie is an accredited assessor across a range of NPQs for major providers, a facilitator for the NPQH and NPQSENDCO with the country’s largest provider, and a coach for the Early Headteacher Career Offer. She is also part of the supervision team supporting leadership mentors and performance coaches, particularly on the NPQSENDCO, assesses the Early Years Level 3 SENDCO qualification and tutors Level 7 senior leadership apprenticeships.

Alongside her consultancy work, Debbie has lectured at York University on behaviour support and pedagogy, and writes courses, speaks and podcasts on SEND, trauma informed practice and teaching pedagogy. She is a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching, a member of the Institute of Training and Occupational Learning, holds the NPQEL and is working towards chartered status.