Sam is a Specialist Leader in Education for SEN, who is passionate about pupil inclusion, achievement and enjoyment. Sam has over 20 years’ experience teaching in special, mainstream and international settings, working with children who have a diverse range of learning styles, needs and disabilities.Sam has held senior leadership positions and has worked in schools in the UK and in America, she has also made partnerships with schools in South Africa.

 

Most recently Sam was employed as a Deputy Headteacher at a Primary Special School rated as “outstanding” by Ofsted (March 2018). Sam led on a number of initiatives, most notably the National Autistic Society Accreditation, Unicef’s Rights Respecting Schools Award and the National Nurturing Schools Award. Sam’s responsibilities included: Safeguarding, Assessment, Curriculum Development, Performance Management, Behaviour Co-ordinator, Parent Partnerships, Educational Visits and Teacher Training and Support. Sam is a Programme licence user for NAS EarlyBird Plus and Healthy Minds programmes, provides Specialist Autism Outreach Support and has been a visiting lecturer at Liverpool John Moores and Chester Universities. Sam has managed staff teams of up to 50 personnel and has experience in human resources, coaching, an organisation’s self-evaluation, finance, health and safety, due diligence, curriculum/ project management and various accreditation inspections. Sam also has a strong interest in the health and well-being of an organisation’s workforce and has implemented many initiatives for the well-being of staff to enhance the working culture and ethos within the schools she has worked in.

 

Academic Qualifications

• Working towards a MA in Educational Leadership

• National Professional Qualification for Headship

• PGCE (Primary)

• BA (Hons)

 

Professional Qualifications

• Specialist Leader in Education (SEN)

 

Professional Memberships

• Member of the National Association of Headteachers (NAHT)

 

Personal 

Sam is married and enjoys Zumba, Yoga, Mindfulness and walking. Sam also enjoys travelling and exploring new places of interest as well as reading. Sam has a strong network of close friends and family who help her maintain a good work-life balance.