Emma is the Executive Principal/CEO of Alternative Learning Trust (multi-academy trust), having been Headteacher at The Limes College PRU in the London Borough of Sutton since 2006.  The Limes College was the initiating organisation for Alternative Learning Trust and converted to an academy within Alternative Learning Trust on 1 June 2019.

Emma graduated as a teacher with B.Ed. 2:1 from the University of Bangor in 1992, with a specialism in Outdoor Education, PE and SEN.

Emma holds a post-graduate Diploma in SEN/Behaviour, an NPQH, she has also led The Limes College in developing quality teaching and raising attainment which involved improving expectations and developing a full range of attainment and qualifications with clear pathways to positive destinations, including working with students to resolve their barriers to learning, and reintegration into mainstream school. This work has led to The Limes College being a leader in multi-agency working and interventions for children and families who have experienced Domestic Abuse / Violence Against Women and Girls. With a focus on supporting whole systems and families to remove barriers to learning.

Emma has introduced many interventions in the various settings in which she has worked, including developing therapeutic interventions into the PRU and researching and developing evidence-based practice to address the impact of domestic violence.  Prior to 2006, she worked in all phases supporting, teaching and managing behaviour support services and provision for excluded pupils.  This work included a specialism in learning outside the classroom, targeted work, and training around inclusion issues for children at risk of exclusion from school.

Emma has worked in outdoor education centres and on a curriculum development project in Knowsley (supporting children at risk of exclusion using outdoor education).   Emma co-ordinated the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in Knowsley Local Authority and at school level whilst teaching in Hounslow.

Emma represents secondary schools, special schools and PRUs on Sutton’s Funding Forum, LSCP, CAMHS Partnership Board and the Early Help Board and is Vice Chair of the Secondary Heads’ Group.  She has also led on the development in Sutton of the Vulnerable Pupils’ Panel (Sutton’s Fair Access Panel, which is the admissions panel to the PRU).

Currently, Emma is representing PRUs and AP on a national stakeholder group with the Department for Education, looking at how policy and practice can be developed to support this vulnerable cohort. The group has supported policy and practice in response to COVID-19 and is working with the DfE on developing commissioning, funding and practice for the future.

Julian has more than 25 years’ experience of working in special education. He is currently the CEO of Esteem Multi-Academy Trust, which is based in the East Midlands and consists mainly of special and alternative provision schools. He is also a member of the Advisory Board to the regional directors of the DfE in the East Midlands as well as being a trustee of Oasis Community Learning.

Previously, Julian was a headteacher of two special schools in Derbyshire and worked as a school Improvement advisor.

Dr Craig Johnston’s research interests lie in the study of youth justice, school exclusion and theories of the social and sociality affecting individuals and communities. His published work held a rating of ‘world leading’ in REF 2021, and his priority is to engage in research with a strong social justice agenda that addresses inequalities of all kinds. Craig has over 25 years’ professional experience in the fields of Youth Justice, Psychology, Education and Social Work across the UK and the USA.

He has held statutory roles and led several multi-disciplinary teams. Craig holds Doctoral, Masters and bachelor level teaching commitments on Criminology, and previously on Education, Youth Work, Sociology and Social Work degrees courses. He is also the online Editor of the Journal of Class sand Culture, the co-founder of the Alliance of Working Class Academics and the Alternative Provision Research Network.

Sarah Johnson has worked in education for the last nineteen years. As a qualified teacher, Sarah has enjoyed roles in mainstream schools, Pupil Referral Units, Alternative Provision and psychiatric in-patient services. Sarah is the author of the book ‘Behaving Together: A Teacher’s Guide to Nurturing Behaviour’ and two upcoming books published by Routledge on Social and Emotional Mental Health. As a member for the Department of Education’s Alternative Provision stakeholder group, she has supported development of policy such as the recent SEND and AP green paper as well as chairing a range of panels and events within the education sector.

Lisa Ingleby’s role includes full oversight of the use of alternative provision by schools across County Durham, including the development and implementation of a quality assurance framework to monitor curriculum provision by referring schools. This also includes developing inclusive practices within alternative provision through collaborative work with other local authorities. Lisa also has extensive experience of leading pastoral provision within secondary and special schools at a senior level, including development of systems to underpin successful transition arrangements across the primary and secondary phase as well as supporting schools who demonstrate excellent inclusive practices, to achieve the Inclusion Quality Mark.

Sandro began his teaching career as an English teacher, qualifying through the Teach First programme. Now an experienced senior leader, Sandro has a wealth of experience, having led in the areas of inclusion, pastoral care, staff development and the curriculum as a deputy headteacher.

Recently, Sandro served as headteacher of an online school, developing flexible, inspiring educational opportunities for online learners. Combining his past experience with a deep appreciation for the ways in which online alternative provision can support learners to thrive, Sandro is now in a position to make a difference: to build inclusive education in a way that blends the traditional and modern, preparing students for the environments that they will work and live in, and giving them the space and structure to develop not just as learners but individuals.

Sandro has an MA in Educational Leadership alongside the NPQH and a wealth of experience when it comes to inclusion. He firmly believes that all learners can thrive through an engaging curriculum and high-quality support that recognises student effort and enables learners from all contexts to achieve personal goals.

He is driven by ensuring students have an inclusive, engaging educational experience that motivates them to achieve their aspirations. Having led on SEND and inclusion, Sandro has a considerable understanding of the barriers to learning that many young people face. He has also seen the huge positive impact that alternative provision can have on learners facing challenges that prevent them from learning in the traditional sense.

Amy Smith is the Director of Education for the Inclusive Education Trust (IET), which is a Alternative Provision (AP) Trust based in Surrey. Previous to this role, Amy was Head of School at Wey Valley College (which is now part of IET) and led the school to an ‘Outstanding’ judgement in all areas in 2018. Amy has worked in the AP Sector for over 10 years in provisions across London, Cambridgeshire and Surrey in a variety of leadership roles. Most notably, Amy was one of the team who set-up the TBAP Residence as part of the DfE Social Innovations fund. The TBAP Residence worked with some of West London’s most vulnerable young people who were either on the edge of care and/or involved in the youth justice system.
Prior to working in AP, Amy led several ‘Outstanding’ Performing Arts departments in mainstream schools across London and Surrey.
Amy is also Vice-President of PRUsAP, which is the National Organisation representing Pupil Referral Units and Alternative Provisions.
Amy is a practitioner who believes in a creative, therapeutic and inclusive approach to behaviour management.

Toni Moser is a leader in alternative provision and inclusion at Matthew Moss High School, part of The Watergrove Trust, and a passionate advocate for inclusion. With three years of experience designing and leading internal and external AP policy and safeguarding, and developing an Emotional-Based Non-Attendance offer, Toni works to address the strong link between SEN, SEMH, and AP access through whole-school inclusive approaches. Toni has contributed to national research on inclusion and AP, with her school being recognised as one of the top five inclusion providers in the UK. Toni has spoken twice at the UK’s only national AP conference, including as a keynote speaker.

Dr Emma Simpson has worked in education for 27 years, as a teacher, leader, consultant and researcher. Her work has mainly been in English secondary state schools but has included periods in primary education, abroad and in the private sector. She is particularly interested in social justice, policy enactment and making education a more rewarding and enjoyable experience for all young people.

Emma joined The Difference as Senior Research Manager in September 2023. From March 2024, she was involved in research into Internal Alternative Provision practices across primary and secondary schools in England. In June 2025, The Difference published the findings of this research as a practice guidance report, which was well received by the sector.

In July 2025, Emma moved to the National Institute for Economic and Social Research as Principal Social Researcher. She leads a qualitative research team which works alongside quantitative researchers to better understand the causes and solutions to social problems. Education remains a central focus but has widened to include issues beyond the school gates.

Originally a mainstream school secondary maths teacher, I have spent most of my teaching career in the alternative provision space. For many years I managed a medical PRU for EBSA pupils and schoolgirl mothers, with a 40 place 0-3 nursery. My current role is headteacher of the Croydon secondary PRU, which is well connected and established within the local SEND/AP offer. In January 2021, I was invited to join colleagues as a member of the DfE AP Stakeholder Group and have been able to provide the perspective of a maintained alternative provision. I was awarded MBE in the Queen’s final birthday honours list for services to the education of vulnerable children.

Emma is the Executive Principal/CEO of Alternative Learning Trust (multi-academy trust), having been Headteacher at The Limes College PRU in the London Borough of Sutton since 2006.  The Limes College was the initiating organisation for Alternative Learning Trust and converted to an academy within Alternative Learning Trust on 1 June 2019.

Emma graduated as a teacher with B.Ed. 2:1 from the University of Bangor in 1992, with a specialism in Outdoor Education, PE and SEN.

Emma holds a post-graduate Diploma in SEN/Behaviour, an NPQH, she has also led The Limes College in developing quality teaching and raising attainment which involved improving expectations and developing a full range of attainment and qualifications with clear pathways to positive destinations, including working with students to resolve their barriers to learning, and reintegration into mainstream school. This work has led to The Limes College being a leader in multi-agency working and interventions for children and families who have experienced Domestic Abuse / Violence Against Women and Girls. With a focus on supporting whole systems and families to remove barriers to learning.

Emma has introduced many interventions in the various settings in which she has worked, including developing therapeutic interventions into the PRU and researching and developing evidence-based practice to address the impact of domestic violence.  Prior to 2006, she worked in all phases supporting, teaching and managing behaviour support services and provision for excluded pupils.  This work included a specialism in learning outside the classroom, targeted work, and training around inclusion issues for children at risk of exclusion from school.

Emma has worked in outdoor education centres and on a curriculum development project in Knowsley (supporting children at risk of exclusion using outdoor education).   Emma co-ordinated the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in Knowsley Local Authority and at school level whilst teaching in Hounslow.

Emma represents secondary schools, special schools and PRUs on Sutton’s Funding Forum, LSCP, CAMHS Partnership Board and the Early Help Board and is Vice Chair of the Secondary Heads’ Group.  She has also led on the development in Sutton of the Vulnerable Pupils’ Panel (Sutton’s Fair Access Panel, which is the admissions panel to the PRU).

Currently, Emma is representing PRUs and AP on a national stakeholder group with the Department for Education, looking at how policy and practice can be developed to support this vulnerable cohort. The group has supported policy and practice in response to COVID-19 and is working with the DfE on developing commissioning, funding and practice for the future.