Alternative Provision Conference

Jo is CEO of Northern Lights Learning Trust, a growing primary and secondary multi-academy trust, in the North East of England which currently comprises of eleven schools, a DfE Teaching School Hub, ITT and DfE Early Years Stronger Practice Hub. Jo is committed to leading Northern Lights as an inclusive Trust that seeks for everyone to flourish. Jo is committed to system leadership across the North East and beyond, having Chaired the Dfe Primary Headteacher Reference Group, sat on a wide range of Dfe Advisory groups and roles and takes on a wide range of roles in the system, including as a Trustee of Ambition Institute, as Vice Chair of Schools North East, as a National Leader of Education and as an Ofsted inspector. Jo is an experienced leader, particularly in the field of school improvement, who believes passionately in the power of collaboration for a stronger school system. She was awarded an OBE for Service to Children and Schools in 2022.

Christina has a background in school improvement, championing ambitious outcomes for disadvantaged and vulnerable learners. River Tees Multi-Academy Trust is a specialist Trust based in the North East of England. Learners attend the Trust’s five academies because of their Special Educational Needs, health conditions, because of permanent exclusion or to undertake specialist assessment and transition programmes.

Christina has a strong interest in ensuring that all learners can access safe, high quality education regardless of their circumstances.

Ben returned to Schools North East in January 2026 as Policy Manager, leading on the organisation’s strategic policy and public affairs agenda. His work provides alignment between policy, research, stakeholder engagement, and member insight; ensuring the voice of North East schools is heard to influence decision-makers at the highest levels.

Ben brings a wealth of cross-sector experience to the role. He re-joins Schools North East following five years at the Department for Education, where he primarily led on stakeholder engagement working closely with the sector to ensure that strategy was developed with schools, trusts, and local authorities. He also served as Policy and Strategy Lead for the ‘Maximising Value for Pupils’ programme, which was launched to tackle systemic challenges at a national level.

Between 2019 and 2021, Ben was Relationship Manager at Schools North East, where he developed strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders  across the region, including CEOs, CFOs, Head Teachers, School Business Professionals, local authorities, and other charitable organisations. Prior to this, Ben spent five years at The Key, supporting school and trust leaders nationwide. A committed advocate for the sector, Ben has been involved in school governance for over a decade and is currently Chair of Governors at a primary school in Newcastle.

Cath is an experienced leader in AP and hospital education, representing the sector at the DfE, and is a key partner in the AP Research Network.

Cath is the Chair of the National Association for Hospital Education, a NLE and was a pathfinder for the Ethical Leadership Framework. She gave evidence at the All-Parliamentary Committee investigation into Alternative Provision and contributed to the recent IPPR Report, Breaking the Cycle’ and various other publications

Cath was awarded an OBE for services to children and young people in 2022 and recently she has published her first book, ‘Including learners with medical needs in school.

Michael has worked for the Alliance for 20 years. He coordinates all aspects of the Alliance’s quality improvement support to the early years sector, including policy and procedures development, inclusion, workforce development and training. He also represents the Alliance on a range of policy forums with DfE, Ofsted and NCFE/Cache. He develops and delivers provision for international partners, most recently in China and Azerbaijan.

His background is in adult community education working as a further education lecturer and then working for The Workers’ Educational Association between 1995 and 2003

He holds a BA (Hons) in Law and Politics, a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (FE) a Masters Degree in Education Policy and a Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship.

He represents the early years sector on the DfE/DHSS National SEND and AP Implementation Board, is a member of Ofsted’s Early Education Curriculum Forum, IfATE’s employer groups revising Apprenticeship standards at Levels 3, 5 and Teacher level and Chairs the Level 2 Apprentice Group.

I have worked for City of York Council since 2009, and became Assistant Director, Education and Skills in 2014.  A former secondary school leader, I have worked in various local authorities as a school improvement professional. My current role is to ensure the council meets the statutory duties to ensure high quality, fair and accessible education to all children, young people, 0-25 in the City of York. I lead teams that cover the full range of education and skills, from early years through to adult learning.

I have a passion for promoting inclusion and belonging in education and believe that this can only be achieved through championing and modelling relational practice.

Andrea is Headteacher at Mary Astell Academy, an Alternative Provision in Newcastle dedicated to supporting pupils who have experienced challenges in mainstream education. The academy provides a nurturing, inclusive environment where pupils can re-engage with learning, build confidence, and achieve their full potential.

Andrea has been leading Mary Astell Academy on a clear journey of improvement, with a focus on raising standards across the board and strengthening provision for all students. She draws on her extensive experience of supporting schools at senior leadership level in both mainstream and specialist settings,  working  in challenging circumstances across Bradford, Durham, and Newcastle to guide the academy’s development. These experiences have reinforced her commitment to fairness, inclusion, and ensuring every student receives the best possible education.

For 27 years Graeme worked in secondary schools in South Yorkshire as a History teacher and subject/faculty leader,  and in 2014 became SENDCO of a large Doncaster school and an educational/psychometric assessor registered with the British Psychological Society.

In 2021 he combined this role with being an Associate Assistant Headteacher on a senior leadership team. Since January 2024, he has been a School Improvement Advisor for Inclusion and SEND for the City of Doncaster Council. In that role I’ve been project manager on the Doncaster Place contribution to the national Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) innovation project, working with parent/carer, education, health and school colleagues to drive change in the mainstream school system.

Alessandro began his career as an English teacher through Teach First, later leading in inclusion, staff development, pastoral care, and curriculum as a Deputy Headteacher. He recently served as Executive Headteacher of Academy21, shaping flexible, high-quality online education. With extensive experience in SEND and inclusion, Alessandro understands the barriers many learners face and the transformative impact of alternative provision. He now oversees Academy21 operations, driving an inclusive, engaging student experience that supports personal growth and achievement. Alessandro holds an MA in Educational Leadership and the NPQH and is passionate about helping all learners thrive through tailored support and inspiring curricula.

Ben has 9 years’ experience working with eco-modular design & build contactors, leading client engagement from initial contact and undertaking site surveys, coordinating the pre-construction phase in collaboration with design teams, and progressing projects through to start on site. Ben has been engaged primarily on education projects ranging from single classrooms through to multi-storey, multi-classroom blocks for local authorities, MAT’s, SEND, AP and Independent School clients. TG Escapes have delivered over 800 buildings UK wide, with the majority or their current work in education or sport & leisure. They offer bespoke safe and tranquil buildings with biophilic design principles that provide an inclusive and transitional environment for children’s reintegration, helping meet their emotional needs. Their modular approach allows for faster installation, minimised disruption, and a more sustainable construction process. Their highly insulated, inspiring buildings combine natural materials with cutting-edge heating, lighting and ventilation technology, ensuring a safe, calm, positive learning environment.

Pete is the Headteacher of Perryfields  Primary PRU in Worcester which provides behaviour support to the 113 primary, first and middle schools in South Worcestershire. Perryfields has been judged to be outstanding by ofsted  on 5 consecutive occasions and was one of the initial 22 national  lead schools on the DfE Behaviour Hubs programme.

This requires Pete to support and train schools across the country in developing a positive behaviour culture.

Pete is a strong advocate for Quality First Teaching and the importance of building strong and nurturing relationships with all pupils. He has been at Perryfields since 2005.  He was awarded an OBE for services to education in the King’s 2023 New Years Honours list.

Sarah is the Deputy Headteacher of Perryfields and leads on the Behaviour Hubs programme.

Sarah had extensive experience of working in mainstream education before joining the Perryfields team in 2018. Sarah is passionate about improving the life chances of vulnerable and disadvantaged pupils and cascades her knowledge through training schools both in Worcestershire and further afield.

Christina has a background in school improvement, championing ambitious outcomes for disadvantaged and vulnerable learners. River Tees Multi-Academy Trust is a specialist Trust based in the North East of England. Learners attend the Trust’s five academies because of their Special Educational Needs, health conditions, because of permanent exclusion or to undertake specialist assessment and transition programmes.

Christina has a strong interest in ensuring that all learners can access safe, high quality education regardless of their circumstances.

If you go back far enough my background is in secondary Science (Chemistry) but I am now firmly, and whole-heartedly, a special education leader. I qualified in Scotland and worked in various parts of England before settling in the Leicester, where I have been Deputy / Headteacher across hospital school and PRU settings for the last 18 years.

I have worked with children from ages 4-18 and had a strong focus on removing barriers to learning! I strongly believe that every child is entitled to a high quality, appropriate and engaging education.

Over the last 5-6 years a significant area of my work has been leading on Trauma Informed Practice. Working with children and young people who have experienced a significant number of ACEs and seeing the tangible impact on their lives, this is a particular passion of mine.

Without (I hope) showing my age too much- ‘every child matters’!

Tim Morfin OBE is the award-winning founder and Chief Executive of the Children’s Charity Transforming Lives for Good (TLG). Under his inspirational leadership, TLG has grown from a small church project, to a national charity serving children and families in 225 different UK communities, in partnership with local churches and more than 300 schools.  Having led the largest network of independent Alternative Provision Schools in England, Tim has a unique perspective on inclusion.  In recognition of the changing needs of children, TLG are now replicating a model of Therapeutic Hubs to help children and young people overcome the challenges they face and reconnect with their learning.  Tim was recognised as the Sunday Times Best Charity Leader in 2019 and received an OBE in 2023 for his services to disadvantaged children and young people.

Chris has been CEO of Prosper Learning Trust since September 2022, having filled the post on an interim basis for the preceding year. He joined the trust in June 2020 as Executive Headteacher of the Trust’s two AP academies.

Chris has over twenty years’ experience of school leadership across three mainstream secondary schools including eleven years as a Headteacher in Gateshead.

Born and brought up in Middlesbrough, he graduated from Newcastle University with an honours degree in Economics, taught English in Madrid, and worked in industry before commencing his teaching career in Northumberland in 1989.

Carol started her career setting up print media enterprises before becoming Director of Marketing and Development at the University of Westminster, later moving to the British Museum in 1999 as its first Director of Marketing and Public Affairs. Her affinity for improving the lives of young people led her to the position of Commercial Director for the Prince’s Trust in 2003, and she became Chief Executive of Coram in 2007.

Formerly a member of the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales, Carol served on the Adoption Leadership Board for seven years and is a continuing member of the Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health. She was Chair of the National Autistic Society for ten years and is now Chair of Diabetes UK. Carol was awarded a CBE in 2013 for her contribution to services for children and families and became a DBE in 2026.

Jo is CEO of Northern Lights Learning Trust, a growing primary and secondary multi-academy trust, in the North East of England which currently comprises of eleven schools, a DfE Teaching School Hub, ITT and DfE Early Years Stronger Practice Hub. Jo is committed to leading Northern Lights as an inclusive Trust that seeks for everyone to flourish. Jo is committed to system leadership across the North East and beyond, having Chaired the Dfe Primary Headteacher Reference Group, sat on a wide range of Dfe Advisory groups and roles and takes on a wide range of roles in the system, including as a Trustee of Ambition Institute, as Vice Chair of Schools North East, as a National Leader of Education and as an Ofsted inspector. Jo is an experienced leader, particularly in the field of school improvement, who believes passionately in the power of collaboration for a stronger school system. She was awarded an OBE for Service to Children and Schools in 2022.