AMBITIOUS COLLEGE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Learning Support Co - Ordinator
Bernice joined Ambitious College in November 2014. Bernice had worked within the education and care sector as a Finance and Operations Manager for six years. Prior to this, Bernice worked within the finance sector for a number of financial institutions. Bernice holds the level 4 Diploma in School Business Management (CSBM) and also an Institute of Leadership and Management Level 3 Certificate in First Line Management. Bernice is motivated and committed to providing assistance and support to enable learners to be able to make choices, achieve their goals towards their desired outcomes and their onward destination.
Job Titles:
- Learning Support Co - Ordinator
Job Titles:
- Learning Support Co - Ordinator
Job Titles:
- Manager
- Curriculum Manager
- Curriculum Manager - West Thames Campus
Dale has been working with autistic people and adults with learning disabilities for the past 12 years. He has worked with supported learning provisions in mainstream colleges in Buckinghamshire. Before joining Ambitious about Autism in October 2015 where he was appointed as a lecturer. Whilst working at Ambitious about Autism Dale achieved a post-graduate certificate in Autism and Aspergers from Sheffield Hallam University.
Dale works as a curriculum manager where he supports the development of our personalised curriculum and oversees the improvement and quality of teaching and learning at our West Thames campus. Dale has developed curriculum and training modules with autistic learners at both Ambitious college and West Thames promoting learner voice and how best to support autistic students in a mainstream setting. Dale led workshops at the 2022 Natspec conference on this subject for delegates from across the UK.
Job Titles:
- Director of a Mental Health NHS Trust
- Parent Governor
David is the dad of two learners at the CONEL site. They previously attended TreeHouse School. David is the Director of a Mental Health NHS Trust and has been a member of NHS boards since 2000 holding roles in corporate governance, planning and strategy. David was previously a parent governor at a primary age school and special needs centre. In the past, he served for eight years as an elected London Borough councillor. David is also a committee member of the South Woodford Society, a residents' group in his local community.
Job Titles:
- Speech and Language Therapist
Job Titles:
- Curriculum Manager
- Curriculum Manager - CONEL
Eve has worked with autistic people and people with learning disabilities for over ten years. During that time, Eve has co-produced various schemes of learning through outreach and inclusion projects internationally and throughout Bristol and London, working with young people from all over the world.
Eve joined Ambitious College in 2014 as a Learning and Behaviour Specialist, whilst completing her masters in Applied Theatre (Drama in the Community) where she specialised in applied theatre as a strategy for supporting the reduction of behaviours that challenge in learners with complex autism. Eve undertook her teacher training with Ambitious College, and now has joined the leadership team as Curriculum Manager where she supports in overseeing improvement of quality in teaching and learning at the CONEL co-located campus. Eve is a firm believer in the importance of the arts in specialist education, and the potential of every young person to learn and access their future goals, with the right support, patience and care.
Job Titles:
- Chartered Accountant
- Parent Governor
Ian is a Chartered Accountant (FCA), having worked with Grant Thornton and Deloitte before leaving the profession and moving to London to work in a Music Management Co, followed by 2 years at Stiff Records. He then joined a music distribution company, becoming Finance Director. After 7 years, Ian moved to BT, initially leading Financial Planning for BT's Broadcast and Visual Services division, subsequently moving on to BT Business and finally Openreach, where he was engaged in large scale transformation projects.
After 25 years at BT Group, Ian retired and is now able to focus on other activities, including investing.
Ian is married and his son, Jamie, recently started at Ambitious College. He also has a daughter who is studying for a Masters at the University of Warwick. Ian is Vice-Chair of Governors of Springhallow School, an Autism-specific setting and one of the 6 special schools in Ealing, which Jamie had attended for 11 years. He is also a member of the Ealing Schools Forum.
Job Titles:
- Learning Support Co - Ordinator
Jacqui joined Ambitious College in July 2019. She has been working in the post-16 special educational needs (SEN) sector for over 15 years. She is a qualified post-16 lecturer and has worked within sixth form, further education, and adult provision for young people and adults with a wide range of learning disabilities and autism. She has also managed teams and provisions across the sector. Jacqui has high aspirations for young people and is a keen advocate for independence and employment for young people with special educational needs.
Job Titles:
- Senior Learning Support Co - Ordinator
Jonathan qualified as a solicitor and after a period in private practice has been a senior lawyer in the Civil Service for nearly 30 years working in a number of departments. He currently advises on employment law to a number of public bodies including the Department for Education and the HM Prison and Probation Service but has advised on subjects as diverse as cigarette smuggling and nuclear decommissioning. Jonathan has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion and in his time has acted as Disability Officer and contributes actively to the carers network.
Jonathan is married and has four boys, all of whom have autism - one of whom is currently at Ambitious College. His interests are theatre, art, playing bridge, and walking.
Karin has been working in the field of Psychology since 2010. During her studies, she focused on Educational Psychology, specifically on researching diagnostic methods of ADHD and supporting children with SEN in mainstream settings. At the same time, Karin studied Organisational Psychology with the focus on HR Management and Recruitment.
In February 2017, she joined the Ambitious College team as a Learning and Behaviour Specialist. Throughout the years she progressed towards the role of Operations Manager where she ensures both campuses are safe and compliant; and all learners and staff receive appropriate support and adjustments.
Karin is passionate about person centred approach and ensures it is applied at college in a consistent, high quality, individualised support which leads to the best possible outcomes for our young people.
Job Titles:
- Governor / Interim Executive Principal, the College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London
Kurt has worked in further education (FE) for over 20 years across two countries, formally serving as Director, Vice Principal and Deputy Principal at College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London. Kurt is a qualified mechanical engineer and begun his career in the New Zealand Army before moving into the private sector and then onto teaching in further education at the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) in New Zealand, before moving to East Berkshire College in the UK in 2004.
Kurt has a long history of vocational and apprenticeship training delivery both in New Zealand and the UK including running national training contracts for industry. Kurt has managed significant technical innovation and has led on many teaching and learning projects including, most recently, the ETF Outstanding Teaching, Learning and Assessment (OTLA), Flexible Learning project in Cyber Security and Industry Placement pilots in preparation for T-levels.
Linda joined Ambitious about Autism in August 2013. She has worked with autistic people or people with disabilities for the last 20 years. Linda is a qualified post-16 SEN lecturer and spent the first five years of her career working in Further Education (FE) colleges. She then moved into the charity sector where she set up and managed a number of services to develop the skills of autistic people and those with learning disabilities. These services included independent travel training, supported employment, and a variety of lifelong learning and social enterprise schemes. Linda is motivated by her belief in the abilities of people with learning disabilities and how support can help them to reach their full potential.
Job Titles:
- Hammersmith Class Teacher
Natalie is passionate about creating a more equitable society and bringing meaningful change to people's lives through education.
Throughout her career, Natalie has specialised in further education at both the National Union of Students and the Labour Party, and now Senior Adviser for Health and Young People - Mayor of London's Office. In all of her roles, she has modelled an inclusive and accessible approach, consistently advocating for the rights of learners in government and college policy.
In her free time, Natalie enjoys walking along the Southbank, reading in Brockwell Park, and spending time with her friends and family.
Job Titles:
- Head of Campus - West Thames
Nicola joined Ambitious College in 2015. Nicola has over 15 years' experience in developing and managing complex services and teams within a variety of post-16 SEN settings. Nicola joined Ambitious About Autism in July 2015 and brings her expertise in operational and service management to the team. Nicola holds an ILM Level 5 in Leadership and Management and is currently undertaking an MSc in Positive Behaviour Support. Nicola is passionate that all young people are supported to work towards their own meaningful outcomes and develop skills for future success.
Job Titles:
- Senior Learning Support Co - Ordinator
Job Titles:
- Trainee Teacher - Metropolitan Infill Class
Job Titles:
- Governor and Executive Principal
Job Titles:
- Assistant Principal ( Curriculum )
Simon has been working in the education of autistic people for over 20 years in various roles. He joined Ambitious about Autism in 2014. For over 15 years, he has been teaching in the post-16 sector and has been involved in the setting up of a number of post-16 provisions for autistic people in London and Surrey. As well as curriculum design, Simon is interested in how technology can usefully enhance the education and social inclusion of autistic learners. Simon is committed to the continuous development of the curriculum and creating an engaging and enjoyable educational environment for all our learners.
Job Titles:
- Behaviour Specialist
- Staff Governor
Steve is a Senior Learning and Behaviour Specialist at Ambitious College, where he has worked since 2019 and has joined the Governing Body in January 2022. He has two boys with autism, one of whom attends TreeHouse School.
Prior to joining Ambitious About Autism, Steve worked for 25 years in operational management in NHS hospitals around London. Before that, he qualified in and worked as a newspaper reporter. He was a parent governor for 7 years at a specialist school in Enfield for autistic pupils.
Steve is passionate about ensuring all autistic young people receive the education and support they are entitled to, and is committed to helping to ensure their voices are heard and to speaking up on their behalf.
Tom works with schools, community groups, parents and charities to set up new state free schools around the country. Experienced in working with a multitude of stakeholders across the education sector, Tom has supported local authorities to establish new special and alternative provision schools in communities where young people's needs are struggling to be met. Tom specialises in academy trust development and works with school and trust leaders in a consultative capacity to strengthen their institutions. In recent years, he has channelled a passion for innovation and design into creating tailored services for new, growing and established schools. A reluctant Arsenal fan, Tom also has an interest in music, architecture and politics.
Job Titles:
- Director of Education at Ambitious about Autism
Viv joined Ambitious about Autism in May 2014. She has spent over 20 years working in the further education (FE) sector in various guises - volunteer, lecturer, coordinator, manager, and Head of Department. Her experience is across the sector - FE colleges, local authorities, universities, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Viv is motivated by social justice, social inclusion, and equality and always works from this value base.
Job Titles:
- Governor / Strategy Director, Young People 's Education and Skills, London Councils
Yolande leads the Young People's Education and Skills team at London Councils and guides to work in areas such as preparing for adulthood for young people with special educational needs, careers guidance, and the strategy to achieve full participation to age 18, contributing to national policy-making and local implementation.
Throughout her 25 year career in the public sector, Yolande's responsibilities have included partnership working and delivery, most notably the implementation of the New Deal programme across North London. She has substantial experience in developing and implementing post-16 education policy and strategy, and planning and commissioning learning provision locally and regionally.