Staff Team

I have had the privilege of being Head Teacher at Epinay Business and Enterprise School since January 2017. I have spent my full working career in special needs schools, a job I find tremendously rewarding. I like to think that I have a lot to offer as a leader in a special school, I have had a number of positions within school including teaching assistant, HLTA, Pastoral Manager, Residential Child Care Officer, Teacher, middle leader, Assistant Head Teacher, Deputy Head Teacher, Head of School and Head Teacher.

I was delighted to be awarded with Head Teacher of the Year in 2023 for the North East of England, a night I will remember for a very long time.  Since 2017 I have a lot of proud moments, the school staff team have won Team of the Year on South Tyneside, lots of children have been involved and won inter school sporting competitions, we have also been awarded many national awards, such as the Family First award, reading, and the careers kitemarks.  Our teachers and support staff have been nominated and shortlisted for many individual local awards.  In short we strive for excellence in everything we do.

‘Ready to listen, ready to learn together’ is something that we strive to work towards every day, we have worked extremely hard in giving children an enriching and creative education that equips them with the skills and attributes they will need to support them to develop as happy, confident and independent learners who are prepared for adulthood.

I trained as a middle school teacher which enabled me to teach in both primary and secondary schools. I began my teaching career working in mainstream primary and secondary schools in Sunderland where I taught the primary curriculum mainly in year 6 and maths in secondary school. I quickly realised I had a real connection with SEND children and decided to move into special education. I have worked in 4 authorities in a variety of special schools; mainly SEMH, for most of my career to date. I have had a number of positions as a teacher, head of department, Assistant Head Teacher, Lead Practitioner and now Senior Deputy Head Teacher.

My role as Senior Deputy Head enables me to work closely with the Head Teacher and all stakeholders to ensure we meet the needs of all children by giving them an enriching, creative education that equips them for life. I would not accept anything other than outstanding for my own children and therefore strive to ensure we offer just that to all the children here.

I have been extremely fortunate in my career to work at Epinay School for 36 years in various roles and capacities. I started life in the early days as a year 7 pastoral teacher; teaching Food Technology, Art and English teacher, moving on to a subject leads for both Food and Art. In recent years, I progressed to senior teacher with responsibility for Cognition and Learning and Creative Partnerships. Then to Assistant Headteacher and designated lead for safeguarding.  My present position is Deputy Head Teacher with responsibility for teaching and learning and designated Safeguarding Lead, these roles which are extremely demanding but incredibly rewarding.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending precious time with my family and friends. I have passion for sporting activities whether it is watching my beloved Newcastle United or participating in spinning and body combat classes at my local gym.

I enjoy travelling around Europe, exploring new places and sampling the local food and culture.

Both personally and professionally, I want to continue to strive for positive outcomes for all the young people who I have the pleasure of working with. I would like to further develop my leadership skills to ensure that the outstanding practice and vision of Epinay School continues to evolve for many years to come and we continue to be an inspirational school for students with additional needs.

I have been extremely fortunate to work at Epinay School since 2010. I started as a NQT teaching Maths and ICT. I have progressed to Subject lead for ICT and E-Safety, Head of Secondary and Sixth form and now to my current position of Assistant Head Teacher. I am responsible for careers, I hold a Level 6 Certificate in Career Leadership as well as NPQSL. I am very proud of the journey I have taken during my career at Epinay. It has been an absolute pleasure working at Epinay School and engaging with so many young people, I look forward to continuing for many years to come.

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I came to Epinay school in 2006 as a seasonal sports coach and was lucky enough to be offered a position as a Teaching assistant shortly after. Since then I have completed my PGCE and middle leadership qualifications, and I am currently Employed as a lead practitioner.  Most of my teaching is within the area of maths for Phase 3 and Phase 4.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, taking part in fitness activities, as well as watching my favourite football team Sunderland. I love the sunny weather so travelling to hot countries is something I enjoy very much!

I am lucky to be able to come to work in such an amazing school surrounded by fabulous students and colleagues

I have been here at Epinay over 20 years and in that time have covered many subject areas.

I came to Epinay in 2022 following a Deputy Head of Art role in a mainstream school.  I recognised how much of a connection I had with SEND students from a link school and decided to pursue this at Epinay.  As a specialist teacher of Art, I have a genuine love of the subject, which is my tool to develop engaging and exciting practical projects for our students. Students experience such a broad range of skills such as ceramics, textiles, mixed media, drawing, painting and printing – it’s always busy in Practical Magic!

I have worked at Epinay since 2011, originally joining the school as a Primary teacher. I now teach students within our Life Skills Hub where we focus on developing skills and knowledge needed for future independence. In addition to this, my role also includes delivering Play Therapy to our students. This is something I am passionate about and strongly believe will help further support the social and emotional wellbeing of our students.

At home, I enjoy aerial trapeze and spending as much time as I can with my family – especially my 2 young children who keep me very busy!

I have been teaching since 2000 and at Epinay for the past 9 years. I started here on supply and was fortunate enough to be offered a full -time role as a teacher in Green class. I now mainly teach English at secondary and 6th Form level as well as Social Enterprise raising money for the school.

I share my home with my daughter Natasha and three Chihuahuas Sweetpea, Patchouli and Buttercup. I do a lot of knitting at home, puzzles and when the weather is nice a bit of gardening. I love reading vampire and crime thriller novels on my Kindle and listening to all types of music. If I ever win the lottery, Natasha and I will support dog rescue centres and I’ll buy myself two new knees!

I’ve been a teacher for over 20 years, initially starting in Mainstream. As a Music Specialist, I moved to an SEMH setting, where I worked with challenging students for 15 years. In 2023, the opportunity to work at Epinay came up, and after visiting the school, I instantly wanted to be part of the team! Teaching Music to our students is the most fulfilling and rewarding job I’ve ever done; an absolute privilege in fact. I hope to inspire and enthuse our students with exciting music making opportunities and strive to share my love of Music with everyone and anyone I meet! Helping our students find their talents and a way to express themselves through Music, makes me so happy. I feel so lucky to be part of Epinay.

In my spare time, I love reading, connecting with nature, being outdoors with my family and anything active like bike riding or sea swimming. If I’m not walking the dog, I’m busy with my kids or down the yard with our horse!

Following a successful career in retail management and the pharmacy industry, I made the bold decision to follow my heart and become a teacher of Design and Technology.

On completion of my PGCE at Sunderland University I spent time honing my craft in several schools across the North East in a supply capacity.  I have experience of teaching in mainstream Primary, Middle and High schools, SEN, SEMH and PRU provisions.  Having spent seven years teaching in the SEMH sector, I realised that I had an affinity with those students diagnosed with ASD. I just ‘got’ them and enjoyed supporting them to overcome their individual barriers to learning.

Fast forward to September 2022 when I was delighted to be offered a part-time teaching position here at EPINAY to deliver Design and Technology.  This position soon developed into a full time role to include the teaching of a bespoke Enterprise programme for select students.

Design and Technology is brand new to Epinay and the students have embraced this subject with passion, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn.  The Practical Magic department never stands still and there is never a dull moment where creativity is involved!

I have had the pleasure of joining the wonderful team at Epinay Business and Enterprise School since April 2024. Before moving to Epinay, I worked in my previous post for 13 years within a Newcastle-based SEND Multi Academy Trust as a subject leader. Prior to this, I taught PE in a mainstream secondary school in Newcastle. I hold a BSc (Hons), QTS and MA in Education. I enjoy helping and supporting young people, aiding their progression and learning.

Outside of teaching, I love spending time with my family and friends. I am a mum to two wonderful children and a naughty beagle, Maggie. I enjoy holidays abroad, live music, concerts, keeping fit, bike rides and family camping trips

I have spent most of my career working in mainstream schools, however, in January 2022, I was lucky enough to become a teacher here at Epinay School.   I love my role here, seeing the students progress with their learning.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, especially doing activities with my little boy.  We love being outdoors, going on day trips and family holidays!

I am a teacher of physical education and dance, I have 4 year experience teaching in a college setting and various secondary schools, before coming to Epinay in 2021. I am very much looking forward to continuing my professional development and expanding my knowledge within SEND.

In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family and little boy. My hobbies are playing netball, dancing and going for bike rides in the summer.

I hope to progress in my career, and continue to inspire young people’s aspirations.

After graduating with a BA in architecture from Newcastle University in 2014, I decided to pursue a career in education. Working as a teaching assistant for SEND pupils within a mainstream provision, I decided to complete my PGCE at Northumbria University. Following this, I taught for three years in a mainstream primary setting and I am thrilled to be back working with SEND learners and to be part of the Epinay family.

Outside of teaching, I love to be creative; interior design and home styling is a passion. Spending time with my family is by far the most important thing to me and, as they’re scattered around the globe, travelling is a big part of my life.

I have worked at Epinay for 14 years now and enjoy the environment we create here. I am currently leading ENRICH (Epinay’s nurturing, re-engaging, individualised, child-centred hub), which is for children that need extra support and struggle in a main school classroom environment. I am a teacher with lead responsibility in alternative education where I support staff to create bespoke timetables for children. I have a BA Primary Hons with a specialism in Early Years and a British Sign language level 2 qualification. I have recently completed training using strategies for intervention with dyslexic children. I have two children and a dog. In my spare time I enjoy going to the theatre and travelling.

I worked as a Learning Support Assistant before I qualified as an English teacher in 2009. I started at Epinay in April 2024, having worked at my previous school for over 17 years. I currently teach English to Phase 3, 4 and 5. I am passionate about my subject and want to develop students’ confidence and love of reading.
Outside of work, I love to spend time with my family and enjoy days out in the fresh air. My favourite way to relax is to read a good book!
I feel very lucky to work at Epinay with such amazing students and colleagues.

I am a subject specialist teacher in science at Epinay. I hope to bring experience and enthusiasm for science and experimentation to Epinay, and for that enthusiasm to spark curiosity in our students. Before becoming a teacher at Epinay, I was a mainstream chemistry teacher; and before that, I was a research scientist for about ten years.

I have worked at Epinay since 2011 and have had the pleasure of working with many different year groups over that time.  Away from Epinay I enjoy being out and about with my little family going on walks or travelling in our campervan.

BA Primary Education with QTS

CEOP e-safety qualification and Duke of Edinburgh Instructor

I started Epinay Business and Enterprise School as an ECT in 2021, I have completed my first three years of teaching and I have just started my fourth year in September 2024.  I currently teach in Phase 1.

I love teaching Read Write Inc Phonics and supporting children to read and write. I enjoy developing new creative areas in my classroom to support children to learn through play and develop their communication and language skills. I feel very privileged to work at Epinay School with such wonderful young people and a fantastic staff team!

I joined Epinay School over 15 years ago after working in Barclays bank for 22 years.  After having my family of 3 and completing numerous ‘working with children’ courses I retrained and gained a Diploma in Nursery Nursing (NNEB) Early Years.  Whilst at Epinay I obtained HLTA (Higher Level Teaching Assistant) then completed Catering Assessors Award enabling me to deliver City and Guilds NVQ level 1 & 2 within Epinay Cafe where I work at present.

When not at work I enjoy spending time with my husband Ian and my children Rebecca, Emily and Anthony.  I like cycling, and walking but my passion is baking and decorating cakes with flowers and decorations I have produced myself using sugar.

I have been working in SEND provision for over 20 years now, in 3 different schools both in Newcastle and South Tyneside.  I have worked at Epinay since 2019 and I absolutely love being part of the team.  I feel privileged to work with such amazing staff and students.

I currently teach a class within the life skills hub, where the scheme of work has been developed to ensure pupils have a broad and progressive curriculum that will help develop the skills and knowledge they require to establish confidence and independence within adulthood. On 2 afternoons per week I teach the BTEC Level 2 Home Cooking Skills qualification to phase 4 students where the students learn a variety of cooking skills and get to prepare numerous dishes.

In my spare time I love spending time with my family and friends, my daughter Libby keeps me very busy and entertained.  I also enjoy going on holiday, visiting new places and spa days.

I started my career in education by training as an apprentice teaching assistant in 2013 and began working at Epinay in 2016 when I qualified. Since then I have had the pleasure of working with all age ranges at Epinay in multiple subjects across the curriculum. In more recent years I stepped into a teaching role in which I am mainly based within the Epinay 6th Form Lifeskills provision. I am a Duke of Edinburgh accredited supervisor and assessor which allows me to guide students to gain such a fantastic qualification. In addition to teaching the Phase 5 lifeskills curriculum I also deliver Food Technology/Catering work experience placement within our on site public cafe.

I have worked at Epinay for 36 years and I am the longest serving member of staff. I started as a nursery nurse and had various roles and responsibilities within the role of support staff. The past 4 years I have been employed as an unqualified teacher  with the responsibility of teaching history and geography.

Dipolma in Nursery Nursing (NNEB) Early Years.

I have worked at Epinay since 2022. Firstly led in the SENSES unit, & now currently in the Life skills department, a fabulous school, which enables students to reach their full potential, have fun and learn all at once, with the added bonus of working with some of the most amazing staff. I have worked in SEN settings including, schools, & residential schools for over 16 years, working with both adults & children with very complex, physical, hearing & behavioural needs. I’m qualified Level 2 in British Sign Language as well as Lego therapy & rebound. I have another job outside of Epinay, working as a PA for a young man, a student at my previous school & done so for over 6years.
Outside of work, I love spending quality time with my son Caleb who is 8, we enjoy trips away, playing and watching football and going on our camping trips!

After graduating with a BSc in Geography from the University of Sunderland in 2011, I decided to pursue a career in education and gained my PGCE from Northumbria University in 2017. I have taught for several years in Primary School setting, but I am really looking forward to working with the children at Epinay and being a part of the Epinay family.
Outside of teaching, I love spending time with my family and going on days out with my wife and two daughters. I love sunny weather and will spend as much time outside as possible. When the weather is nice, I love to explore parks, National Trust areas or even just in my garden with a good book.

I have worked at Epinay School for over 4 years.  I have worked with special needs children for 16 years.  I enjoy teaching children Makaton through my sing and sign club, sign of the week and through lessons.  I initially self-taught myself Makaton and then attended a Level 1-4 course and hope to attend more courses to develop my signing further.  I enjoy being part of the team to support children to access residentials at Robinswood since being at Epinay.  I have additional roles within the school including support through TACPAC (a sensory communication through touch and music), Sensory Sam and Easter Play scheme which I find rewarding seeing the children progress through these extra-curricular activities and support.

I have worked at Epinay for 11 years now. Before I joined the team at Epinay, I provided supply cover across the region including at Benton Dene (SEND) and Ashington High School (mainstream).

I currently work as a senior TA within phase 3 and have been in this department for 2 years now. Prior to working with phase 3, I worked with phase 2 for a number of years.

I feel extremely privileged to play a small role in the futures of our young people and enjoy seeing them grow with us as they prepare for adulthood.

Outside of the school day, I am manager of Washington Juniors (u9s) and its a role I am thoroughly enjoying as I work towards my UEFA C license with Durham FA. If I’m not on the touchline watching my team, I am following Sunderland AFC and Glasgow Rangers who I have supported all my life!

I have been teaching for a few years and have a Degree in Primary Education with a mathematics specialism.  I’ve previous studies in Music including production at degree level also with a keen eye on technology in media and how the arts change around us.  I hope to take my own studies further in an MA related to psychology or special educational needs.

I supported Epinay school since 2016 as a Support for School Advisor for an external provider , helping the students decide their progression route post 18 . I was fortunate to be offered a post as a Teaching Assistant in February 2024 and am still in that role within school predominately in 6th Form . I am really enjoying working at Epinay especially working with our young people .
Outside of work I am a keen swimmer , like holidays and love spending time with my family and friends .

I started working at Epinay Business and Enterprise School in 2022 as an agency worker and was fortunately offered permanent employment within the school.  I have been working in Phase 2 since my journey began and I’m loving every minute of it.  My job is very rewarding and it is a privilege to work at Epinay School with such amazing children and a fantastic staff team!

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my 2 daughters, my family and my friends.  We love listening to music, being outdoors, going on day trips and family holidays!

I came to Epinay Business and Enterprise School in November 2022 after 16 years working in two private nurseries as a level 5 nursery nurse.

I feel extremely lucky to be part of the Epinay family and love working within Phase One. I’m very proud to be part of our students growth and development.

In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, walking, exploring new places and having movie nights with my two children.

I started at Epinay in 2023 after working 18 years in a private nursery.
I graduated with a BA in Early Childhood and Curriculum Studies in 2005 and in 2009 I got my Early years professional status.
I currently work in Green class within phase one and love working at Epinay.

I’ve had a varied career path from bingo caller to energy advisor before stepping into education. I started as childminder in 2016 and then went back to university, graduating in 2020. Since then I have worked across Early Years, KS1 and KS2 gaining valuable experience across many subject areas.  Thoroughly excited for my opportunity here at Epinay may it be an unforgettable adventure.

Outside of school I love creating new memories with my husband and children (1 girl and 2 boys) whether it is reading a story or dancing in the rain. I also love anything crafty, going out and exploring, holidays, movies, cooking and reading for myself. I love being a little bit crazy and wild, however, my kids would argue otherwise!

I have worked in school since 2019, I love being creative and spending time with the children.  I have two fur-babies Bella and Buster and a grown up son called Jack.

I have worked with SEND students since 2009 in a mainstream setting .I joined Epinay in September 2023 and have supported our youngest learners in Blue Class since then. I love working with these students and find it very rewarding, watching them grow and flourish. Outside of school, I have a grown up daughter, who has followed in my footsteps, pursuing a career in Education. I love walking my dog and spending time with family and friends

I started working at  Epinay in 2023, after working  for over 15 years in different settings. I have worked with SEND children for over 10 years. I graduated with a full BA HONS in Children and Society studies in 2024. I currently work with phase 2 and love every minute. When I am not at work, I enjoy spending time with my family.

I came to Epinay in September 2022 as supply staff, not long after I was fortunate to be offered a permanent TA position. I have worked 1:1 with students. been part of the lifeskills team and now I work within phase 4. I find my job very rewarding and love been part of the Epinay team.

In my spare time I like to spend time with family and friends especially my 3 teenage boys Callum, Dylan and Kieran. They keep me very busy as if I’m not spending my time watching them play football or cricket you will find me at the stadium of light watching Sunderland.
I also love the sunshine and travelling to different counties which I very much enjoy

I started working at Epinay in 2022, after 14 years of working in various  early year settings.  I currently work in Green Class which is in the Phase One pod. I find my job very rewarding and look forward to every school day.  When I’m not at work I look forward to going on holidays, spending time with my family and long walks with my dog Holly.

I joined Epinay in September 2019 as a 1:1 inclusion support assistant.  I have a BTECT Nursery Nursing, but for the past 10 years I have supported SEN children in mainstream schools.

I have worked at Epinay since 2022 and loved every minute of it.
I work within our lifeskills hub with a fantastic team around me. My job is very rewarding and it is a privilege to work in such an outstanding school.
Outside of school I enjoy spending time with my family, 2 children and my dog Nova, I love shopping, listening to music and going on lovely long dog walks.

I have supported SEND learners within school settings since 2016, working in mainstream primary setting before joining Epinay.

Since joining the team in September 2022 I have been lucky enough to work within phase 1, supporting are youngest learners. I have loved being able to be a part of these students’ early learning journey and watching them grow and develop is wonderful to see.

I started my apprenticeship in Epinay in September 2023, and recently gained a distinction in my level 3 teaching assistant course. It is a pleasure coming to work everyday to see the children at Epinay grow and develop into independent learners! I am currently working in Green Class in the phase 1 pod and loving every minute of it.

When I’m not at work I enjoy dog walks along the beach with my family, playing netball for a local team and spending time with my friends.

I joined Epinay in 2021 and I am thoroughly enjoying being part of the team. I have a degree in primary education and I am always looking for opportunities develop my skills. I currently work as a teaching assistant in the Life Skills Hub where we prepare pupils for adulthood and the world in which we live, I love my job and find it extremely rewarding.

At home I enjoy playing in a wind band and walking, I hope to one day complete all 214 Wainwrights.

I worked on supply at Epinay in 2021 and came back to start full time in April 2023. I worked as 1-1 support before moving to the PE department. I also support in core lessons with year 10 students.

Before starting at Epinay I studied Sport & Exercise Sciences at the University of Chester. I then moved around coaching football in the USA, Greece, Singapore and Bahrain. I have also worked for Blackburn Rovers, Southampton, Chelsea, Brighton and currently Liverpool.

In my spare time I love going to watch live music shows and playing a mixture of sports like football, tennis, golf and darts.

I have worked at Epinay since 2022, originally joining the school as an Agency worker supporting on a 1-1 basis. I now support students as a TA within our Life Skills Hub where we focus on developing skills and knowledge needed for future independence.  In addition to this, I love to lead small groups of students to support them with their learning.

At home, I enjoy reading and completing courses to gain more knowledge and understanding to support my skills. I also love to spend time with my 2 boys and colouring in.

I have worked within the SEND sector for 5 years now after gaining my degree in Childhood and Youth Studies. At Epinay I spend time within the classroom, but I also working with individual children to meet their sensory needs through TACPAC & Sensory Sam sessions. Being a Teaching Assistant is a very rewarding job which I love, as I get to see the children progress and enjoy school.

I have worked with children and young people and adults for over 20 years in various settings, the last 17 years working for South Tyneside Council in; Children’s Services, Education Welfare, Services for Young People and the Early Help Service.  I am a qualified Youth and Community worker, Parent Practitioner – Level 5, I have a Diploma in Advice and Guidance, a qualified Specialist Leader for Behaviour and Attendance, Certificate in Counselling, accredited Learning Mentor, Certificate in Awareness and Responses to Domestic Violence.  I also do a lot of voluntary work with agencies such as; the Probation Service and Hospitality and Hope.  I am married and have four grandchildren; I love spending time with family and friends and enjoy city breaks and walking in the lakes.  I am passionate about working with children, young people and families and supporting them to reach their full potential.  I have been in post since September 2017 and delighted to join an outstanding school and team.

I have worked at Epinay since 2010 as business Development Manager and subsequently School Business Manager.  I have a BSc in Management Studies and have completed relevant training that not only supports my work but develops my own personal interests.  My role oversees finance/budgeting, marketing and school development.  I am a founding member of South Tyneside Admin Representatives for Schools (STARS) and support the Wanderers Sports Association.

I have two daughters and I enjoy the time we spend together and as a family we are always looking for new and exciting things to do that broaden our experiences.  We enjoy the outdoors, city breaks and make the most of the town in which we live.

In have been part of the Epinay team since October 2007.  I am the Head Teacher’s PA at the school and absolutely love working at Epinay.  I love the everyday challenges we face in the front line of the school but most of all I love working with fantastic children.  It is amazing to see the children go through the school; from primary to secondary and some even into sixth form!  I am proud to be part of an exceptional admin team but even more proud to be a small part of an outstanding and supportive staff team.

I started working at Epinay in 2019 after many years working in administrative and customer service roles.

I am based in the office, doing reception and admin duties.

I love my job and am so proud to work in such a wonderful school, surrounded by a fantastic bunch of staff and children alike!

I have over 20 years ‘experience of working within a school office environment but have found Epinay to be one of the most kind, caring and friendliest of schools I have had the pleasure to work in.  In my spare time I love spending time with family and friends, going on holiday and doing fitness classes at the gym.

I have 15 years of experience working in the education sector in office based roles.  I was very excited to join the admin team here at Epinay.  I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting the team and getting to know the pupils.  In the short time I have been here, I have been truly impressed at how wonderful the staff and children are.

In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family and friends and travelling.

I work part-time in the Epinay office.  I initially came to the school for a six week temporary contract in June 2012… I loved it so much I am still here!

I work mainly on the school’s admin systems, collating information and data – this may sound boring to some, but it my dream job!