Cambian Grateley House School

I am privileged and proud to have been appointed the principal at Grateley House School.

Having worked over thirty years for the company, in several schools, in a range of leadership roles, I am able to bring to the position the experience and skills to continue to develop the school and inspire both staff and students to achieve their personal best.

Our school values of “Be Kind, Be Brave, Be You” defines the aims and aspirations of the school and is at the heart of everything we strive to achieve.

We acknowledge the difficulties and challenges our students face but all staff will aim to get the best out of each and every student, encourage and challenge them to become more confident and resilient and provide the skills and a positive mindset they can take with them to become happy and active citizens in this ever-changing world.

I am thrilled to be working at Grateley House. From my first visit, I experienced the 'Grateley Magic'! I am passionate about supporting young people to be the best version of themselves in and beyond school. I believe that is what we are able to provide at Grateley.

I have been working with young people for over 25 years in positions that have enabled me to support students and colleagues as a teacher and in leadership. After a period as an outdoor education specialist with PGL, I then worked in residential and day special education for 12 years - as a teacher, head of department, education lead and deputy head. I then spent 8 years in mainstream education, first as an Assistant Head and subsequently as the Inclusion Lead for an academy trust.

I am delighted that my career journey has brought me to work alongside the staff, students, parents and carers at Grateley. The responsibility to promote and strive for positive outcomes for all the people we work with is one I am proud to be asked to undertake.

Jean is the Designated Safeguarding Lead for Grateley House School. She has worked in the UK independent sector where she has served as a Deputy Head, Acting Head and headed Departments of History, Philosophy and Ethics, Drama, English IB and IB Social Anthropology. She has served as a resident Assistant house mistress caring for pupils from years 9 to 6th form. She is a qualified teacher holding a BA(Hons), Higher Education Diploma (Postgrad) and MSc. She has taught both in the UK (maintained and independent) and abroad. She has a passion for keeping young people safe and empowering them to achieve their best.

I have over 16 years’ experience working in education, with more than eight of those spent at Grateley House School. Throughout my career, I have been driven by a strong commitment to supporting young people to develop the skills, confidence, and qualifications they need to go on to live positive, sustainable, and fulfilling lives beyond their time in education.

I am particularly passionate about preparing pupils for adulthood, with a clear focus on employability, independence, and real-world learning. I place high value on helping students understand the relevance of their education, ensuring that learning is purposeful and linked to meaningful outcomes such as further education, training, or employment.

My teaching specialisms include humanities, business, tourism, and vocational subjects, which enables me to deliver a broad and engaging curriculum that is both accessible and aspirational. I have extensive experience adapting teaching to meet a wide range of additional needs, ensuring that all learners can access accredited pathways and develop practical, transferable skills aligned with their individual EHCP outcomes.

In addition to my classroom practice, I have been a middle leader at Grateley House School for over four years. In this role, I contribute to curriculum development, quality assurance, and the ongoing support and development of colleagues. I work collaboratively to maintain high standards of teaching and learning and am committed to sharing good practice and supporting whole-school improvement.

I am known for building positive, respectful relationships with students, staff, and families, and I take a reflective and proactive approach to my professional development. Above all, I am motivated by making a genuine difference to the life chances of young people, particularly those who face barriers to engagement and achievement.

My teaching career began in South Africa, where I chose to teach at the very school from which I matriculated. I was later headhunted by a prestigious school specialising in the development of young talent for the South African Rugby team. During my time in South Africa, I held a range of leadership roles, including Head of House, Head of Magazine and Head of Cheerleaders, and went on to publish teacher support materials designed to improve the standardisation of marking across my province.

After relocating to the UK, I completed OTT training and secured a post at one of Hampshire’s top-performing schools. While specialising in English, I have also delivered SEN intervention programmes supporting students with a wide range of individual needs. In my role as Assistant Head of Year, I led bespoke support groups for underperforming cohorts and for students experiencing anxiety.

I am dedicated to engaging students at their own level and actively demonstrating how English is highly relevant to the world beyond the classroom. My lifelong drive is to inspire students to grow around the barriers they face and to find pathways to success, regardless of the challenges.

I have worked with young people for over 26 years, starting within informal education settings and progressing into teaching personal development, employability, and PSHE. Throughout my career, I have supported young people with a range of needs, including neurodiversity, special educational needs, and ongoing mental health conditions.

I have a great love for the outdoors and a strong belief in how it can positively impact a person’s mental health, wellbeing, and development. In my own time, I am a committed wild swimmer, swimming a stretch of the Itchen River each morning.

As a recent addition to the Grateley House family in November 2025, I aim to bring passion and energy to my role, developing a variety of opportunities for learners to engage in their education within the great outdoors. This will take shape through the creation of a Forest School, introducing Duke of Edinburgh awards, and evolving the school into a Wilder School setting.

I hold a BA (Hons) in English Language and a BSc in Speech and Language Therapy. I have worked across multiple special needs schools and specialise in neurodivergence and the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

I am passionate about advocating for young people and supporting them to express themselves and to understand and navigate their own thoughts and feelings. I work as part of a multidisciplinary team, supporting education staff to embed speech and language therapy strategies effectively within the classroom.

I hold a BSc in Psychology with Criminology and an MSc in Psychological Well-being, and have over seven years’ experience working with neurodivergent individuals, including three years at Grateley House School.

As Behaviour Support Lead, I advocate for every student and am deeply passionate about understanding behaviour as a form of communication. I work closely with both students and staff to explore what sits beneath behaviours, recognising that meeting a young person’s needs must always come before learning can truly take place.

I prioritise building strong, positive relationships with students, and believe firmly in connection before correction. It is a genuine privilege to be part of each young person’s journey, supporting them in developing tools they can carry with them throughout their lives—academically, socially, and emotionally.

Together, we strive towards our shared values – Be Kind, Be Brave, Be You - each day, all contributing to what makes ‘Grateley Magic’ so special.