The Team
Meet the team at Alderwasley Hall School…
Sara Forsyth
Head Teacher
Sara Forsyth
Head Teacher
- NPQH
- Cteach (Leadership)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching Dyslexia & Literacy
- BILD Level 3 Qualification in Supporting Young People with Autism
Certificate of Education
Sara Forsyth joined Alderwasley Hall School and Sixth Form in September 1995 as a classroom teacher. Since this time, Sara has progressed through leading the English Department, to Assistant Head of Key Stage 4, to Assistant Head of Key Stages 3 and 4 before becoming the Assistant Head of the school’s Sixth Form Centre. In January 2010, following a term as acting Deputy Head Teacher, Sara became the permanent Deputy Head Teacher of the school. In September 2016 Sara took up the post of Head Teacher. Sara has spent almost her entire career at Alderwasley Hall School and her knowledge of the complex needs of the young people who attend the school and live in the homes is extensive. In 2022 Sara was awarded Chartered Status for her Leadership skills by the Chartered College of Teaching. Her key focus area for the school is continuous improvement and development through rigorous and robust self-evaluation leading to improving outcomes for young people.
Emma Illingworth
Head of Therapies
Emma Illingworth
Head of Therapies
- BSc (Hons) in Speech Pathology and Therapy
- LDAF Level 3 – Support People with ASD
Emma qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist in 1997 in Edinburgh, before taking up her first post at Alderwasley Hall School and Sixth Form in the September of the same year. For the next eight years, she worked as a Speech and Language Therapist with a variety of classes in Key Stage 3 and 4. In September 2005 she took on her present role of Head of Therapy. Whilst at Alderwasley Emma has been a key member of various strategy groups including the literacy and ASD strategy groups and has contributed to the development of several key documents which are used for induction and training purposes. Emma has represented the school at various workshops around the country, to a variety of audiences. These have included workshops on behaviour management, life skills and writing worksheets at various SLT/Teacher conferences. She has also delivered workshops to MEd students at Birmingham University on target setting and BEd students at Derby University on supporting children with speech and language difficulties in mainstream schools.
Bernardo Vega
Deputy Head Teacher
Bernardo Vega
Deputy Head Teacher
- Masters in Education (or M. Ed) (2009) from Derby University.
- Postgraduate Certificate (1999) and Diploma (2002) in ASD from Manchester Metropolitan University
- Special Needs Teaching Degree from Madrid’s Universidad Complutense (1998)
Bernardo joined Alderwasley Hall School in 2003 as a key stage 3 and 4 teacher and became PSHE Co-ordinator between 2008 and 2015 as well as the role of Assessment Manager between 2009 and 2015. He then took on the role of Assistant Headteacher for the Upper Site, before becoming the Deputy Headteacher in 2022. Bernardo graduated in 1998, gaining a Special Needs teaching degree from Madrid’s “Complutense University”. He has worked in specialist schools in New Zealand and UK since then. Bernardo obtained a Postgraduate certificate in Autistic Spectrum Disorder in 1999 and a further diploma in Autism in 2002 (both at Manchester Metropolitan University). In 2009 Bernardo completed a Masters in Education at Derby University, with a dissertation on the use of social networking sites by young people with Autism. Bernardo has a professional interest in the application of teaching and learning strategies to teaching young people with autism and on the successful transition of young people with Autism to further study and employment.
Edward Michell
Assistant Head Teacher (Lower Site)
Edward Michell
Assistant Head Teacher (Lower Site)
- M.Ed. (Curriculum Studies and Teacher Development)
- B.Ed. (Elementary Education) • B.Sc. (Biology)
- OTS & NPQSL
Edward joined Alderwasley Hall School and Sixth Form in 2013 as Faculty Leader for Science. He was appointed Assistant Headteacher in 2017. Edward qualified as a teacher in Canada in 2001. Since that time he has taught Science to students in Key Stages 2 to 5 in a variety of schools including Primary, Middle and Secondary schools, both State and Independent, in three countries. He began teaching in England in 2004. The SEND classroom is Edward’s primary area of focus, engaging students through positive relationships and knowledge of each student’s interests and abilities with respect to the curriculum. He has mentored PGCE and Cert.Ed. colleagues on their way to becoming qualified teachers and is excited to work with and learn from other professionals with new perspectives on education. His professional interests include SEND provision, EHCP annual reviews, assessment and reporting, high quality teaching and learning, curriculum provision and teacher development.
Heather Scullion
Assistant Head Teacher (Upper Site)
Heather Scullion
Assistant Head Teacher (Upper Site)
- NPQSL (2020)
- Masters in Educational Leadership and Management (2017)
- GTP PE Specialist with QTS (2010)
- BSc Sport and Exercise Science (2008)
Heather joined Alderwasley Hall School in September 2022 as the Assistant Headteacher for the Upper Site. Heather graduated from the University of Derby with a First-Class Honours degree in Sport and Exercise Science in 2008 and in 2010 gained Qualified Teacher Status with a specialism in Physical Education. Heather’s passion for sport and life long participation in physical activity inspired her to become Head of Physical Education (2017), she was driven by inclusive practice and increasing participation and enjoyment. Within the same year Heather achieved a Masters in Educational Leadership and Management through the University of Nottingham. In 2019 Heather became Head of Year 12 and 13 within an Outstanding, large Sixth Form Provision. Heather prides herself in providing an individualised holistic curriculum offering a breadth of qualifications and personal development opportunities along with wellbeing and therapy to suit the needs and aspirations of all young learners. In 2020 Heather achieved the National Professional Qualification for Senior Leaders (NPQSL) and became an Assistant Headteacher leading on Behaviour and Standards with a focus on inclusive practice. Heather is an avid life long learner and is looking to achieve the National Award for SEN Co-ordination.
Lesley Mawbey
Registered Manager (Upper Site)
Lesley Mawbey
Registered Manager (Upper Site)
- NVQ level 4 Management
- NVQ level 4 Health & Social Care
Lesley joined Alderwasley Hall Sixth Form as Registered Manager in September 2016. Prior to this Lesley was Registered Manager at Bladon House School, where she worked for over 15 years. In this role she was the first House Manager to help to set up a Children’s Home on the school site in 2007. Her positive approach enabled young people to be introduced to a homely and caring environment and one which became the model for the rest of the school. Since this time Lesley has been an essential figure in helping to evolve the service into the excellent provision that it offers today. Lesley is committed to the welfare of the children and young people in her care and she ensures that their total care package is governed by their needs, challenging anyone who she feels falls short of this idea.
Karen Tatham
Head of Care and Registered Manager (Lower Site)
Karen Tatham
Head of Care and Registered Manager (Lower Site)
- Diploma Level 5 in HCS for CYP
- NVQ Level 4 in Health and Social Care (Adults)
- NVQ Level 4 Registered Manager Award (Adults)
- Child Protection & Safeguarding for Managers
- Safer Recruitment
Karen is an experienced Registered Manager who has worked in residential care since 1999, previously working in a respite facility for young adults with physical/mental health disabilities. She joined Alderwasley Hall School and Sixth Form in 2006 as Deputy House Manager for 3 years and then moved to the Lower Site as a House Manager. Karen took up the post of Registered Manager in 2014 and became Head of Care in 2019. She is keen to ensure that the voice of every child is heard and their needs are met. She takes every opportunity to spend quality time with the young people in her care.
