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Helen Casson

Deputy CEO

After graduating from the University of East Anglia in PsychoSocial studies, Helen completed her PGCE at Sheffield Hallam University. She then taught in Sheffield for a few years before moving to an inner London school as Assistant Headteacher, leading on student and staff wellbeing. After a move to Cornwall in 2011, Helen became Deputy Headteacher at Looe Community Academy. Helen is a trained SENCo and a Thrive practitioner and is passionate about ensuring the needs of all young people are met. Helen sat on our ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ MAT board for number of years before joining the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ team. Outside of school Helen and her family enjoy exploring Cornwall in their rusty VW camper and bright orange beetle!

Frances Harland

Principal

Frances completed a degree in English Literature at Exeter University in 1988 and then worked for a literary agency specialising in foreign rights for English and American publishers in London. After moving to Devon in 1994, she undertook a PGCE in English at St Luke’s, Exeter University, before teaching in North Cornwall. Her interest in alternative provision stems from her experience of teaching a Year 11 student in outreach as they were not permitted to attend school on health grounds. In 2006, she began working in Devon with students unable to attend mainstream school for a range of complex reasons. She feels strongly about inclusion, and about meeting the needs of all young people, whatever their barriers to learning.

Clair Mason

Pastoral Lead

Clair came into teaching after spending several years working as a qualified Veterinary Nurse in Devon. She returned to University to retrain as a teacher and on completion of her degree she then spent the next fifteen years teaching in secondary schools and delivering BTEC and HLTA training across Devon. She also spent several years working part time within the Social Care arena, working with young people and their families who were highly vulnerable due to homelessness, substance abuse and mental health needs. Whilst working with some challenging young people, she gained valuable experience of working with other agencies such as the Youth Offending Team, YSmart and CAMHS. She is a trained Thrive and ELSA practitioner. At home she likes to keep up with her daughter and take her Bavarian hound for long walks on the local beaches and woodlands.

Nathan Gristy

Assistant Head of School

Having graduated from Newcastle University with a degree in Land Resources, Nathan undertook a PGCE at Leicester University and went on to teach geography in a number of mainstream schools. It was during this time that he became increasingly interested in the reasons behind the poor outcomes for students with additional needs. This lead Nathan to a career change where he worked for the Youth Offending Service, championing the importance of education for young people at risk of offending. In more recent years Nathan has worked with the young persons' charity, Young Devon, managing a busy drop-in centre and an accommodation project supporting young people leaving the care system. Prior to starting with ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½, Nathan worked with excluded students in the Torbay area, developing his interest in use of the outdoor environment as a resource to support young people with social and emotional needs. When not at work, Nathan enjoys being in the outdoors, ideally in or on the water.

Cath Marchant

SENCo

After graduating from University with a degree in Music Performance, Catherine spent a year as a freelance musician before going on to complete a PGCE in Primary Education. She then taught in Essex and Devon in Senior Management and SENCO roles. Catherine also completed a Level 3 Counselling qualification and is an expert in Early Years and the teaching of reading. In 2017 Catherine started teaching at a special school on Dartmoor and in 2018 began working with WAVE. As SENCO Catherine is strongly committed to working alongside staff and families to help improve the life chances and mental well-being of students. She also teaches Mathematics and English on days without a SENCO timetable. Outside work Catherine enjoys reading, listening to music of all genres and spending time with her young family.

Melissa Palmer

Assistant Head of School

Melissa completed a degree in Microbiology at The University of Reading in 1997. She spent 4 years working in the world of recruitment, personnel and sales before completing a Secondary Science PGCE at The University of Exeter in 2001. She then spent 21 years teaching in Somerset and Devon as a Science Teacher and Middle Leader in Mainstream School. In her first three years of teaching, she also completed a Master's Degree in Special Educational Needs.  Latterly she has spent the last six years completing an Education Research PhD on Working Memory (and is currently awaiting the viva voce).

Her passion for working in alternative provision was borne from the literature she studied and used in action research and informal studies both in her classroom and school wide in her previous school. The outcomes of her research showed her clearly that there was an interconnectivity between well-being, learning and memory; and using creative and compassionate teaching strategies and styles can make a real difference to the most vulnerable children in our society.  She is totally committed to ensuring that all children (no matter what their challenges are) should have access to a quality education, so they have life choices and opportunities when growing into young adults. At home Melissa enjoys walking her two dogs, spending time in her wildlife garden, crochet and spending time with her family and friends.