Meet The Team
SWALSS’s work is led by its Executive Committee. All members of the Committee are serving special school headteachers and give generously of their time in a voluntary capacity. A Chief Executive and an Administration, Finance and Events Officer support the work of the Committee. Both of these posts are part time and remunerated.
The two SWALSS officers work part time for the organisation. The division of their duties for the current academic year is set out in SWALSS Roles and Responsibilities.
The four honorary officials give generously of their time to SWALSS in a voluntary capacity, as do all other members of the Executive Committee.
This list below shows who is in SWALSS Executive Committee.
Helen Farnell
SWALSS Chair 2025/27
Helen is an Executive Headteacher in Somerset, where she has a small partnership of schools - Polden Bower Special School, Avalon Special School and The Bridge Pupil Referral Unit. Helen is passionate about growing our staff in the specialist sector and the impact they have on outcome for our children and young people.
Fritz Penn-Barwell
SWALSS Vice Chair 2025/27
Fritz is the Director of Education with Delta Education Trust, a mixed multi academy trust with schools located between Portsmouth and Weymouth on the south coast.
Sarah Pickering
Member of the Executive Committee
Sarah is the Head Teacher of Mill Water school, (member of the Special partnership trust) where I have worked for 15 years. I've been in SEND education for over 26 years but still get excited by innovation and learning, which is why I am committed to the work of SWALSS.
Sara Attra
Member of the Executive Committee
Sara Attra is currently Headteacher of Addington School
Jo Stoaling
Member of the Executive Committee
Jo is a Headteacher of a 4-19 generic special school in Bath called Three Ways School and an Outreach Service Brighter Futures. With over 20 years of experience working in SEND, Jo works as part of the SWALSS Board to connect projects with a multi-agency and medical agenda locally and nationally.
Dominic Broad
Member of the Executive Committee
Dominic is currently the Director of Education for a multi-academy trust. He is responsible for the performance of schools, the training and wellbeing of senior leaders, and the trust’s strategic priorities. He also hosts the Olympic Mindset Podcast, taking lessons from his famous sporting guests and relating them to school leadership.
Dominic was seconded to government level as the Strategic Lead for Curriculum Reform in Wales, working with the Welsh government and pioneer schools across the country to plan, develop and deliver the Curriculum for Wales. Dominic is a former Assistant Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher and Headteacher.
Gill Barrett
Member of the Executive Committee
Semi retired former Headteacher of The Loddon School
Michael Loveridge
Member of the Executive Committee
Mike is a school improvement advisor, education consultant and leadership coach. He has been a Headteacher and Director of Education with over 30 years’ experience across mainstream, special, and residential education settings. He works with schools nationwide to evaluate practice, strengthen leadership, and improve the quality of education. Guided by values of integrity, courage, and collaboration, Mike is passionate about supporting schools and trusts to build sustainable capacity, raise standards, and deliver inclusive, high-quality outcomes for all learners.
Lisa Parker
Chief Executive Officer
Lisa is a former special school headteacher. She is a School Improvement Partner and provides educational consultancy for a number of schools. Lisa is an advocate for ensuring that all learners have the skills and resources to communicate, creativity in the curriculum, and building strong, connected school communities.
Issy Johnson
Finance and Events Manager
Issy is currently the Finance and Events Manager for SWALSS.
Kiran Hingorani
Honorary Treasurer 2025/27
Kiran is CEO of Swalcliffe Park Trust, Oxfordshire. Kiran has supported SWALSS for many years on the Executive Board and is passionate about the outcomes for children and young people.
Deirdre Fitzpatrick
Member of the Executive Committee
I am an independent special school consultant. I have been a Headteacher, Director of Education and worked with the DfE and Ofsted. I visit special schools most days and like to share what I learn in the weekly SWALSS Leadership blog - helping SWALSS to support special school leaders.
Andrew Buckton
Member of the Executive Committee
Andrew is the CEO of The Enable Trust in South Gloucestershire and an Ofsted Inspector. He has taught in both mainstream primary schools and in primary and secondary special schools. Andrew is keen to ensure positive outcomes for children and young people with SEND.
Clive Padgett
Member of the Executive Committee
Clive Padgett is Headteacher of Yewstock School with experience leading five special schools across diverse SEND settings. He brings strategic leadership, school improvement expertise and a strong commitment to collaboration. As a SWALSS Executive Board member, he will champion inclusion, develop leadership capacity and strengthen the collective voice of special schools.
Rob Piner
Member of the Executive Committee
Rob has been Principal at Swalcliffe Park, a non-maintained residential and day specialist school for autistic boys, since 2019 having joined the school as Vice Principal in 2013.
He joined the Executive Board in January 2026 and is looking forward to supporting the continued development of SWALSS.
Caroline Jewell
Member of the Executive Committee
Caroline Jewell has worked within SEN education for over 30 years and prior to her current post led an outstanding special school in Cornwall.
Caroline currently works as an SEN Advisor for the Special Partnership Trust. Based in the South West of England, the trust is made up of ten SEN schools and several Area Resource Bases (ARBs). Caroline is also a trained SEN School Improvement Partner, supporting some non-trust special schools in this capacity.
Caroline is really excited to join SWALSS as an Executive Board member and be part of the continuing journey of support and development for specialist provision in schools across the country.