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.
Jo Stoaling
SWALSS Chair for 2023/25
Jo Stoaling is a Headteacher of Three Ways School in Bath
Andrew Penman
Chief Executive Officer of SWALSS
Andrews' responsibility for a range of tasks, including close collaboration with the SEND teaching school alliances in the South West.
Andrew is a former special school and mainstream headteacher.
Seán Kretz
A Member of the Executive Committee
Seán Kretz is a Headteacher of Westfield Arts College
Deirdre Fitzpatrick
A Member of the Executive Committee
Independent Educational Consultant
Jo Bleasdale
A Member of the Executive Committee
Jo is currently Headteacher at Bettridge School, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
Jason Ryder
A Member of the Executive Committee
Jason Ryder is the current Principal of InFocus College in Exeter – a specialist FE college for people with vision impairments and complex disabilities.
Jason is an experienced senior leader with a wide-ranging background in complex needs, autism and SEMH. His career began in mainstream education where he developed an experience-base around special needs, student welfare and safeguarding before moving to the special school sector where he secured his first headship in 2018.
Jason is a passionate exponent for quality education for all young people, no matter what challenges they face in terms of additional needs and disabilities. He believes a specialist FE sector that provides students with a strong foundation for their next steps is a crucial element of the educational landscape.
Helen Farnell
SWALSS Vice Chair 2023/25
Helen is currently Headteacher of the Elmwood and Penrose Federation in Bridgwater, Somerset.
Issy Johnson
Finance and Events Manager for SWALSS
Issy is currently the Finance and Events Manager for SWALSS.
Sarah Pickering
SWALSS Hon. Treasurer 2023/25
Head of Mill Water school where I have worked for 11 years. I have 20 years teaching experience in a range of schools across the country, including residential ASC / SEMH / secure and behaviour unit. As an adoptee with adopted siblings, I have keen interest in attachment difficulties for children with disabilities and trauma informed practice. Mill Water is part of the teaching school alliance SWSSTA.
Andrew Buckton
A Member of the Executive Committee
Andrew is currently the CEO of The Enable Trust (a special school MAT in South Gloucestershire) and an Ofsted Inspector. He has taught in both mainstream primary schools and in special education in both primary and secondary schools for pupils with complex learning difficulties, including children on the autism spectrum. As headteacher, he has taken his SLD/PMLD school to Outstanding. He has a Masters in the Psychology of Special Educational Needs and the Professional Qualification for Inspecting Schools. He is a research fellow of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust and holds the SSAT Executive Headteachers Diploma
Sara Attra
A Member of the Executive Committee
Sara Attra is currently Headteacher of Addington School
Kiran Hingorani
A Member of the Executive Committee
CEO of Swalcliffe Park Trust, Banbury, Oxfordshire
Gill Barrett
A Member of the Executive Committee
Gill Barrett is a Principal of The Loddon School