Our School Team

Our school team are passionate about helping young people reach their full potential. Our talented team of instructors, tutors, teachers and support staff are highly trained and on hand to support our students through their learning and social emotional development.
Mike King (school team)

Mike King

Executive Head Teacher & Proprietor

MikeKing@releasingpotential.com 

Mike is the Chief Executive Officer of Releasing Potential, having founded the organisation in 2001. Mike holds a B.Ed and is a PE teacher by training; he is qualified in a range of outdoor activities at the highest level. Mike still enjoys teaching, and, when he can, delivers Outdoor Education across the School. Mike has strategic responsibility for the organisation as a whole. He is currently Head Teacher and has overall responsibility for student progress.

Wayne Peters (school team)

Janet Cornall

Head Teacher & Lead DSL

Janet@releasingpotential.com

Janet joined Releasing Potential in January 2023 as the SENCO across the school and as a Mentor in Chichester. She has a background in education having qualified as a headteacher and taught in primary schools, as well as working as a Learning Support Assistant in secondary school. She has worked for a number of years centrally as an Advisor and General Inspector for special education needs in mainstream and special schools, and as a Quality Improvement Officer with responsibility, leadership, coaching and the curriculum.

Wayne Peters (school team)
Wayne Peters (school team)

Carol Page

Deputy Head/ Curriculum Lead (Deputy DSL)

Carol@releasingpotential.com

Carol is a qualified teacher and joined Releasing Potential in March 2021 as Functional Skills Lead; she has been Curriculum Lead since May 2022. Carol has a wealth of experience in teaching Functional Skills in FE colleges and for private training providers. She is responsible for overseeing the delivery of the curriculum within RP School.  Carol is married with 2 children and enjoys travelling, spending time with her family and walking her two dogs.

Russell Tapley

Alternative Provision Manager (Deputy DSL)

Russell@releasingpotential.com

Russell has returned to RP after a 7 year hiatus during which he has worked with a range of Youth Work organisations as a senior manager. Russell heads up our Alternative Provision, providing bespoke 1:1 sessions aimed at enabling students who have been out of education to transition to the RP School and access the full curriculum. Russell is qualified in a range of outdoor skills and brings his significant experience of 1:1 and small group work to his role coordinating Alternative Provision.

Karl Stepney (school team)

Lesley Brown

Assistant Head/ Pastoral Lead (Deputy DSL)

Lesley@releasingpotential.com  

Lesley joined Releasing Potential in 2019 after having previously worked in primary provision. Lesley works as a Mentor 1:1 with students and specialises in using her creative talents to support students in practical activities. Lesley runs our RP Printing business, through which she offers work placements to Year 11 and post-16 students with an interest in graphic design and printing. 

Wayne Peters (school team)

Charlotte Denman

English Lead/ Library

Charlotte@releasingpotential.com

Charlotte joined Releasing Potential in 2022 as a Mentor and has recently joined the Curriculum Team as Subject Lead for Project. Charlotte brings a wealth of experience to the role, having worked in a range of sectors in industry and education. Most recently Charlotte has worked as a specialist TA in an SEND primary school provision. 

Donna Sewell (school team)

Duncan Stanway

Chichester Site Co-ordinator (DSL Trained)

Duncan@releasingpotential.com

Duncan joined Releasing Potential in 2018 as a Tutor, having worked in Youth Work for several years. Duncan has extensive experience as an outdoor-qualified instructor (sailing in particular) and has a BSc in Sports Sciences from Edge Hill University as well as a BTEC in Sports and Exercise Studies.  Duncan works with students on a 1:1 basis and brings his passion for sport and the outdoors to his role.

Karl Stepney (school team)

Karl Stepney

Outdoor Instructor

Karl@releasingpotential.com 

Karl joined Releasing Potential in 2017 as a Mentor in our Activation programme; he has a background in Outdoor Education and in SEN, and holds a Level 3 in the Management of Challenging Behaviour (NCFE) as well as a range of NGB awards in outdoor activities. He is responsible for overseeing Outdoor Education delivery within RP School.

Wayne Peters (school team)

Lee Sheard

Food Studies Subject Lead

Lee@releasingpotential.com

Lee joined Releasing Potential in April 2020. He comes from a background in catering of over 30yrs, spending 17 of those in both the Royal Navy & Royal Air Force. During his time in the military, Lee was employed as a Chef Instructor teaching NVQ cookery & craft skills to Chef recruits. Lee is married with 2 children and his main passion is his motorbike, as well as cake decorating & sugarcraft.

Wayne Peters (school team)

Mike McClure

Havant Site Co-ordinator/ Events Co-ordinator (DSL trained)

MikeM@releasingpotential.com

Mike joined Releasing Potential in 2018. Mike’s background is originally in sports, having done a BSc Sports Science degree and then trained and worked as a personal trainer. Mike then trained as a teacher doing a PGCEi and worked in an international school for a number of years before moving back to England to work in an SEBD school.

Mark Francis (school team)

Steve Palmer

CDT Subject Lead

SteveP@releasingpotential.com

Steve is a qualified teacher and joined RP September 2020.  Steve has a wealth of experience gained through 25 years of secondary and post 16 teaching.  In addition he has over 30 years’ experience of voluntary youth work.  Steve enjoys outdoor activities including walking, running and cycling as well as DIY and gardening.

Paul Watts

Maths Lead & Earwig Champion

Paul@releasingpotential.com

Paul joined Releasing Potential in June 2022 as a Functional Skills Tutor. Paul has taught a wide range of subjects to SEN pupils across Primary, Secondary and Post 16. Before teaching, Paul spent 10 years in business, specialising in business process reengineering and complex software solutions. Paul enjoys spending time gardening, reading and watching rugby

 

 

Donna Sewell (school team)

Aiysha Khan

Functional Skills Tutor

Aiysha@releasingpotential.com

Aiysha joined Releasing Potential in 2020 and delivers English and Maths Functional Skills. With a background in languages and having lived and worked abroad, Aiysha has taught children from all cultures and backgrounds and strongly believes that education is every child’s right. She has worked in education since graduating from the University of Leeds in 2016.

Donna Sewell (school team)

Alice Dibley

Engage Tutor

Alice@releasingpotential.com

Alice joined Releasing Potential in 2023 as a tutor. Alice is a qualified TA and previously has worked as a 1:1 support assistant and teaching assistant for a variety of age ranges. She is a keen sportsman and has coached, played and helped manage a variety of sports and outdoor adventurous sports.

Donna Sewell (school team)

Ashley Leigh

AP Tutor

Ashley@releasingpotential.com

Ashley join the Alternative Provision team in late 2023. He first gained his experience in Education working as a Teaching Assistant in SEMH schools. He has a love for fitness, qualifying as a professional Boxing Coach, Personal Trainer and fitness training like Boxercise and circuit.

Wayne Peters (school team)

Ben Doyle

AP Tutor

Ben@releasingpotential.com

Ben joined the Alternative Provision team at Releasing Potential in December 2022. He has a background in sports coaching, holding qualifications in archery, air rifle and cricket coaching and holds a BSc Psychology degree from the University of Chichester. Ben’s two greatest sporting passions are cricket and American Football and in another life he would be a Super Bowl winning quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks or an Ashes winner for England!

Wayne Peters (school team)

Daniella Brain

Outdoor Instructor

Daniella@releasingpotential.com

Daniella joined Releasing Potential in 2022 as an Outdoor Mentor, having worked in a range of education settings and with a number of qualifications in Outdoor skills. Dani has worked most recently as a breakfast and after school club activities coordinator and as a specialist Life Skills TA at Portsmouth College. 

Wayne Peters (school team)

Ed Johnson

Outdoor Instructor

Ed@releasingpotential.com

Ed joined Releasing Potential in 2023 as a maintenance and engineering tutor for the outdoor Ed team. He is qualified in various outdoor activities and has worked previously as a Premises manager. Ed relishes the chance to give students a springboard into meaningful employment.

Donna Sewell (school team)

Emma Jones

Outdoor Education Manager

Emma@releasingpotential.com 

Emma joined Releasing Potential as a Mentor in Autumn 2018, having worked previously as an Outdoor Instructor. Emma has extensive experience of sailing and water sports in particular, and holds a BA in Outdoor and Adventure Education from the University of Chichester. Emma works with students on a 1:1 basis, and heads up one of our Post-16 Traineeship projects based at the RP Coastal Centre Nortney. 

Donna Sewell (school team)

Georgia Siddle

AP Tutor

Georgia@releasingpotential.com

Georgia joined Releasing Potential as a Mentor in Autumn 2019. Georgia has worked as a fully qualified Countryside Ranger in the Chichester and Hampshire areas for over 14 years. She has led conservation and building skills outdoor classes with many local SEN and Mainstream schools. She holds Countryside and Wildlife Conservation management qualifications – she likes beachcombing and bird watching.

Donna Sewell (school team)

Greg Chartier

AP Tutor

Greg@releasingpotential.com

Greg is an Outdoor and Adventure Education graduate from the University of Chichester. He has a sincere love of all things natural and a background in climbing instruction. Greg joined Releasing Potential in 2019 as a Mentor working within our Engage provision and now supports students 1:1.

Mark Francis (school team)

Jackie Cleall

Willow Centre Manager

Jackie@releasingpotential.com

Jackie joined Releasing Potential in 2023 having worked for us previously as part of our commercial Forest School. She has significant experience working with primary school children in a range of mainstream and SEND settings and bringer her love of the outdoors to her sessions with Alternative Provision students.

Karl Stepney (school team)

James Callnon

Sports Specialist Lead

James@releasingpotential.com

James started in Autumn 2022 as a 1:1 Mentor at our Chichester site.

Karl Stepney (school team)

Jonathan Clare

AP Tutor

Jonathan@releasingpotential.com

Jon joined Releasing Potential in October 2023 as an Outdoor Instructor, having been working in the outdoor industry for 6 years and most recently was senior instructor at a centre in the New Forest. 
Over the years he has gained a range of qualifications and delivering to a variety of groups and abilities.
In his spare time, he enjoys going climbing, kayaking and mountain biking. 
Karl Stepney (school team)

Lisa Ablett

Engage Tutor

Lisa@releasingpotential.com

Lisa joined Releasing Potential in January 2023 as a Tutor. She has worked in various schools as a Learning Support Assistant supporting students with a range of additional needs. Lisa wants to continue to support children and help them reach their full potential. Lisa is also an Explorer Leader in the Scouting movement and likes all things Arts and Crafts. Lisa enjoys archery but her real love is baking. 

Karl Stepney (school team)

Louise Brindley

Engage Tutor

LouiseB@releasingpotential.com

I joined Releasing Potential in 2023 as an Engage Tutor. I am a qualified teacher, I taught in a school for three and a half years. I have a real passion for outdoor learning, and enjoy being out on the water especially on the sea. I also love sports and play for a hockey team outside of work. 

Wayne Peters (school team)

Louise Fisher

Tutor/ PSD

LouiseF@releasingpotential.com

Louise started as a Mentor in September 2021. Louise has a background in social care and has worked in both specialist education and integrated offender management. Louise attended Solent University and achieved a Social Work Degree. In her spare time she likes to go to the theatre. 

Mark Francis (school team)

Nick Coe

Engage Tutor

Nick@releasingpotential.com

Nick joined Releasing Potential in 2020 as a Mentor and works across 1:1 and Engage groups. He is a Flag (American) Football coach/player and comes from a media and film background. Nick runs one of our Engage groups, supporting children with SEND to achieve and to develop social, emotional and behavioural skills.

Mark Francis (school team)

Nick Peacock

Engage Tutor

NickP@releasingpotential.com

Nick joined Releasing Potential in October 2021 having previously worked as a teacher in an Independent SEN SEMH school. Nick has a degree in Adventure Education and a PGCE in Primary Education. Nick’s background in the outdoors comes from the world of Paddlesport where he has worked with a variety of centres and clubs, helping to overhaul procedures whilst leading on British Caneoing and IOL inspections. 

Mark Francis (school team)

Paige Walsh

Willow Centre Tutor

Paige@releasingpotential.com

Paige joined Releasing Potential in Autumn 2022 as 1:1 Mentor at Chichester. Paige attended Plumpton college for an Agriculture apprenticeship after attending college to study Photography, Media and Business. She has previously worked as a lifeguard/surf instructor and prior to this worked in the farming industry. She enjoys being outdoors and going on long walks with her dog. 

Mark Francis (school team)

Sara Lewis

Post 16 Co-ordinator / Tutor

Sara@releasingpotential.com

Sara joined Releasing Potential in April 2021 as an Engage Mentor. Sara is a qualified teacher, with a creative background in Arts and Crafts. Sara is keen to educate and help students to understand the wider world after their time in education. Sara has a passion for nature, sports and travel.

Mark Francis (school team)

Sarah West

Assistant SENCO

SarahWest@releasingpotential.com

Sarah has worked in education and the community for 22 years. She has developed a passion for working with children with SEMH difficulties, which she has had experience of in the primary sector. Sarah has a BA (Hons) in Childhood Studies, and enthusiasm for the outdoors. Sarah joined Releasing Potential in 2019 as a mentor working 1:1 with students; she brings  her love of the outdoors to this work.

Mark Francis (school team)

Sue Bayne

Post-16 Co-Ordinator (Havant)

Sue@releasingpotential.com

Sue is a qualified teacher who joined RP in September 2021. Sue has taught a wide range of Post 16 subjects, teaching students with SEN and those in vocational education. Previous to teaching Sue spent 27 years in the Police Force, working on the Police boats and as a dog handler. Sue enjoys spending time with her family, reading, art and gardening.

 

Havant School Site:

Releasing Potential School
7 Kingcroft Court
Ridgway
Havant
Hampshire
PO9 1LS
United Kingdom
Charity No: 1097440
DfE number: 850-6093

Chichester School Site:

Releasing Potential School
4 St James' Works
St Pancras
Chichester
West Sussex
PO19 7NN

Useful links:

 

Proprietors details:

 © Releasing Potential 2023