Our School Team

Catherine@releasingpotential.com

Catherine joined Releasing Potential in 2012 as Operations Manager of what was then a small charity. Catherine’s background is in education, having taught in secondary, tertiary and Higher Education; she has also worked for many years with vulnerable young people in a range of day services and residential programmes. Catherine oversees operations for the whole charity, and her role within the School is to lead on HR and Safeguarding as well as the work of the Releasing Potential Institute.

Lara@releasingpotential.com

Lara is a qualified teacher who discovered a love and a talent for working with children with Special Educational Needs whilst on a supply teaching placement. Lara first worked for RP as an Engage Tutor before leaving to live and work in New Zealand. Lara returned to the UK and took on the task of developing the Releasing Potential School curriculum and of ensuring that we fully meet all Independent School standards.

Fran@releasingpotential.com

Fran joined Releasing Potential in 2012 after working at a local Pupil Referral Unit, and after a period as an Intensive Foster Carer for the Local Authority. Fran has extensive experience in SEN and has always been drawn to the 1:1 format as an effective way of working with vulnerable children. Fran co-ordinates our Post-16 provision across the School as well as Releasing Potential Virtual Education. Fran also works with Lara as Assistant Head of School and deputises as Head of School in Lara’s absence.

Katy@releasingpotential.com

Katy spent her student placement at Releasing Potential in 2007 and joined the team full time the following year. Katy was instrumental in designing the Engage programme and delivered on it as Engage Lead from its inception in 2011 until 2016. Katy leads our Engage team and is responsible for the programme across a number of groups; she deputises for Lara as Assistant Head of School and helps to deliver our Level 3 in The Management of Challenging Behaviour as part of the Institute team.

Wayne@releasingpotential.com

Wayne joined Releasing Potential in 2012, having been introduced to us whilst working at a local Pupil Referral Unit. Wayne has designed the Activation programme, which have developed  out of Wayne’s  love for the outdoors and his previous career in the Royal Navy. Each Activation programme involves outdoor or sporting  activities, usually with a competitive edge, and often based on exciting narrative scenarios. Wayne heads up all Mentoring across the school, and also delivers the RLSS National Water Safety Management Programme.

Billy@releasingpotential.com

Billy joined Releasing Potential in 2016 as a Trainee Mentor, before leaving to go travelling. Billy returned in 2019 and now works as a Mentor assisting Engage groups across the organisation. Billy has a passion for sports and is qualified to deliver a number of outdoor activities; he is a keen amateur boxer and regularly takes part in Friday Reward Day football with our students. 

Charlie@releasingpotential.com 

Charlie joined Releasing Potential in 2019 as a Volunteer, after taking part in The Management of Challenging Behaviour Level 3 as an external candidate. Charlie joins the team from Sept 2019 as a Mentor assisting Engage groups across the organisation. Charlie has a background as a Pilates instructor, and is currently pursuing a counselling qualification. 

Chrissie@releasingpotential.com 

Chrissie is a highly qualified and experienced teacher, having worked in the primary sector for the past 27 years. Chrissie hold a B.Ed in Art, History and Education. She joins Releasing Potential as a 1:1 Mentor; as part of this role she delivers creative technologies and arts and crafts sessions to students, with a focus on inclusion for those students who struggle to access other areas of our curriculum. From Sept 2019 Chrissie will deliver on our Explore programme. 

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.

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, from September 2019, will be heading up one of our Post-16 Traineeship projects based at Northney Marina. 

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 has recently joined Releasing Potential as a Mentor working within our Engage provision.

HelenC@releasingpotential.com 

Helen joined Releasing Potential as a 1:1 Mentor is 2020. She has worked in mainstream schools for the past 10 years supporting young people in maths and science, either in the classroom or as part of small group teaching and  1:1 sessions. Helen loves being outdoors and enjoys outdoor ed. Helen is a qualified Mediator and practices mediation in her spare time.

Jemma@releasingpotential.com 

Jemma joined Releasing Potential as a 1:1 Mentor is 2020. Jemma has 6 years’ experience in mainstream education and has delivered PE as a subject during this time. Jemma holds a BSc (Hons) sports coaching. Jemma is passionate about helping young people progress and brings her love of sports to her role working 1:1 with students who struggle to access other parts of the curriculum.

Karl@releasingpotential.com 

Karl has a background in Outdoor Education and in SEN, and he draws on these experiences in his work as an Engage Mentor. Karl has recently completed his Level 3 qualification in The Management of Challenging Behaviour (NCFE) and Level 4 qualification in The Management of Challenging Behaviour in Sexually Exploited Children and Young People. Karl is studying for a Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training through which he hopes to become a fully qualified teacher.

Lesley@releasingpotential.com 

Lesley has worked in Primary education for 12 years, specialising in working with children with SEMH difficulties. She holds have a BA (Hons) in Fine Art and has a passion for textiles and dance.  Lesley joins Releasing Potential in 2019 as a Mentor working 1:1 with students and hopes to bring her considerable creative talents to this work.

Louise@releasingpotential.com

Louise joined Releasing Potential as a Mentor in 2020. Prior to this Louise worked in a Pupil Referral Unit for 13 years and has extensive experience working in Alternative Education. She is a qualified counsellor and volunteers at a drop in centre for young people.  Louise has a love of animals and enjoys spending time with her chickens on her allotment. 

Matt@releasingpotential.com

Matt joined Releasing Potential in 2019 as a Mentor working 1:1 with students. Matt comes from a military background, and was trained as a chef during his time in the army. Matt has previously worked as a Personal Trainer and sports massage therapist specialising in rehabilitation from operation or injury. He is an experienced Outdoor Activities Instructor, having been trained at Calshot Activity Centre, where he found a passion for climbing in particular.

MikeMcClure@releasingpotential.com

Mike joined Releasing Potential in 2018. Having started as part of our Mentoring team, Mike will run his own Engage provision from September 2019. Prior to Releasing Potential, Mike worked in a specialist school for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties and he holds a PGCE in Secondary Education. Mike enjoys outdoor activities and has recently completed his Level 3 training in The Management of Challenging Behaviour (NCFE).

MillyJ@releasingpotential.com 

Milly joined Releasing Potential in 2011 as an assistant to an Engage group whilst studying Water Sports Studies and Management at University. Milly has experience working with SEN and vulnerable young people. Through her time at Releasing Potential she has run an Engage group and supported with sailing through the summer. Last year Milly went away to train as a Primary School teacher and has returned to help run our Primary Explore provision.

Peter@releasingpotential.com 

Pete joined Releasing Potential in 2019 after having worked in both Further Education and SEN for many years. Pete hold both a Masters degree and a PGCE and specilaises in delivering English, Maths and Functional Skills across the school. Pete has a background as an LSA and has worked for a long time with students with additional learning needs.

Sarah@releasingpotential.com 

SaraWest@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 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 hopes to bring her love of the outdoors to this work.