Staff

• Sharon Burt
  Chief Executive Officer
  Sharon Burt

  Professional experience:

  I wholeheartedly understand the importance of every child feeling safe and happy to come to school. At Solent Academies Trust we proudly place pupils and their families at the heart of all decision making, and our senior leaders facilitate high performing teams to be innovative, courageous, forward thinking, and ambitious for our community, and beyond.

  I am passionate about driving high standards in education to achieve the very best outcomes for young people, and I have greatly enjoyed every minute of my 25 years teaching and leading in a broad range of specialist and mainstream settings.

  Our executive team and I are unwavering in our expectations for high quality leadership and governance, strong partnerships, effective change management, innovative project developments, and coherent business functions which enable our trust to grow and thrive with capacity and integrity.

  Together we promote entrepreneurial challenge and innovation to impact widely on our self-improving school led system, improve equality of opportunity and increase social mobility for all our community. Current projects include establishing a city wide Inclusive Employability Hub, expansion of specialist provision including holistic therapies and services, and extending opportunities for training and employment for young people with complex needs and disabilities.

  I have been a Specialist Leader in Education since 2012 (Leadership and Management, SEND and Safeguarding), and place a high importance on using enquiry led learning as the flywheel to accelerating improvement in the classroom.

  My experience spans a broad range of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities including Autism, speech, language and communication difficulties, complex learning/ medical needs and social, emotional and mental health needs. Specialist expertise also includes sensory integration approaches, attachment awareness and use of PACE.

  Qualifications:

  • Senior Leader Master's Degree MBA, dual accredited with the Chartered Management Institute Level 7 Strategic Management & Leadership Diploma
  • National Professional Qualification in Executive Leadership Programme undertaken 2018 - 2020
  • PGCE specialism in English
  • BSc (Hons) Social Policy & Criminal Justice

• Louise Quaid
  Executive Principal
  Louise Quaid

  I grew up in Portsmouth and after graduating from university I went off to work as an outdoor activities instructor in beautiful Dorset. I found that working with young people was a really rewarding experience and I decided that a career in teaching was my vocation. Subsequently I qualified as a science teacher and my journey has taken me from a mainstream classroom in an inner city boy's school, to leadership roles in schools for pupils with SEND. I gain the greatest job satisfaction when I know that my work contributes to ensuring that children are reaching their full potential.

  I love the outdoors, walking, cycling, kayaking or swimming and sometimes running. Reading is my escape and I have far too many books.

  I am passionate in my belief that all children and young people should have the very best opportunities through education. As Executive Principal I am privileged to work with committed staff that are dedicated to ensuring that the pupils are happy and successful, that they learn through exciting and creative activities.

• Dave Turner
  Head Of School
  Dave Turner

  A little about myself

  My journey at Team Redwood, over the past 7 years, has brought me to my new, exciting position as Head of School.

  I relish the daily challenge, to supporting leading our dynamic, inclusive and innovative team in providing the most challenging, supportive and real- life curriculum offer for our young people and families.

  Hobbies & Interests:

  Basketball, golf and anything active!

  I organise, lead and play for a local men's basketball team. I am currently training with the GB Masters Over 35 team and I am hopeful to secure a place at the World Championships in Summer 2022.

  I love golf and I'm a keen student and follower of the sport. I play to a 3 handicap and I enjoy the challenges of the game and being outdoors!

  My young family and I love enjoying days out, exploring fun places and trying to travel as much as possible and enjoy time away in our caravan!

  What excites me about my role:

  It's all about the pupils: creating exciting, personalised, real-life opportunities to help further develop their resilience and independence, to prepare them and their families for their exciting future! Anything is possible and the potential opportunities are endless.

  Go, Team Redwood!

• Chris Day
  Assistant Principal
  Chris Day

  A little about myself

  I have been in the education system for almost 20 years, and in Special Ed for 15 of them. I originally trained as PE teacher at Chichester University and while there fell in love with Outdoor Education. I have taught in a number of SEND schools working across the age and ability range of pupils in Hampshire, Portsmouth and West Sussex.

  Hobbies and Interests

  In my leisure time I can be found either looking after my two young children or away doing something of an adventurous nature. This could be climbing a mountain, paddling a kayak down a white water river, sailing or cycling my road or mountain bike somewhere fun.

  What excites me about my role

  The thing that excites me most about my role at Redwood is seeing on a daily basis pupils achieve something new.

• Carol Gardiner
  Assistant Principal
  Carol Gardiner

• Katie Waite
  Assistant Principal
  Katie Waite

  This is my 7^th year working at Redwood after joining as Head of Learning for KS4 and progressing to Assistant Principal. I previously worked in mainstream education as Head of Physical Education. I am pastorally responsible for the pupils within Key Stage 4 and I also lead on staff development and training. I love my job at Redwood Park Academy and find it so satisfying when you see the pupils make so much progress both academically and, in their communication, and social skills.

  Hobbies and interests

  I am married with 3 children who keep me very busy when I am not at work. I am originally a PE teacher and so love nothing more than being outdoors and with the beach on our doorstep we love searching for sea gems, paddle boarding or playing in the sea.

  What excites me about my role within the Academy

  I love working at Redwood, the love and excitement our pupils have for their learning is refreshing and they are always willing to challenge themselves and break down barriers to have the best chances post 16. I work with a team of staff who are so committed to the futures of our young people that are constantly striving to develop the opportunities available to our young people. The best bit of my job is working with the pupils, they inspire me to want more and do more, they teach me new things daily and they motivate me to be better every day.

• Harriet Leadbeater
  Lead for personalised learning
  Harriet Leadbeater

  A little about myself

  I'm the Head of Learning for Personalisation and Inclusion at Redwood Park Academy.
  I have had the great pleasure and privilege of supporting young people with special needs for over 10 years in a range of settings, including home education, residential care and schools. These experiences have instilled in me a passion for ensuring the best outcomes for our every one of our young people. I began my teaching journey in 2015 having completed a Master's Degree in Psychology, where I developed research that highlighted the importance of practical, skill-based learning for students with special needs. I am incredibly passionate about supporting our students to achieve their goals and aspirations.

  During school holidays, I enjoy wakeboarding, climbing and the occasional attempt at mountain biking! If I'm stuck indoors I enjoy drawing and painting - a lot of my lessons involve paint!

  What excites me about my role within the Academy

  Being a teacher at Redwood Park Academy is fantastic because we have high aspirations for our students and we are fully committed to the journey that each of our pupils take. I enjoy being part of a school that values our students as individuals and is dedicated to providing the very best in all aspects of education.

• Tabi English
  Head of Learning - KS3
  Tabi English

• Martin Hughes
  Head of Learning - KS4
  Martin Hughes

  About Me

  I have been working with children for the past 35 years, firstly in youth work and sports coaching and over the past 25 years as a specialist PE and SEND educator. I am in my 5^th year in my journey with Redwood and believe this will probably be my last ever school as a teacher. I'm a proud and fierce Scotsman who has travelled and worked in many a different role in a number of countries around the world - too many to name! I have a love of foreign food, custom and culture borne from my adventures growing up as an expatriate exile in South America, Europe and Africa.

  Hobbies and interests

  There was no mistaking why I was drawn into being a PE teacher when I trained to be an educator - if it can be chased, hit, caught or kicked then I want to take part! My competitive instincts are chanelled into playing hockey while representing my club, region and country in the sport. If I continue to work hard enough I may earn a place on the plane to represent Scotland at the Hockey Masters World Cup in New Zealand in 2024! I play for a local hockey club in a structured league and when I am not found on a hockey pitch playing, coaching or umpiring then I can to be found clocking up the miles on my road bike. So far this year I have cycled just short of 7000km so it only seems fair that next year I make my target 10000km!

  What excites me about my role

  It is a real honour and privilege to be granted the reins to lead my fellow colleagues as Head of Learning for KS4 and I am sure that the adventure to come will combine the fantastic relationship that makes you our parents and guardians with us the educators a vastly important one in the individual development, guidance and progress we all want for your young person in being the best version of themselves they can be. The final 2 years of your young persons academic life at Redwood in KS4 are very important ones, as together we set them up to be independent, resilient and ambitious adolescents in life beyond Redwood. I do not think I could do this role if it wasn't for the sheer joy of watching a young person get it when the light bulb finally brightens!

• Laura Meredith
  Head of Learning - Extended Schools
  Laura Meredith

  A little about myself

  I have worked at Redwood as a fully qualified teacher in 2011. Previously to this I worked here as an unqualified teacher for two years.

  I was born in Portsmouth, but was bought up in Warrington. I moved back in my twenties.

  I had many other jobs before I realised, I was suited to Teaching. I have been a direct marketing manager, a buyer, a waitress, a Customer Service manager and have worked in lots of restaurants and bars!

  I love food and think it is one of the most important life skills we can pass on to others. I have taught Food Tech here and in other mainstream schools. I also trained to teach textiles which is something else I am interest in.

  Hobbies and Interests

  I love spending time with my family and we enjoy exploring the local area.

  I am also a musician in my spare time and play in a brass band. It keeps me busy with different concerts and marching engagements.

  What excites me about my role

  As Head of Learning for Extended schools I enjoy researching and finding things that will benefit our pupils, from breakfast club funding to after school clubs I am always on the look out for more opportunities that help improve the lives of all of our pupils and families.
  

• Zoe Stevens
  Head of Learning - Curriculum Innovation
  Zoe Stevens

  About Me

  I would like to think of myself as a creative, compassionate, and enthusiastic teacher. When I was growing up, I was always torn between choosing a career that was either helping people or doing something in the arts. For me, teaching children with special education needs has been the best of both. I love thinking of outside the box to teach our pupils in fun, imaginative and engaging ways.

  I usually am found spending my free time socialising with my friends particularly in a coffee shop, but when I am not there, I am engaging in my hobbies of art, photography, and video gaming.

  What excites me about my role?

  I love my job at Redwood, and this is because as a team, we are proactive and keen to continue to develop our provision to be the best it can. As part of my job role, I get to support the development of our therapeutic and multi-sensory provision ensuring that the needs of our pupils are met and finding ways to support their sensory diets, so they can access and make progress against their targets and be successful!

• Courtney French
  Head of Learning for Curriculum Development
  Courtney French

  About me:

  From a young age, I have always wanted to work with young people; by the time I went to university, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. It was whilst I was a student teacher, I was lucky enough to be placed in a special needs school and this was where I found my passion and purpose. As a result, I began working at Redwood Park Academy and as NQT. Throughout my time at Redwood, I have continuously sought to give pupils’ the best learning opportunities. I have always shown a great interest English and Maths, consistently upskilling myself and implementing research into the classroom practically.

  About my role:

  I am excited to put my passion, skills and knowledge in English and Maths to developing teaching and learning across the school. I strongly believe pupils learn best when they feel safe, have fun practical learning, have creative opportunities alongside developing their independence and resilience. I look forward to working with the school to ensure the best for all of our young pupils.

• Tara Watkins
  Family Support Worker
  Tara Watkins

• Lucia Vitiello
  Admin Manager
  Lucia Vitiello

  A bit about me

  I grew up in hospitality with my parents owning restaurants and a hotel, which ended up with me moving to West Palm Beach, Florida until I was 15. I always expected I'd to go into the family business, but it wasn't for me!

  I have worked in administration for small to medium sized companies, in a variety of sectors from a waistcoat manufacture to super yacht refurbishment, even owning my own business selling jewellery and presenting on QVC.

  In 2018 I wanted a role that would be rewarding and I was employed at Cliffdale organising their Annual Reviews. I have since worked at Littlegreen and I am now based at Redwood as their Admin Manager. We have a great Admin Team at Redwood, who are the first people you meet when coming to the school. They ensure the pupils, families and staff's needs are met efficiently and empathetically.

  Hobbies & Interests

  I enjoy attending concerts and shows, dabbling in arts and crafts and travelling with my two children and friends, whether it be a weekend break or pitching my tent in a field.

  What excites me about my role

  Watching the children come to school and develop in confidence and independence whilst with us.

 Please click here to see the Solent Academies Trust Team