Chris Barrett DL – Chair of Trustees Expand Chris has spent his entire professional career working in the Advertising and Marketing sector. His early career was spent in leading international advertising agencies, latterly as a creative director. In 1977 he co-founded his own agency, Barrett Howe, which became a leading UK Business-to-Business and Brand Development Agency. In 2013 he founded Rapport Marketing, a Brand and Marketing Consultancy that advises organisations on the development of Strategic marketing communications, Brand Creation and Development, and Public and Press relations. In 2001 Chris was part of a small group of business people who came together to form the Slough Business Community Partnership and was its Vice Chairman from 2007 - 2012. In 2007 he was appointed a trustee of Berkshire Community Foundation and was elected Chair of Trustees in 2010, a post he held for five years. In 2019 he founded Charity Mentors Berkshire to provide leaders of the voluntary sector in Berkshire with effective mentoring and support to facilitate strategic thinking and skilful leadership. In 2020 he was appointed a trustee of Thames Valley Adventure Playground. In January 2018 he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of The Royal County of Berkshire. Chris was appointed Chair of Trustees of Prior’s Court Foundation in September 2018.
Ryan Campbell - Chief Executive Officer at Prior's Court Expand Ryan Campbell CBE joined Prior's Court as our Chief Executive Officer in July 2023. Ryan has been a leader in the charity sector for over 18 years, most recently before joining Prior's Court as the CEO of Hampshire-based Treloar’s, a provider of education for physically disabled people with complex needs. Ryan has also been the CEO of Demelza Hospice Care for Children, which offers palliative care for children and young people; as well as CEO of an organisation providing clinical, mental health and substance misuse services to young people and adults. In 2018, Ryan was awarded a CBE for services to mental health provisions.
Sue Piper - Director of Learning Expand Sue has a background in psychology, mainstream and special needs teaching and residential care experience with 25 years spent in the field of autism. Since she joined Prior’s Court nearly 20 years ago, she has worked as a class teacher and training consultant, before becoming a member of the senior management team. Sue completed her headship in 2011 and as the Director of Learning she oversees the learning for all young people across the provision. Sue continues to train others in her capacity as an Advanced Consultant TEACCH Trainer and has spoken at international conferences in the USA and China.
Buchan Scott - Deputy Chair of Trustees Expand Buchan is a qualified solicitor. He started his career working in corporate finance before moving in-house with the FI Group, the business founded by Dame Stephanie Shirley. He then spent 15 years as a partner in a private equity firm with responsibility for legal and compliance and latterly fundraising. Since retiring in 2015, he has been working part-time as in-house counsel and is a member of his children's school's fundraising and overseas development committees and the United Nations Association Finance Committee. He joined the board of Prior's Court in March 2017.
Natalie Boothroyd - Director of Wellbeing Expand Natalie has over 20 years knowledge working in the health and social care sector. In this time she has opened two special schools for children with complex needs and six registered children’s homes and supported living accommodations across the UK. All schools and residential services were recognised as 'good' or 'outstanding' by their relevant statutory bodies. Natalie is a registered learning disability nurse, and has completed her diagnostic training in autism. She has worked alongside National Autistic Society (NAS) and completed her Masters module in Positive Behaviour Support (PBS). Natalie was a Learning Disability nurse in inpatients at the start of her career, and has worked closely within recent years to prevent young people requiring Tier 4 services. Natalie also clinically oversees the nursing department here at Prior's Court.
Lisa Pothecary - Young People's Wellbeing Lead Expand Lisa joined Prior’s Court in 2002 as a support worker, having the opportunity to have be the key worker for several young people. She went on to become a team leader and home manager, to then progressing to be part of the Leadership Team. Lisa, along with fellow Young Person's Wellbeing Lead Matt Phelps, is the joint Registered Manager for Prior's Court School. Lisa studied Public Administration, and whilst at Prior’s Court has achieved the Diploma in Care and Leadership and has obtained the Cambridge Certificate in Autism. Lisa is trained in the 3 and 5 Day TEACCH programme and holds designated safeguarding responsibilities. Lisa has experience in working directly within our children's homes and Young Adult Provision and has had the supported the opening and development of six new homes. Lisa has also inputted into the development, implementation and review of new systems, including key recording streams. Lisa says: “I value seeing the progression of young people and the development of team members.”
Matt Phelps - Young People's Wellbeing Lead Expand Matt has been at Prior’s Court since October 2018. He has worked as part of the Care Leadership Team as Quality Improvement & Positive Behaviour Support Manager before assuming the role of Care Manager in February 2022. Matt, along with fellow Young Person's Wellbeing Lead Lisa Pothecary, is the joint Registered Manager for Prior's Court School. Matt has 13 years of experience working with autistic young people. He started his career as a support worker in an SEN school and has held several positions within education and residential settings. These have included Head of Behaviour Support and Head of Care in which he oversaw his provision achieve an "Outstanding" rating from Ofsted three years in a row before he joined Prior’s Court. Matt is also an Advanced Team Teach Tutor and has been delivering this training for nearly 10 years.
Helen Franks - School Principal Expand Helen joined Prior’s Court in January 2019, having worked in special education supporting pupils, predominantly with ASD, for more than 20 years, 15 of which have been in Senior Leadership roles. She has worked in both residential schools and local authority day schools, with pupils ranging in ages four to 19, and with a range of learning difficulties. She has long worked to improve provision for autistic young people, attending her first 5-day TEACCH course in the late 1990s. As well as supporting students in her schools, Helen has previously supported families, and mainstream schools, with the practical application of strategies to support the learning and development of autistic young people. For many years she was an instructor for EarlyBird - a National Autistic Society course for parents of pre-school children with a recent diagnosis of autism. As a keen reader herself, Helen is passionate about developing a love of reading and improving reading skills, whatever the ability of the young person. Helen is a Team Teach Advanced Tutor and enjoys supporting staff to empower the young people we support to develop their skills to manage their behaviours.
Emma Mackay -Young People's Wellbeing Lead Expand Emma Mackay has a degree in sociology and women’s studies, along with 20 years of experience in the social care. This began with working with adults with learning difficulties in the community. Emma joined Prior’s Court in January 2007 as Home Manager for Charlotte House and was later promoted to Care manager/ Registered manager of the Young Adult Provision. Emma has completed the Level 4 Leadership and Management in Health and Social Care qualification, the 5-day TEACCH programme and, more recently, The Skills for Care Well-led leadership programme.
Catherine Tissot - Professor of Education and Special Needs at the University of Reading Expand Catherine Tissot is a Professor in Special Educational Needs at the Institute of Education, University of Reading. Her recent research and support for doctoral students has focused on autism, sexual identity and educating trainee teachers about disabilities and mainstream practice.
Fiona Knott - Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology at the Centre for Autism - University of Reading Expand Fiona is a clinical psychologist and Associate Professor at the University of Reading. Her research interests have three main strands: development and treatment of anxiety problems in autistic children, employability and autism, and attitudes to autism.
Ruth Over - Autism Practice and Development Lead at Prior's Court and Advanced TEACCH Consultant Expand Ruth has a Masters in Autism and has worked in the field of autism for more than 20 years. Ruth has worked in a range of roles during her career at Prior's Court, including leadership positions, in both residential and education departments. Ruth has a particular interest in the set-up and implementation of new projects to support autistic people and has been instrumental in the setup of our 16-19 department, Young Adult Provision and vocational learning opportunities including our industry-standard bakery and orchard. Ruth continues to train others in her capacity as an Advanced Consultant TEACCH trainer.
Sue Piper - Director of Young People's Learning at Prior's Court Expand As part of the various areas Sue has studied, there has always been a requirement to research an area and demonstrate that the results have an impact. Currently Sue is most interested in all the areas that directly impact autistic young people with severe learning disabilities and complex needs. With her background in TEACCH Sue is always keen to look at what young people learn and how they learn best. Sue is a member of the PLASN-R research board which provides her with another link to similar schools and University College London and enables her to stay up to date with current research areas.
Dr Charlotte Wilson Expand Charlotte is an Executive Headteacher of a small Multi Academy Trust with three schools in both the primary and secondary phases. All three schools host specialist units for children with special needs. In her role as Headteacher she represents Secondary Heads on the Local Authority Funding Forum and is part of the SEND Strategic Partnership Board. Charlotte is also a serving Ofsted Inspector specialising in both primary and secondary inspections.
Carol Unwin Expand A qualified engineer, Carol has spent her career in IT and Business Process Services. She now pursues a portfolio career, combining voluntary, study, consulting and small business activities. In addition to Prior’s Court she supports students at the University of Bath through its Gold Scholars programme. Carol is interested in how IT and the data generation can improve life experience.
Bryn Dunn - Data Analyst at Prior's Court Expand Bryn sits on the board as a Prior's Court staff representative. Bryn has completed an apprenticeship in Digital Healthcare Science at the University of Warwick, with the hands-on learning aspect of their course taking place at Prior’s Court. Bryn joined Prior’s Court in January 2020 and now works in our Systems team as a Data Analyst on our Prior Insight "big data" platform, using data generated to identify how autism can better be understood as a condition.
Kate Lefever - Director of People Expand Kate joined Prior's Court in May 2019, after gaining more than 20 years of experience across a variety of commercial companies including in the fields of real estate, retail, healthcare and management consultancy. Kate has a strong HR generalist background working at a strategic and operational level. Her responsibility is to manage and oversee our HR and Learning & Development teams to deliver their strategic objectives for Prior's Court.
Niamh Chippendale - Director of Finance Expand Niamh joined Prior's Court in July 2019 and now manages the finance team to ensure financial reporting requirements are met, as well as driving operational efficiencies and support the forecasting and strategic planning. She has over 25 years’ experience of working within the finance function in a number of industries providing financial knowledge and support to businesses.
Mark Bailey - Director of Operations Expand Mark joined Prior’s Court in May 2019 after a broad and successful career in Estates, Capital Projects and Project management. Mark brings a wealth of positive change management experience, working in independent education, commercial and charity sectors. He is responsible for leading Prior’s Courts Estates, IT and Systems, Resources and Capital Projects services, supporting the organisation to achieve its key developmental and stategic targets, so significantly improving the lives of young people with complex autism.
Melissa Farnham Expand Melissa is an experienced Executive Headteacher, holding three substantive headships over the last 13 years. With 26 years of experience in SEND she further supports other specialist settings through School Improvement work and specialist training around ASD and Trauma. Her Headships bring significant experience with regulators such as Ofsted Education and Care teams as well as Local Authority audits and funding reviews. Melissa has held various governance roles in both the maintained and Independent School sectors, most recently as Chair of Trustees for NASS. She stepped down from this role after serving the board for just over a decade.
Dr Stefan Fafinski JP DL Expand Stefan spent the first 15 years of his career in the IT industry before commencing his legal education, culminating in a PhD in technology law. He is now heavily involved with prison law and public law matters. He is a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists (WCIT) where he chairs its Charitable Trust. Stefan also sits as a Thames Valley Family Magistrate and is a trustee of The Inside Out Trust, supporting the rehabilitation of ex-offenders in Berkshire. Stefan was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire in 2023. He is a keen amateur pilot and member of West London Aero Club, White Waltham. He enjoys music and most sports.
Debbie Fulton Expand Debbie is a Registered Nurse working within the NHS, with 32 years of experience and a broad range of managerial and leadership positions. She is currently an Executive Director of Nursing in a Mental Health and Community Trust. Debbie is also a specialist advisor for the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Debbie holds a BA from the University of Reading and an MA in Health and Social Care management from University of West London.
Mary Robertson Expand Mary is an experienced HR Director with a particular expertise in employee pay and benefits. She started her career about 30 years ago at Marks & Spencer, and since then has worked for a broad range of organisations. In 2006 Mary set up Reward Matters Ltd. With a team of associates she provides consultancy and interim management support to a range of clients. In late 2021 Mary decreased her commercial commitments to enable her to join our Board of Trustees.
Colin Hayfield Expand Colin Hayfield is a chartered accountant and a director of Keen & Toms Holdings Limited, the Hypnos bed group. He acts as treasurer to a number of charities, including the Pace Centre in Aylesbury. Colin is a governor of three schools: High March School in Beaconsfield, where he has been chairman since 2011; Orley Farm School in Harrow, where he was chairman for 15 years until 2022; and Licensed Victuallers’ School in Ascot.