Mike Robinson - Chief Executive Expand For the past eleven years Mike has specialised in the Education sector, managing large, complex organisations which include education, care and special needs. He was Managing Director of Cambian Education which has seven residential special schools for children with autism. During his time with Cambian he increased the capacity of their schools with two new facilities and three campus extensions. He was also Managing Director of Acorn Care Schools and Care Division where he introduced a new quality assurance and improvement system, increased Ofsted ratings from one to five outstanding schools and opened an award winning new school and two new children’s homes. He has also worked as a consultant on projects which include special needs services in the Middle East.
Neil Atherton - Director of Finance Expand Neil joined Prior’s Court in January 2017 and is responsible for Finance, Admissions, IT, Resources and the Prior Insight data project. As a qualified chartered management accountant he brings a breadth of experience from over twenty years working within and leading finance teams over a range of sectors. He started his career with J Sainsbury plc in a range of roles within the group, before moving into the not for profit sector working in housing, international development and educational work-based training.
Nicola Beckley - Director of Support Services Expand Nicola joined Prior’s Court in March 2016 and is responsible for HR, Marketing and Estates. Nicola brings over 18 years of experience working in commercial roles across various sectors including healthcare, pharmaceutical, engineering and within the education sector. With a background in HR and General Management, Nicola supports the organisation in achieving its ambitious plans for the future.
Sarah Butcher - Director of Residential Care Services Expand Sarah has more than twenty seven years’ experience in residential social work working with children and adults with autism, severe learning difficulties and complex needs. She joined Prior’s Court when it opened in 1999 as Head of Night Care, moving on to set up the Training & Development department. She is an Advanced Consultant TEACCH Trainer and was instrumental in developing the specialist approach which underpins the autism best practice at Prior’s Court. She is Prior's Court School's Registered Manager and the Child Protection Officer and devised and delivers the Safeguarding training.
Sue Piper - Director of Education and Lifelong 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 Education has overseen the learning for 5-25 year olds at the school. Sue continues to train others in her capacity as an Advanced Consultant TEACCH Trainer and has spoken at international conferences in both America and China.
Lynsey Preston - Safeguarding, Health & Wellbeing Manager. Expand Lynsey has fifteen years’ experience of working with young people with autism and complex needs having joined Prior’s Court when it opened in 1999. During this time she has worked in the School as support worker, Head of two residential homes and set up two new residential homes for post 16 students before joining the leadership team as Deputy Head of Care. Her role now encompasses students and young adults across the whole site.
George Fox - Education Lead 16 to 19 year olds Expand George joined Prior’s Court 18 years ago and has worked in both education and residential departments before becoming a teacher and Deputy Head. He has a lifetime experience of autism as he has a sister with autism and severe learning disabilities. He has a postgraduate qualification in Leadership in Special Schools, is an Advanced Team Teach tutor as well as qualifications specific to autism including both the five and three day TEACCH course and is a Certified TEACCH Certified Practitioner.
Sara Evans - Education Lead 16 to 19 year olds Expand Sara joined Prior’s Court in 2019 and has more than 20 years of progressive expertise in the education sector ranging from Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) through to Further Education and Higher Education. Having worked as a senior manager in various educational settings, she specialises in leading innovation and change programmes to improve the quality of provision and stakeholder satisfaction. Sara has a proven track record of streamlining operations, increasing revenues and enhancing business performance in both educational and corporate environments. Achieving successes in developing curriculums, data management and cross-functional projects, Sara is also a qualified project manager and holds a BA in Professional Education, a PGCE and diplomas in child psychology and SEND.
Helen Franks - Education Lead Years 3-10 Expand Helen joined Prior’s Court in January 2019, having worked in special education supporting pupils, predominantly with ASD, for more than twenty 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 young people with autism, 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 young people with autism. For a number of years she was an instructor for EarlyBird - an National Autistic Society course for parents of pre-school children with a recent diagnosis of autism. As a keen reader, Helen is passionate in 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 our young people to develop their own skills to manage their behaviours.
Helen Taylor - Care Manager, Children Expand Helen joined Prior’s Court in March 2019 as a Care Manager. Most recently before joining Prior’s Court Helen worked as an Area Manager for Autism at Kingwood, the sister organisation to Prior’s Court also founded by Dame Stephanie Shirley. Before this, Helen managed a provision that supported children and young people with complex emotional needs who had faced homelessness, involvement with the youth justice system, substance mis-use and mental health issues. In this role, Helen worked with the most difficult to engage and hardest to reach youth community in Reading. As part of her work, she set up in partnership with the Reading Youth Offending Team projects around Child Sexual Exploitation and Child Criminal Exploitation and sat on the Local Safeguarding Children Board as the representative for the voluntary sector. Helen has a Masters in Leadership and Management which was directly applied to the ‘not-for-profit sector’. She says “Although I have gained a business sense my heart remains within the voluntary sector and the challenges within which it faces.”
Lisa Pothecary - Care Manager Young People Expand Lisa Pothecary - Care Manager, Young People 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 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.”
Elaine Hudgell - Prior Insight – Operational Project Lead (Project Manager) Expand Elaine has been working at Prior’s Court since March 2010 and is currently employed as Operational Project Lead and Project Manager for the Prior Insight Project. Previously Elaine was employed as our Quality Assurance and Compliance Manager. Prior to working at Prior’s Court, Elaine spent over 20 years working in residential special schools for young people experiencing emotional, social and behavioural difficulties. She began her career as a support worker and worked up to the position of Registered Manager and Head of Care. She is a registered qualified Social Worker and holds an Advanced Award in Social Work. She completed a Masters’ Degree in higher education and Therapeutic Child Care and holds the Level 4 Health and Social Care Leadership and Management qualification. Elaine has completed the 5 day TEACCH programme.