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  1. FAQs

School leadership team and key contacts

The Leadership team provides the operational management of the school to support staff and young people on a day-to-day basis. The residential and educational teams work very closely together to ensure a consistency of approach in their ethos, aims, planning and practice.

The Leadership team is supported by the Executive team who provide the strategic direction and overall management for the Prior’s Court charity.

  • Chief Executive Officer - Mike Robinson OBE
  • Director of Young People's Wellbeing – Sarah Butcher MBE
  • Director of Young People's Learning – Sue Piper
  • Project Director - Creating our Future, Marketing & Workforce Planning - Nicola Beckley
  • Director of Continuous Improvement - Prior Insight, QA, Health & Safety - Elaine Hudgell
  • Head of Fundraising - Karen White
  • Head of Finance - Niamh Chippendale
  • Head of Estates, IT and Resources - Mark Bailey
  • Head of HR and Training - Kate Lefever

Our Executive team     Our Trustees Prior's Court Young Adult Provision leadership team

Mike Robinson OBE - CEO

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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. Mike was awarded an OBE in the 2022 New Year's Honours List in recognition of his services to children and young people with autism.

Published: 22nd December, 2020

Updated: 17th January, 2022

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Sarah Butcher MBE - Director of Young People's Wellbeing

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Sarah has more than thirty years’ experience in residential social care, working with children and adults with autism, severe learning difficulties and complex needs. She joined Prior’s Court when it opened in 1999. She is an Advanced Consultant in TEACCH and was instrumental in developing the specialist approach which underpins the autism best practice at Prior’s Court. Sarah has spoken at international conferences in America, China, and India. She is a member of the national social care advisory board for Ofsted. In 2018 Sarah was awarded the honour of MBE by her Majesty the Queen for services to children with special educational needs.

Published: 23rd December, 2020

Updated: 25th January, 2022

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Sue Piper - Director of Young People's Learning

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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 Young People's Learning 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.

Published: 24th December, 2020

Updated: 25th January, 2022

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Lisa Pothecary - Care Manager, Young People

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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.”

Published: 15th January, 2021

Updated: 25th January, 2022

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Matt Phelps - Care Manager, Children

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Published: 15th January, 2021

Updated: 25th January, 2022

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Helen Franks - Education Lead

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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.

Published: 15th January, 2021

Updated: 16th June, 2022

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Sara Evans - Education Lead Young Adults

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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.  

Until April 2023, Sara is on secondment within Prior's Court as a Project Lead, with Careers Lead Nickie Dunphy taking on Sara's Education Lead duties.

Published: 15th January, 2021

Updated: 17th June, 2022

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Lynsey Preston - Safeguarding, Health and Wellbeing Manager

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Lynsey has over twenty 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 young people across the whole provision.

Published: 25th January, 2022

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Showing 10 of 8

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Why we exist

Why we exist

The young people at Prior’s Court are all severely affected by their autism. We strive to help them to be healthy, happy, more independent and have the opportunity to work. We aspire to transform the lives of even more young people with complex autism and continually push forward with improvements and innovations to provide the best possible care. This is why we exist. Read more

Published: 24th February, 2021

Updated: 14th July, 2022

Author: Rachel Drinkwater

Donate

Donate

Every donation to Prior's Court, no matter how big or small, will help build a brighter future for children and young people with complex autism. We are incredibly grateful for your support, thank you. Read more

Donate Fundraise

Published: 6th April, 2022

Updated: 14th July, 2022

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Prior’s Court
Hermitage
Thatcham
Berkshire
RG18 9NU

Tel: +44 (0)1635 247202
Email: [email protected]

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