As Executive Head of The Blue Tangerine federation (urban dictionary definition: different in a good way and indescribably beautiful) I am privileged to lead two special educational needs schools in the west of Hertfordshire. I work with fantastic teams and the most wonderful pupils. Having led departments across different education sectors including grammar, private boarding, comprehensive and pupil referral units and loved each of them, I am home in special education.I am passionate about developing a diverse curriculum that ensures our pupils thrive into adulthood. Working with the most incredible people in national and local businesses, we will be building a cafe and farm at St Luke’s to ensure all our pupils have real work experience to have a better chance of thriving through adulthood.Through my school leadership, I strongly advocate the abilities in disability; promoting people with SEND as full participants in society and to ensure agency over their own lives.I believe in the transformative power of education and as an artist and art teacher, value the incredible capacity of the creative arts to change lives. I have been incredibly humbled to learn of past students having enormous success in their art and design careers with several of these superb artists having international acclaim. All of whom started with self-doubt but now have a strong and passionate voice, with belief in their abilities and achievements. Feels great!