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Senior Leadership Team

The Senior Leadership Team identify priorities for the year through the School Development Plan (SDP) which informs arrangements for staff training, development of curriculum areas, and assessing pupil progress.

 

Joanna Dziopa
Head of TreeHouse School

Joanna has a wealth of senior leadership experience in educational and social care settings. She joined TreeHouse School from another outstanding special school for autistic children and young people in London.  

Joanna has extensive knowledge of autism and has been involved in developing autism provision and delivering training to schools, teachers and other professionals. She is committed to advocating for the rights of autistic young people and their families and championing inclusion, autism acceptance, neurodiversity and neuro-harmony through her work.

Trin Jefferson
Deputy Head

Trin has worked within education for over 20 years and brings a wealth of leadership experience working in SEND schools. Trin has naturally progressed within her career from an English teacher to Head of Year and held responsibilities for inclusion, teaching and learning and behaviour. Trin is responsible for supporting TreeHouse School development and improvement, working in collaboration with the Head of School, transdisciplinary team and Governors. Trin is also currently reviewing the training and CPD programmes school-wide, leading our newly formed middle leadership team and mentoring our NQT and ITT staff. 

Chris Mount
Assistant Head (Head of Operations)

Following over 20 years within retail, finance, and recruitment Chris joined the education sector as a School Business Manager in 2015. Chris oversaw the day-to-day operations of a two-form entry primary school in Kent – delivering on contracts, IT, HR, administration, and finance management. Chris joined TreeHouse School as an Operations Manager in 2019 and is now the Assistant Head (Operations). His role is to lead and develop on all operational aspects of the school,  including health and safety.

Sadaf Aslam
Assistant Head (Head of Sixth Form)

Sadaf has worked with leading services for autistic young people and ran a small college for ten years for pupils aged 18-25, and a day provision for people over the age of 25. Sadaf then went on to work in a large further education college, managing an SEN provision on one of three sites. Sadaf is a qualified executive coach and is currently undertaking a masters in Educational Leadership. Sadaf leads the sixth form to ensure there is a fit for purpose curriculum relating to the Preparing for Adulthood Pathways, including effective transition from school to adulthood.

Charlotte Spencer
Assistant Head (Head of Pupil Support and Welfare)

Charlotte is the Assistant Head Pupil Support and Welfare and is the Designated Safeguarding Lead at TreeHouse School. Charlotte joined TreeHouse after working in another special school for autistic children and young people. 

Charlotte has an extensive knowledge of autism and has been supporting families of autistic children and young people for 17 years. She has a postgraduate degree in autism.  
 

Bernice Sargent
Business Manager

Bernice has been working within the education sector with SEN pupils and learners for over 12 years and previous to that within the finance sector. Her work consists of overseeing the admissions team and liaising with local authorities to ensure the successful placements of young autistic pupils/learners across Ambitious about Autism settings.

Cheryl Louis
Assistant Head, Quality of Education

Cheryl has been working at Treehouse School for over six years and has naturally progressed from the role of class teacher and middle leader to the Assistant Head, Quality of Education. Cheryl’s role is to ensure the best possible outcomes for children and young people through overseeing the reporting of progress and the curriculum and assessment framework on Earwig, ensuring it is ambitious and fit for purpose. Cheryl is passionate about providing a high quality of education and plays an active role in modelling this across school through her own teaching, delivery of CPD to staff and leadership.