Our Leadership Team
At Meadowcroft, we believe that strong, compassionate and ambitious leadership is fundamental to creating an environment where every young person can flourish.
Our experienced and committed leadership team works collaboratively across our four distinctive sites – The Lodge, The Gallery, The Works and The Hub – each offering specialist provision tailored to the needs, abilities and aspirations of our pupils.
Led by our Executive Headteacher, and supported by our Deputy and Assistant Headteachers, we share a collective responsibility for maintaining high expectations, developing our staff and ensuring that every pupil experiences high-quality education, positive relationships and meaningful opportunities to succeed.
Our approach brings together education, inclusion and clinical expertise, recognising that the best outcomes are achieved when we work together, understand each young person’s individual journey and place their wellbeing, development and future aspirations at the heart of everything we do.
Whilst each of our sites has its own identity and strengths, we are united by a shared vision, a commitment to continuous improvement and a belief that every pupil deserves the opportunity to achieve their potential.
Gavin Hosford – Executive Headteacher
Gavin Hosford is the Executive Headteacher at Meadowcroft, and is proud to lead a school that is deeply committed to improving the lives and futures of children and young people with additional needs.
With over 30 years of experience in education and school leadership, Gavin has dedicated his career to creating inclusive, ambitious and nurturing environments where every child feels valued, understood and able to succeed. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), recognised for his contribution to societal progress, and a Senior Fellow of the International Forum of Inclusion Practitioners (IFIP), reflecting his longstanding commitment to inclusive education and improving outcomes for children and young people.
Gavin is passionate about relational practice and believes that positive relationships, high expectations and a strong sense of belonging are at the heart of transformative education.
At Meadowcroft, Gavin works closely with pupils, families and colleagues to ensure that the school provides a safe, therapeutic and aspirational learning environment. His vision is to create a culture where every young person is encouraged to develop confidence, resilience and independence, enabling them to achieve meaningful success both in school and throughout their lives.
Laura Young – Deputy Headteacher (Personal Development, Behaviour and Culture)
Laura is passionate about creating school cultures where every child feels safe, valued and able to thrive. Her work focuses on promoting positive relationships, fostering a strong sense of belonging, and ensuring that pupils develop the confidence, resilience and life skills needed to succeed both in school and beyond.
A highly experienced safeguarding leader, Laura is committed to ensuring that safeguarding remains at the heart of everything we do, working closely with families, staff and external professionals to promote the safety, wellbeing and best outcomes for every young person.
Through her relational and child-centred approach, Laura plays a key role in creating an environment where every pupil is supported to achieve their full potential.
Samantha Bray – Deputy Headteacher (Inclusion)
Samantha is Deputy Headteacher for Inclusion at Meadowcroft, bringing extensive experience of supporting children and young people with a wide range of additional needs.
Throughout her career, Samantha has held a variety of senior and specialist leadership roles, including Behaviour Lead, Personal Development Lead, Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO), Vice Principal and Head of School. This breadth of experience has strengthened her commitment to championing vulnerable learners and developing truly inclusive school cultures.
Samantha is passionate about inclusion and is driven by a belief that every child deserves to be recognised, understood and celebrated for who they are. She believes that schools work best when they adapt to meet the needs of their pupils, removing barriers to learning and creating meaningful opportunities for every young person to flourish.
Working collaboratively with pupils, families, colleagues and external professionals, Samantha is committed to ensuring that inclusion is embedded in every aspect of school life. Her approach is grounded in positive relationships, high expectations and a determination to create environments where every child has the opportunity to belong, thrive and succeed.
Scott Bedford – Deputy Headteacher (Quality of Education)
Having previously led one of the school’s sites, Scott has a strong understanding of Meadowcroft’s community, values and the individual needs of its pupils.
Scott is passionate about ensuring that every young person experiences high-quality teaching, an engaging curriculum and learning that prepares them for successful futures. He works alongside colleagues to develop teaching, learning and curriculum, ensuring that education at Meadowcroft is ambitious, purposeful and tailored to the needs of every learner.
Believing that exceptional outcomes are built upon strong relationships and high expectations, Scott is committed to supporting staff to be the very best they can be, creating learning environments where pupils feel confident, valued and inspired to achieve. He is proud to contribute to Meadowcroft’s vision of helping every young person belong, thrive and succeed.
Kathryn Cortez – Assistant Headteacher, The Lodge
Kathryn is Assistant Headteacher at The Lodge, Meadowcroft’s all-through provision supporting pupils with autism and a diverse range of individual learning and developmental needs.
Kathryn is passionate about ensuring that every young person has access to education that is tailored, meaningful and designed to help them thrive. She believes in creating a learning environment where pupils feel safe, understood and valued, and where individual needs are recognised and celebrated.
Kathryn strives to establish a culture of high expectations, consistency and kindness, where pupils are supported to overcome barriers, celebrate their successes and reach their full potential. She recognises the importance of positive relationships, effective communication and personalised approaches in developing pupils’ confidence, resilience and independence.
Working collaboratively with education, inclusion and clinical colleagues, Kathryn is committed to ensuring that The Lodge provides a nurturing, structured and ambitious educational experience, where every young person has the opportunity to belong, thrive and succeed.
Stevie Barstow – Assistant Headteacher, The Gallery
Stevie is Assistant Headteacher at The Gallery, Meadowcroft’s nurturing provision for pupils across Key Stages 2 and 3, where positive relationships, emotional wellbeing and a strong sense of belonging provide the foundations for successful learning.
With experience teaching across Key Stages 2 to 5, Stevie brings a broad understanding of pupils’ educational and developmental journeys. An English specialist, she has held a range of leadership responsibilities, including Head of Year 7 and Transition, and Key Stage 2 Lead within a Pupil Referral Unit. She has also established nurture provision within a mainstream setting, reflecting her particular passion for supporting pupils who benefit from a more personalised and relational approach to education.
Stevie holds the SENCO qualification and is currently working towards the National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership (NPQSL), further strengthening her expertise in inclusive practice and school leadership.
At the heart of Stevie’s approach is a belief that nurture and academic ambition go hand in hand. She is passionate about creating an environment where pupils feel safe, understood and valued, enabling them to develop confidence, emotional regulation, resilience and a readiness to learn.
Through visible and compassionate leadership, Stevie is committed to supporting colleagues, celebrating individual achievements and ensuring that every pupil at The Gallery has the opportunity to belong, thrive and succeed.
Matt Tucker – Assistant Headteacher, The Works
Matt is Assistant Headteacher at The Works, Meadowcroft’s Key Stage 4 provision, where a structured curriculum, high expectations and preparation for future pathways are central to the educational experience.
With 21 years of experience as a qualified teacher across mainstream education, alternative provision and special education, Matt brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his leadership role. His educational philosophy is simple: children should be at the heart of everything we do, and every young person deserves to feel safe, supported and appropriately challenged academically.
Matt is passionate about creating a purposeful and ambitious learning environment where pupils develop their knowledge, practical skills, confidence and independence. He recognises the importance of meaningful qualifications, vocational opportunities and personalised pathways in preparing young people for further education, training, employment and adult life.
Working collaboratively with colleagues across Meadowcroft, Matt is committed to maintaining high expectations, supporting staff development and ensuring that every pupil has the opportunity to achieve their potential.
Kelly-Marie Harrison – School Business Manager
Kelly leads the operational functions that enable the school to provide the very best environment for children, young people and staff every day.
Working across aspects of finance, human resources, administration, estates, health and safety and business operations, Kelly plays a key role in ensuring the school runs smoothly and efficiently. She works closely with the Senior Leaders to ensure that resources are managed effectively, allowing colleagues to focus on what matters most – delivering exceptional education and support for every pupil.
Kelly is passionate about creating a welcoming, professional and well-organised school where staff, families and visitors feel valued from the moment they walk through the door. She believes that strong operational leadership provides the foundation that allows great teaching, outstanding care and positive relationships to flourish.
As part of Meadowcroft’s Leadership Team, Kelly is proud to contribute to the school’s vision of helping every young person belong, thrive and succeed.
Sarah Fisher – Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Sarah brings over 10 years of experience working with vulnerable children, young people and families. Throughout her time at Meadowcroft School, she has undertaken a range of roles, progressing from Teaching Assistant to Family Liaison Officer and now Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead. This breadth of experience gives her a deep understanding of the challenges many young people face and the support they need to succeed.
Sarah is passionate about creating a safe, nurturing and supportive environment where every pupil feels valued, understood and able to thrive. She is committed to promoting the health, wellbeing and welfare of all members of the school community, working closely with pupils, families and professionals to ensure that children receive the right support at the right time.
Through her caring and relational approach, Sarah plays a key role in helping Meadowcroft remain a place where young people feel safe, develop confidence and are empowered to achieve their full potential.