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 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.
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 Senior Leadership Team, Kelly is proud to contribute to the school’s vision of helping every young person belong, thrive and succeed.
Laura Young – Deputy Headteacher (Personal Development, Behaviour and Culture)
Laura joined Meadowcroft School in June 2026 as Deputy Headteacher with responsibility for 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) – September 2026
Samantha brings extensive experience of supporting children and young people with a wide range of additional needs.
Passionate about ensuring every pupil receives the right support at the right time, Samantha believes that inclusion is about far more than meeting need – it is about creating a culture where every child feels they belong, is understood and has the opportunity to thrive. She works closely with families, colleagues and external professionals to ensure that barriers to learning are removed and every young person is able to achieve their full potential.
Samantha is committed to building positive relationships, developing inclusive practice and ensuring that every pupil experiences a safe, nurturing and ambitious learning environment. She is proud to be part of the Meadowcroft team and shares the school’s belief that with the right support, every young person can succeed.
Scott Bedford – Deputy Headteacher (Quality of Education) – September 2026
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.
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.