Georgina Rowland
Operations Manager
Nickname: Georgie
Experience: I have worked in various roles throughout education, health and social care. 10 years working in behavioural management and 8 years with children in alternative education and residential children’s homes. Using trauma informed practice with a therapeutic and boundaried approach to support good outcomes and an improved quality of life for young people.
Interests:
I love to travel and see different parts of the world, I enjoy nature, walking, swimming and water sports. I have a passion for art, old and new and I love animals.
Arron Fry LLB (Hons), PGCE
Education Manager
Nickname: Len
Experience: After 20 years working in law, I seized the opportunity to pursue a long-held ambition and retrained as a primary school teacher. I taught in mainstream schools around Hereford before gaining 5 years of experience in a variety of Alternative Provision settings.
Interests: I enjoy most sports and have recently taken up tag rugby. I love independent travel, natural history and drinking lots of tea.
Alice Lopeman
School Manager & Lead Key Worker
Nickname: Al
Experience: 16 years of experience working with young people who have SEN and SEMH needs in alternative education and residential children’s homes.
I am a fully qualified ELSA therapist.
Interests: I love going on adventures and playing my Nintendo! I have three pet mice and a jumping spider. Taking care of my pets is very important to me.
Sarah Andrews
Wellbeing Lead
Nickname: Sarah
Experience: I am a Solution Focused Councellor, having over six years experience, working with both adults and young people, in both one to one and group settings.
I love working in this way, focusing on solutions, using the persons existing skills and strengths, building on them, and coming up with strategies to help them make positive change.
Interests: I love travelling, spending time with my family and friends, walking my dog Charlie.
I enjoy spending time in the water – the colder the better!
Ashleigh Peterson BSc (Hons) and MSc
ASD Specialist and Training Lead
Nickname: Ash
Experience: I have worked with children with SEND for 8 years. I have a degree in childhood development and a masters degree in behaviour analysis and therapy.
Interests: I enjoy going on adventures with my dog Henry. I love animals especially horses. I love singing, painting and crafts.
Lizzie Trevarthen
Teaching Staff Key Worker
Nickname: Lizard
Experience: I have worked with children in fitness and physical education for about 3 years, providing both one-on-one coaching and group classes in a gym setting.
Interests: What started as baking cakes for friends and family has grown into a small business venture. I create custom celebration and wedding cakes. I stay active by taking my dog on long walks to explore different places. I also maintain my fitness and strength through regular gym sessions.
Kamaal Mitha
Teaching Staff Key Worker
Nickname: None
Experience: I have 14 years experience in education. Four years as a youth development cricket coach and 10 years as a mainstream primary school teacher. I have taught throughout the South West and Wales in my career.
Interests: I enjoy playing most sports. Most notably football, rugby and cricket. I also enjoy the great outdoors and every now and then sitting in front of the fire with a good book.
Jordan Pooley
Teaching Staff Key Worker
Nickname: Gecko Boy
Experience: I’ve worked in education for 7 years now, most recently I was a PE Teacher for 4 years.
Interests: I love all types of sports, from Football to fishing , and I like to have an active lifestyle. I also enjoy working with animals and going on adventures.
Jessica Venn
Teaching Staff Key Worker
Nickname: Jess
Experience: With many years in residential care I come with lots of experience in a range of children with trauma. My passion is in arts & crafts and I use that in my practice. I strongly believe in art therapy and the positive influence it has over the children we support.
Interests: I have a deep interest in costume for film and TV. I love going to music festivals, have a great llove of animals, and enjoy anything in the creative arts.
Lucy Claridge
Teaching Staff Key Worker
Nickname: Lucy
Experience: 20 years in healthcare including:
Healthcare Support Worker for local council. Personal Assistant for re-enablement and independent living at home. Healthcare Support to physical and mental difficulties in residential home. 6 years Support Mentor to school academy, and alternative learning provider.
Interests:
Dressmaking, cross-stitch and tapestry, reading
Sarah Nayak
Teaching Staff Key Worker
Nickname: Sarah
Experience: I have over 15 years’ experience teaching and coaching swimming for children and young people aged preschool to 18, helping them build confidence, skills, and a lasting enjoyment of swimming.
I also have experience in mental health and wellbeing services, including developing a Yoga for Wellbeing programme and women’s football sessions to support physical and mental wellbeing. My health and social care background has strengthened my understanding of how physical activity benefits mental health and quality of life.
Interests:
I enjoy spending time with my family, walking my dogs at national heritage sites, travelling, experiencing new cultures, and swimming to stay active and support my wellbeing.
Heléna Costa
Teaching Staff Key Worker
Nickname: Heléna
Experience: I have worked in education for the past two years, supporting children of all ages, and I really enjoy helping them grow in confidence and develop new skills. Alongside this, I play semi-professional football for Bristol Rovers Women and have also gained experience in coaching. I recently ran a six-week after-school girls’ football club, helping beginners prepare for a tournament. It was wonderful to see their confidence and enjoyment grow each week.
Interests
Football has been a passion of mine from a young age, and I also enjoy boxing. Recently, I took part in the Bristol Fight Night, raising £520 for Dementia UK. I enjoy challenges and supporting good causes while staying active.
Thomas Hood Watts
Teaching Staff Key Worker
Nickname: Tom
Experience: I have several years of experience supporting vulnerable adults and young people with a wide range of needs. Alongside this, I have been training in counselling and psychotherapy since 2020 and am due to qualify in 2027. My experience has helped me develop a warm, compassionate, and person-centred approach, focused on building positive relationships and supporting people to grow in confidence and wellbeing.
Interests:
Outside of work, I love spending time outdoors and staying active. I enjoy surfing, camping, hiking, climbing, and exploring new places, as well as football, music, and growing my own food. These interests have shown me the value of adventure, nature, and meaningful connections in supporting wellbeing, confidence, and personal growth.
Gemma-Rose Bigwood
Teaching Staff Key Worker
Nickname: Gem
Experience: I have worked in early years education for 10 years, starting as a student in a nursery and progressing to a fully qualified early years practitioner. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in this sector, but I now feel it is the right moment to spread my wings and take on a new challenge.
Interests:
From a young age, I have had a deep passion for animals. I have owned my own horse and helped my brother run a smallholding, caring for a variety of different animals as part of our family. I am excited to bring this lifelong enthusiasm and hands‑on knowledge into my new role.
Ellie Adams
Teaching Staff Key Worker
Nickname: Ellie
Experience: I coach youth rugby across a range of age groups, from mixed U7s through to girls-only teams, and I now play for my local club. Having stepped away from the elite pathway after having my children, I’m delighted to still be involved in the game I love, both on and off the pitch.
Interests:
Outside of work, I love listening to country music and spending time at the stables with my horses, but my biggest passion is all things rugby!
Laura Dorsett
Teaching Staff Key Worker
Nickname: Laura
Experience: I have worked with children and young people for ten years across education, tuition, and dance, and have been teaching in mainstream primary schools for the past four years. I am deeply passionate about making learning accessible, inclusive, and engaging for every child.
Interests:
I love travelling to new countries to try new food, embrace different cultures and see incredible nature. My favourite hobbies are music, dance, yoga and arts and crafts.
Christophe Dent
Teaching Staff Key Worker
Nickname: Christophe
Experience: I have been a guitar teacher for the last 7 months with The Rock Project and love passing on my knowledge to the next generation and seeing their enthusiasm grow. I also have 2 golden retrievers called Daisy and Daffodil.
Interests:
I’m a very creative individual who loves nothing more than doing stuff with my hands, especially drawing and making music. I’m the lead guitarist in my band.
Chloe Louise
Teaching Staff Key Worker
Nickname: Chloe
Experience: I have five years’ experience working in an SEMH school, supporting young people to build confidence, positive relationships and reach their potential. With a background in hairdressing and performing in the West End and at Disney World, creativity has always been an important part of my life.
Interests:
Outside work, I enjoy exploring with my son and our dog, travelling, celebrating Christmas and learning about marine life. I also love crafts, card making and dressmaking.
Josh Doige
Teaching Staff Key Worker
Nickname: Josh
Experience: I’m a UEFA B-licensed football coach with nearly 10 years of experience, having started coaching at 19. I’ve worked across grassroots and academy football, as well as in schools—first as a PE Teacher and then as a School Engagement Manager. Alongside my role with Compass, I’m also an Academy Coach at Bristol Rovers FC. My coaching focuses on creating positive, player-centred environments that support technical, tactical, and personal development, underpinned by strong safeguarding and educational practice.
Interests:
Outside of football, I enjoy going to the gym, watching Bristol Rovers, and spending time with animals.
Evie McCrea
Teaching Staff Key Worker
Nickname: Evie
Experience: With 7 years’ experience working in SEN and SEMH schools, I have more recently moved into Education Recruitment.
Interests:
Outside of work, I love live music, festivals, big hikes, the gym, reading and travelling.
Leia
Therapy Dog
Nickname: Leia
Experience: This is our therapy dog, Leia. She is Compass’ most loyal member of staff!
Interests: She is always happy to see you, always willing to play, and is a great listener.