Meet The Team
SWALSS’s work is led by its Executive Committee. All members of the Committee are serving special school headteachers and give generously of their time in a voluntary capacity. A Chief Executive and an Administration, Finance and Events Officer support the work of the Committee. Both of these posts are part time and remunerated.
The two SWALSS officers work part time for the organisation. The division of their duties for the current academic year is set out in SWALSS Roles and Responsibilities.
The four honorary officials give generously of their time to SWALSS in a voluntary capacity, as do all other members of the Executive Committee.
This list below shows who is in SWALSS Executive Committee.
Helen Farnell
SWALSS Chair 2025/27
Helen is an Executive Headteacher in Somerset, where she has a small partnership of schools - Polden Bower Special School, Avalon Special School and The Bridge Pupil Referral Unit. Helen is passionate about growing our staff in the specialist sector and the impact they have on outcome for our children and young people.
Andrew Penman
Chief Executive Officer of SWALSS
Andrew Penman is a former special and mainstream school headteacher. Alongside headship, he served for ten years as an Ofsted inspector and SIP. He attended his first SWALSS conference in 1995(!) and is a long term board member. He has served as CEO since 2018.
Kiran Hingorani
Honorary Treasurer 2025/27
Kiran is CEO of Swalcliffe Park Trust, Oxfordshire. Kiran has supported SWALSS for many years on the Executive Board and is passionate about the outcomes for children and young people.
Seán Kretz
Member of the Executive Committee
Seán is the Head Teacher of Westfield Arts College in Weymouth, Dorset. I support SWALSS because it’s a great network of educators all working towards a common purpose of improving the lives and opportunities of young people with special needs.
Sarah Pickering
Member of the Executive Committee
Sarah is the Head Teacher of Mill Water school, (member of the Special partnership trust) where I have worked for 15 years. I've been in SEND education for over 26 years but still get excited by innovation and learning, which is why I am committed to the work of SWALSS.
Jo Bleasdale
Member of the Executive Committee
Jo is currently Headteacher at Bettridge School, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
Sara Attra
Member of the Executive Committee
Sara Attra is currently Headteacher of Addington School
Fritz Penn-Barwell
SWALSS Vice Chair 2025/27
Fritz is the Director of Education with Delta Education Trust, a mixed multi academy trust with schools located between Portsmouth and Weymouth on the south coast.
Issy Johnson
Finance and Events Manager for SWALSS
Issy is currently the Finance and Events Manager for SWALSS.
Jason Ryder
Honorary Treasurer 2025/27
Jason is the principal of InFocus Charity in Exeter. Jason is a passionate exponent for quality education for all young people, no matter what challenges they face in terms of additional needs and disabilities. He believes a specialist FE sector that provides students with a strong foundation is a crucial element of the educational landscape.
Deirdre Fitzpatrick
Member of the Executive Committee
I am an independent special school consultant. I have been a Headteacher, Director of Education and worked with the DfE and Ofsted. I visit special schools most days and like to share what I learn in the weekly SWALSS Leadership blog - helping SWALSS to support special school leaders.
Jo Stoaling
Member of the Executive Committee
Jo is a Headteacher of a 4-19 generic special school in Bath called Three Ways School and an Outreach Service Brighter Futures. With over 20 years of experience working in SEND, Jo works as part of the SWALSS Board to connect projects with a multi-agency and medical agenda locally and nationally.
Andrew Buckton
Member of the Executive Committee
Andrew is the CEO of The Enable Trust in South Gloucestershire and an Ofsted Inspector. He has taught in both mainstream primary schools and in primary and secondary special schools. Andrew is keen to ensure positive outcomes for children and young people with SEND.
Gill Barrett
Member of the Executive Committee
Semi retired former Headteacher of The Loddon School