Meet the team
Governance
Executive Team
CEO: Freddie Adu
CFO: Delphine Malka
Members
Paul Greatorex
Paul is a barrister based at 11KBW in London who specialises in education law. He acts for all clients in this sector, including parents, students, schools, Academy Trusts (and MATs), local authorities, colleges and universities. He provides legal advice and representation in courts and tribunals, as well as mediation and investigation services. He is also the governor of a mainstream primary school.
Dr Catherine Carroll
Catherine has over twenty years of teaching and research expereince in schools and higher education. Catherine has lectured in education and psychology. Research has been published in international peer reviewed journals and professional publications including literature reviews that has been conducted by Catherine. The specific research interests include; inclusion, the education of children in care and adopted children, literacy, autism and knowledge exchange between researchers and practitioners.
She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has chaired Queensmill’s Special School Education, Research and Development Board since its inception in 2014.
Michael Walsh
Michael is former director within the Rocco-Forte Hotel Group. He has been the chair of governors at Queensmill for 8 years and has a son on the spectrum who attends the school.
Phil Poulton
Phil is a serving headteacher, Bensham Manor School, with experience as a CEO and principal in specialist school settings. Phil is an experienced Inclusion Mark moderator with extensive knowledge of Queensmill’s innovative inclusion practice.
As a teacher, Head of Department, Head of Boarding, Headteacher, Principal and CEO making learning accessible, enjoyable and rewarding have always been Phil’s priorities. He is passionate about education and ambitious for all, doing his utmost to aid their learning and foster their well-being.
Trustees
Chair: Paul Greatorex
Paul is a barrister based in London who specialises in education law. He acts for all clients in this area, including parents, students, schools, academy trusts, local authorities, colleges, universities, and more. He provides legal advice and representation in courts and tribunals, as well as mediation and investigation services, and is the editor of the Education Law Handbook. He is also the governor of a mainstream primary school.
Vice Chair: Cllr Emma Will
Emma is a former cabinet member of Education and Schools for the Royal Borough and is currently the lead member for families, children and schools. She is former Director of European Equities at Lehman Brothers. Emma is current Trustee of the Kensington Aldridge Academy and a Governor of Maxilla Nursery School.
Michele Coleman
Involved in Education for nearly 30 years, previous to this having worked in Banking in Dublin, Ireland. Michele’s early career as an educator found her working across both mainstream and specialist settings both teacher and Senior Leader, predominantly based within the Kingston and Richmond Local Authorities. Over the last 12 years, she has worked extensively as an SEND Consultant in London.
The main thrust of Michele’s work has been to provide Leadership and Management consultancy with strategic and operational support to schools, Academies and Free Schools. The work has focused mainly on Special Educational Needs and Inclusion supporting senior leaders with re-structuring their SEN/ Inclusion Departments in line with school context, resources and National Agenda.
Michele has provided extensive training for Staff, including governors and the schools’ SEN departments. Michele was also heavily involved in the setting up of The St. Marylebone CofE Bridge School, a specialist Free School for children with Speech Language and Communication needs in Westminster, which she also led (Headteacher) and managed during its first year. Michele continues to have links with the school. In addition, she has recently been involved with establishing and setting up a new resource base for girls with Autism and Social Emotional Mental Health at Tolworth Girls School in Kingston. She is also on the Board of Governors of. a special school, Capella House, in Twickenham.
Jude Ragan
Jude has worked with autistic children during the whole of her career. She has been a teacher, a Headteacher and a local Ofsted trained inspector.
She was the Headteacher of Queensmill School from 2005 – 2015, before handing over to Freddie, the present Head, now the CEO of The Queensmill Trust (TQT). Jude continues to work whilst in semi-retirement, supporting parents of autistic children who are failing to thrive in the mainstream setting. She has trained staff in autism education in the UK as well as in Poland, Albania and St. Helena. She has worked recently in China, and since the pandemic has lead weekly training for staff in China via Zoom. Jude very much enjoys continuing to support TQT through becoming a Trustee, and is pleased to take on the roles of link Trustee to QHouse, the Children’s Home.
Dave Mcnamara
Dave is a chartered accountant with over 30 years’ experience in the field. He was the former Triborough Director of Children’s Services (H&F, RBKC and WCC). In his current role he supports LA finance for Surrey and Wandsworth Boroughs respectively. Dave is also a Director of the Fulham Academy Trust and governor at John Betts VA School.
Keith Rooney
Marie-Elise Howells
Marie Elise is an experienced SEND school governor. She served as chair of governors at Cambridge School (a special school in LBHF) 2013-2018. She has a particular interest in transitions to adulthood having previously served as a trustee of what’s now the Learning and Work Institute. She has lived locally to TQT for over a decade, and currently lives in Ealing with her husband and children.