Stuart has 16 years of school leadership experience across multiple phases of education. He began his teaching career in mainstream schools, quickly becoming a champion for inclusion and special educational needs.

His passion and drive to improve outcomes for young people with specialist needs, led him toward his first leadership role and in turn Headship at 28 years of age, in a school for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs (SEMH).

Learning how to manage and gain the best for his students with EHCPs, his team delivered the best destination and GCSE outcomes for an SEMH school in the Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and Isle of Wight region for 4 years in a row.

During this period, Stuart pushed at educational boundaries to improve opportunities and support his students and families. He achieved this by forming a localised Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) with two other Head Teachers, consisting of his specialist school, 2 large secondary schools and 2 primary schools - 4300+ pupils. The vision was to enable a continuum of education from early years to adulthood, that all young people, families and professionals within a community could benefit from. This enabled families and schools to access many new early intervention and identification of need services and therapies.

Innovation is at the heart of Stuart's strategic thinking, exemplified by his belief that 'thinking like an engineer', as problem solver, should be a mindset for all young people to build the skills necessary to manage in the world. As a result, his curriculum belief ensures that Science, Technology, English and Maths (STE&M), form a strong foundation, alongside expressive and creative opportunities. 

He has delivered this vision, by working in partnership with all stakeholders. He now seeks to learn and apply his knowledge and skills in a completely new community and is really excited to join Vanguard.