As Executive Head of Ambitious about Autism Trust, Andy provides strategic and systems leadership and oversight of Spring School and serves as the link between the school and wider Ambitious about Autism organisation.

Andy has been a senior leader in specialist schools for the past 10 years, holding a MA in Special and Inclusive Education and NPQEL, with experience delivering high quality provision in a range of contexts and communities. He has founded two autism-specific schools, including Spring, developed resource-base provision, grown outreach programmes and taught and led in environments ranging from The Royal Ballet School to where he is today.

He is passionate about improving Quality of Life outcomes, supporting families and ensuring vulnerable young people are prepared for ‘life after school’. Driven by values of kindness and integrity, with a healthy dose of pragmatism, he is always keen to work collaboratively to ensure decisions and provision are in the best interest of all.

Alongside his role at Spring, Andy is a visiting lecturer at University of Roehampton, a Trustee Director for the Good Shepherd Trust and Chair of Trustees for Disability Africa.

Having been at Spring since the beginning, he remains passionate about its journey and driven to provide the best for all the learners, families and staff linked to the school. 

Laura leads Spring School with vision, compassion, and over 20 years of experience in education. Her career spans senior leadership, school improvement, and inclusion strategy, with a strong focus on supporting pupils with SEND and autism.

Previously an Assistant Head for Inclusion and a former local authority advisor, Laura has driven whole-school change, led safeguarding practice, and championed mental health and wellbeing initiatives. She is skilled in building collaborative teams, mentoring staff, and embedding evidence-based approaches and trauma-informed practice.

Laura works closely with families and professionals to ensure every child feels safe, valued, and able to thrive. Known for her calm, strategic leadership and commitment to equity, she believes in high expectations paired with empathy—creating an ambitious, inclusive environment where progress and belonging go hand in hand.

Sue brings over 15 years of experience in autism education and SEN leadership to Spring School. Her career spans specialist teaching, curriculum design, and multi-disciplinary collaboration, underpinned by a deep understanding of how behaviour communicates need.

Sue has led curriculum development for diverse cohorts, implemented frameworks such as SCERTS, and championed strategies like Attention Autism, TEACCH, and Makaton. In her current leadership role, she oversees academic, therapeutic, and pastoral provision, ensuring consistency and high expectations across the school. Known for her integrity and calm influence, Sue supports staff through coaching and modelling best practice, fostering environments where pupils thrive academically and emotionally.

She is passionate about safeguarding, mental health, and creating inclusive classrooms that balance structure with creativity. Sue believes in the power of kindness, collaboration, and ambition—helping every child achieve their full potential.

Jackie brings passion, creativity, and a wealth of experience in emotional literacy and behaviour support to Spring School. With a strong background in mainstream education, she has worked extensively with children on the autism spectrum and those facing emotional challenges.

Jackie is a qualified ELSA, a trained Emotion Coaching practitioner, and now a Trauma-Informed Practitioner. She has successfully trained the whole school in trauma-informed practices, embedding approaches that prioritise wellbeing and resilience. Skilled in evidence-based strategies such as Zones of Regulation, Superflex, and the Bravery Ladder, Jackie tailors interventions to individual needs—often using innovative tools like therapeutic stories to boost engagement.

She collaborates closely with staff and families to create inclusive environments where every child feels understood and supported. Jackie believes in teamwork, trust, and the transformative power of education to change lives.

Peter brings over 15 years of expertise in school business and operations leadership to Ambitious about Autism Schools Trust. He oversees finance, HR, estates, IT, compliance, and strategic planning, ensuring systems and resources work seamlessly to support outstanding education. With NPQEL accreditation and experience managing multi-million-pound budgets, Peter has driven operational excellence and innovation across multi-academy trusts.

He is passionate about aligning every decision with pupil outcomes, creating safe, efficient environments where children thrive. Known for his collaborative, impact-driven approach, Peter leads Trust-wide initiatives, including growth planning and Communities of Practice, and builds strong partnerships with stakeholders.

His structured thinking and change management skills help schools stay future-ready while maintaining high standards. Peter believes in the art of the possible—finding practical, sustainable solutions that make a real difference for every learner, every day.