Meet the team

The staffing structure at Newbury Manor School

Senior Leadership Team

All members of the Senior Leadership Team and all are qualified in their respective fields of education and care and are passionate about improving the lives of the students who attend the school.

Academic Staff

Newbury Manor has very experienced teaching team, who are trained to ensure they are able to meet the needs of our students. All Teachers hold qualified teacher status (QTS).

Care Staff

The care team provide expert care, based on high levels of training, significant experience and strong leadership structures. The Regional Head of Care holds the relevant Level 5 Care Qualification.

Learning Support Staff

There are a team of Higher Level Teaching Assistants, Vocational Tutors and Teaching Assistants who, working alongside our teaching team to support the educational and holistic needs of the students in the school. Of these staff, where needed, we also have access to additional adults to support our packages, such as qualified swimming teachers and instructors qualified to oversee horse riding.

Therapists

Two therapists are employed at Newbury Manor School, a Highly Qualified Speech & Language Therapist and Paediatric Occupational Therapist. The Speech & Language Therapist is also the Autism Lead for the school.  Newbury Manor School has strong relationships with a network of other specialist therapists, who are called to support the students as required. They work regularly with a very experienced Educational Psychologist and a School Counsellor.

Administration, Support Services and Ancillary Staff

The Administration, Support Services and Ancillary staff work across the whole school, providing administrative, catering and facilities support across all areas.

Meet our team

Rebecca McArthur, Head Teacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead

Before I joined Newbury Manor, I taught in mainstream education for 10 years at an Ofsted 'Outstanding' school and held positions as deputy Head Teacher and Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). I wanted a career change joining Newbury Manor in March 2016, initially as a teacher and then became Deputy Head Teacher in May 2017 before becoming Head Teacher in 2021.

As Head, I oversee the all aspects of the school and lead the school council. I feel passionately that school needs to be a safe, enriched, fun environment where we provide an irresistible curriculum. Everyone should feel valued and treated equally. Diversity is celebrated and everyone’s needs are met through a bespoke curriculum. My aim as Head is to give as many opportunities as I can, creating treasured times and a love for learning.

I have been involved in voluntary work in Romania for the last 20 years working alongside the Roma communities and FAST charity. I am also passionate about learning through play, forest school and early writing.

Kevin McKain, Deputy Head Teacher and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Before joining Newbury Manor, I accumulated a wealth of experience in several industries. My interest in working with children was sparked, when at 17 years old when I had the transformational experience of visiting and supporting learners at an orphanage in India.  

My background and qualifications are in the film, television production and advertising.  I worked with several communications and media companies in both the UK and USA before utilising this experience to teach several media and film making courses to international students.  I was excited to begin working in special education in 2011 and worked for 12 years as a teacher for students with SEMH, also fulfilling the roles of; head of student outcomes, head of maths, careers leader and assistant headteacher.

 I believe educating children and preparing them for adulthood is the most valuable thing a person can do, and joined Newbury Manor in January 2023 as assistant headteacher, committed to supporting our pupils to achieve their full potential. 

Nick Moore, Assistant Head Teacher and SENCO

I’ve been teaching for over 10 years after a short career in publishing and experience in the performing arts. I like to bring a theatrical element to my teaching and enjoy using drama across the curriculum to enhance learning and engagement. A little bit of extravagance goes a long way!

I have worked in several different special schools, as well as starting my career with two years of mainstream primary. I also spent a month teaching in Italy and I’m always eager to include language teaching in my teaching.

I pride myself on being a geek and I love to learn something new every day. From local history/geography, to gaming via football and music, I have varied interests which I think helps me to both connect with learners and to help engage them in learning.

Ali Lucas, Teacher

I have worked at Newbury since its establishment in 2000. Within this time, I have supported a broad range of young people on the autistic spectrum in gaining self-esteem, an understanding of their worlds and providing them with opportunities to follow their ambitions.

My background is in visual arts. Within this class at Newbury Manor School, my emphasis has always been on the academic, social and emotional development of each individual student.

Students have the possibility of gaining academic qualifications up to GCSE level in subjects such as English, mathematics, science, history, geography and art & design, as well as working towards qualifications in more vocational areas. I endeavour to ensure that when students transition to further education, they are as confident, prepared and as independent as they can be.

I believe that all students should feel happy to be at Newbury Manor, should be provided with opportunities to fill the gaps in their academic and social understanding and reach their true potential. Naturally this should always be achieved with a degree of humour!

Nicola Lickorish, Teacher

Before joining Newbury Manor School, I worked in mainstream secondary school as a teacher of Religious Studies and PSHE. I was extremely interested in joining a specialist setting to improve the lives of those who cannot access mainstream education.

I enjoy teaching across the curriculum and watching my students learn and develop different skills. I am amazed by all the opportunities Newbury Manor provides its pupils such as horse riding, swimming and lots of opportunities to spend time in the community. It is through these activities that the students develop confidence and learn life skills.

My students are so important to me, I want to create a safe, happy environment, where students can succeed in everything they do.

Sam Moore, Primary Lead and IT Site Authority

Before working in Education I worked for over nine years in the Network division of a large telecommunications company.

I joined Aspris in September 2019 after working in mainstream primary school settings since 2008. I have been fortunate, during this time, to teach amazing groups of children across the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. A large percentage of my teaching career has been advocating and following a play based curriculum where children explore their interests though both child initiated and adult led play experiences.

I decided in 2019 that I wanted to pursue my aspiration of working within the Special Educational Needs sector… this brought me to Newbury Manor. The class I teach follows a holistic approach towards the children’s learning opportunities – providing experiences that are tailored around their individual needs and interests. I am also passionate about phonics, supporting early reading, and outdoor learning. We provide a safe environment and bespoke curriculum where we get to see the children thrive and grow within a beautiful setting.

Nina Clayton, Teacher and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

My background is in art and dance, I enjoy physical activities such as running and cycling, I often try to cycle to school to keep fit and save the planet.

I have worked as a teacher for over 25 years. My love of teaching started with EAL (English as a second language) students, spending their summers in the UK. I wanted to improve their communication so they could converse more easily. This passion then led me to teaching in Hungary and Chile and more recently into Special Education.

I have worked in special provision for the past 10 years, firstly in an ASD centre and then in an ASD school in Qatar. I want to support students who find it difficult to communicate, and other barriers to learning such as high anxiety, sensory difficulties etc. so that they can feel valued, understood, reduce frustration enjoying what life has to offer. I want my students to be socially accepted, happy and independent. Giving them strategies to regulate, understand boundaries, learn in an exciting and fun way. I like to include sensory, musical, creative, and outdoor activities. My students are very important to me, I want the best for them. Each student is unique, and I enjoy exploring together in an environment that makes them happy and helps them to learn to their full potential.

Michelle Blissett, Teacher

I have been at Newbury Manor School since September 2017 supporting children with profound learning difficulties. I am a qualified primary school teacher.

Prior to Newbury Manor I have experience in supporting children with complex needs through various volunteer works and working in different schools as a Teaching Assistant. During my degree in education I spent some time in Zambia learning about how their education system supports children with additional needs. Ever since then I have been interested in supporting young individuals with additional needs and learning barriers to access education and have a positive, fun learning experience.

As a teacher I feel passionate about creating a safe, therapeutic learning environment and providing a bespoke curriculum tailored around specific needs. I enjoy learning about each individual child and how I can challenge myself and my approach to help a child flourish.

Debbie Corbett, Teacher

Debbie is the teacher at Newbury Manor School.