Strongly advocating for putting relationships at the heart of the organisation and design of our schools for over 30 years.
Patrons
Satish Kumar
Founder and Patron
Satish Kumar is the Founder of Schumacher College in the United Kingdom. He was Editor of Resurgence magazine for 40 years. This magazine was described by the Guardian newspaper as “the artistic and spiritual flagship of the Green Movement”.
A former Jain monk, Satish Kumar went on an international pilgrimage for peace. He, with a friend, walked 8000 miles from New Delhi to Moscow, Paris, London and Washington. Along the way he met Bertrand Russell and Martin Luther King. Satish is the author of ten books including his autobiography, No Destination. Other books include Elegant Simplicity, Soil, Soul, Society and Radical Love. Satish is a lifelong activist in the cause of environmental sustainability, social justice and world peace. He is the recipient of Goi Peace Prize 2022.
Derry Hannam
Patron
Derry Hannam is dedicated to the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG4, which advocates for inclusive, equitable quality education and lifelong learning. With degrees from Oxford and Exeter and experience as a visiting fellow at Sussex University, he champions Human Scale Education, opposing industrial-scale models. In his 20-year career in English state schools and later as an inspector and author, he promoted small learning communities where students take ownership of their learning. He has been involved in initiatives like the Council of Europe’s Education for Democratic Citizenship and played a role in the defence of Summerhill School. Derry advocates for student participation in school governance and is currently pushing for 20% of curriculum time to be dedicated to student-driven learning.
Mike Davies
Founder and Patron
Mike Davies is a founder of both Human Scale Education and the British Curriculum Foundation which he chaired for fifteen years. He has also been a Trustee of the National Association for the Teaching of Drama (NATD) and served on the boards of two MATs. Mike has also been a consultant working in England, Denmark, USA and Kenya on re-culturing and school transformation. This commitment, linked with the reorganisation of schools on human scale lines, grew from his experience as a Headteacher in England and Scotland. These schools were mainly in challenging communities, each radical with an emphasis on supporting human scale practices in curriculum development, engaging pedagogy, the use of time and space, staff and student voice and relationships.
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Anna Camino-Jones
Patron
Because of Anna's interest in children and education, in 1967 she joined the newly formed National Association for Gifted Children (now Potential Plus UK). Anna was soon editing the local branch newsletter and organising
activity events for members’ children. Eventually, as part of NAGC’s national Management Committee, she ran residential summer schools for many years until 1984 when her and a colleague set up the Potential Trust
which continued running summer schools for children with high learning potential, and also offers bursaries for families who can’t afford the cost of participating in other suitable events.
Trustees
Dr Robin Precey
Chairman
Dr Robin Precey has been involved with HSE since 1992. He is an Associate Lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University and Bath Spa University as well as a consultant for EthicalEd with a particular interest in developing future leaders. He has written extensively and teaches up to, and including, Doctor level.
Louisa Koschyk
Trustee and Coordinator
Louisa started her professional career in primary teaching. Throughout her work and academic study the formation of identities has always been prominent - especially marginalised identities within society. She now works for a LGBTQ+ charity in London, advising the Higher Education sector on their practices and policies to ensure inclusivity of all. HSE share common goals with Louisa, primarily making the world a better place for future generations.
Sophie Grubb
Trustee and Coordinator
After studying BA Education and completing a master’s degree in education policy, Sophie is currently working in the Widening Participation sector of education. With a focus on emotional development and mental wellbeing during her research studies, Sophie’s academic and professional experiences have led her to Human Scale Education to develop her own interests and work with the charity to promote the humanistic approach in education today. Sophie has also worked in multiple schools from early years to higher secondary and has always enjoyed working with young people.
Joel Gordon
Trustee
Joel is currently the Head of Mathematics and Numeracy at England's first secure school for students remanded and sentenced to custody. Prior to this Joel taught at a MAT school in Hastings where he focused on supporting students at risk of suspension and permanent exclusion. Before changing careers into teaching Joel worked internationally for almost 20 years for major internet, financial services, and law firms and ran his own internet startup businesses. Joel studied Economics and Japanese and also has Master's degrees in both Philosophy and Education.
Jen Nuin Smith
Trustee
Jen is Founder, Educator and Consultant at Little Forest, a democratic learning community centred on learning for the well-being of all nature's children. Through her consultancy, Jenny works with partners on the re-purposing of the education system towards well-being for all. Jenny is a qualified Teacher, holds a Master's in Transformational Leadership and has held senior leadership positions in school, local authority and youth service settings.
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Rosalyn Spencer
Trustee
Rosalyn has been involved with HSE for many years, initially seeking their help when setting up a small school in 1993, and more recently as a trustee. She has a background in teaching and now works as an Education Advisor in Lincolnshire. Over the years Rosalyn has written several education articles for magazines, and has written a book about her experience of setting up a human scale small school.
Daniel Jones
Trustee
Dan is currently a Mathematics teacher in Sussex. He has worked in various educational settings within the UK and internationally. He has a particular interest in Special Educational Needs. Dan firmly believes that in delivering considered, high-quality and humanistic education to those who are in most need all stakeholders stand to benefit – a rising tide raises all ships.
Jennifer Thornton
Trustee
Jennifer is the Head of Business and Economics at a school in Bicester, after obtaining her teaching qualification from Teach First in East London.
Jennifer studied International Management at the University of Bath and following this, a Masters degree in Education and Leadership, with her dissertation focus being on student resilience in secondary schools.
Following her extensive experience in education and knowledge of a specialist subject, Jennifer joined HSE to continue discussions around the curriculum and embed the key themes she addressed in her MA studies of student resilience and life skills.
Obituary for Avril Newman
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Avril. Avril was a trustee for HSE for many years and was a passionate advocate of the charity as well as putting the principles of HSE into practice in a wonderful inclusive, community primary school in the east end of London. She served for over 50 years working in Tower Hamlets including almost 30 years as headteacher of the very successful Sir William Burrough Primary School in Limehouse.
The school has consistently been in the top 200 schools in England (according to The Times list based on incredibly successful SATs results). it was, and is, a real part of the community thriving on innovation, with staff, volunteers and people supporting families and to enable every child, from whatever starting point, to achieve their highest possible level of success in all respects.
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She is sorely missed but her legacy lives on.
Robin Precey