Meet the School Team

Robyn’s role at the school is to look after our learners’ individual requirements and their pastoral welfare. She’s been an English teacher for over 20 years and has worked in Special Schools for the last 11. She loves the new Outdoors School because it is so different and allows children to be children with the flexibility to learn in the way that best suits them.
Robyn loves anything to do with music, dancing and singing. She reads a lot and loves to cook.

Jon has worked as a lead in welfare, pastoral care, and behaviour as a senior member of staff in secondary schools for over fifteen years. He is passionate about giving the best opportunities for all children and young people to achieve in life, no matter what challenges life throws at them. Originally from the Midlands moved to Devon in 2014. Jon is a primary school governor and a leader at his local church. Jon is a massive rugby fan!

Dougie joined the Outdoors School as Head of Pastoral after a long military career and has experience of education, welfare & pastoral support and outdoor adventurous training in that sector. An advocate of lifelong learning, he believes in the power of the outdoors as a learning environment. In his spare time he enjoys painting, barefoot running, wild swimming and spending time with his family and dog.

Karen has over 20 years experience working in various Devon Schools. If you have any questions or queries relating to School, please get in touch and she will do her best to help. Karen enjoys cooking, including baking, walking, visiting friends and spending time with her family.

Shevek is one of our founders and has been working in the outdoor education sector for many years as an instructor and team leader. He has been running residentials, day courses, accredited courses and expeditions for several years. In his spare time, he likes to cycle, adventure up mountains and spend time with his boys.

Tom is one of our founders. He studied FDg Environmental Education and since then has worked in land based industries promoting sustainable land management and conservation in both farming and forestry. When he’s not working, Tom can be found traipsing across the moors, hanging out with his boys or baking beautiful sourdough loaves!

Beverly began her working life teaching Psychology and then specialised in Inclusion working first at a Pupil Referral Unit and then heading up a provision in a large mainstream secondary school. Having had 15 years experience in these settings she firmly believes all children deserve a high quality and stimulating education and believes that this is what we can offer at The Outdoors School.
In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, reading, watching films and walking her labrador in the beautiful countryside.

Adam started his education career as a mainstream primary school teacher. He did this for a few years before joining the Outdoors school as an Assistant SENCo supporting the Shillingford, Tiverton and Crediton site. Adam has seen how the education system does not work for all children and Is passionate in supporting all children to succeed in and out of school. Outside of work, you will often find Adam training for varies sports with the most recent, Paris Marathon!

For the past almost 20 years Debbie has worked on a 1-1 basis in primary schools as a learning support assistant. You can find her walking her British Bulldog in her spare time!

Hannah has been a teacher for the last 5 years and has taught in mainstream and special schools. She has a degree in Creative Expressive Therapies and has worked in various roles supporting adults and children, including setting up a cafe for young people with SEN to gain work and life skills. She has recently trained and gained a SENDCo Qualification and is learning the role as Assistant SENDCo. Outside of school, she adores walking the coast path, crafts and sea swimming.

Craig came from mainstream education and has never looked back. He loves engaging with the learners and exploring new ways to keep learning fresh and exciting. In his spare time, he loves sport and is a keen footballer and boulderer. Craig loves music and this is his method for grounding his brain when he gets too hyper – as he often does. He loves the Summer and loves to spend from May to October camping, cooking outdoors and on as many beaches as he can.

Beverly began her working life teaching Psychology and then specialised in Inclusion working first at a Pupil Referral Unit and then heading up a provision in a large mainstream secondary school. Having had 15 years experience in these settings she firmly believes all children deserve a high quality and stimulating education and believes that this is what we can offer at The Outdoors School.
In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, reading, watching films and walking her labrador in the beautiful countryside.

Merrily has worked at The Outdoors School as an Outdoor Learning Support Assistant since January 2020. She is currently training as a Level 3 Forest School Leader as it’s her passion to help people learn and care for the natural world. In her spare time Merrily enjoys gardening, exploring in her campervan, walking on Dartmoor, wild swimming and climbing.

Hannah has been a teacher for the last 5 years and has taught in mainstream and special schools. She has a degree in Creative Expressive Therapies and has worked in various roles supporting adults and children, including setting up a cafe for young people with SEN to gain work and life skills. She has recently trained and gained a SENDCo Qualification and is learning the role as Assistant SENDCo. Outside of school, she adores walking the coast path, crafts and sea swimming.

Claire started her career in biology research before becoming a qualified teacher. She combined her love of natural history, all things outdoors and teaching to work for many years in environmental education and community engagement. She made the move to SEND teaching with her own intervention class at a local school before joining The Outdoors School where she is now a Curriculum Tutor. Claire enjoys hiking, SUP, cycling, art, reading and growing vegetables and happy fat slugs at her allotment with her family.

Julia has enjoyed working with children in a variety of settings for the past 20 years: as a secondary science teacher, a youth worker, an EFL teacher, an LSA and a parent to 4 girls. At the Outdoors School she is a 1:1 LSA at the Exeter site. She loves camping and exploring the great wide world with her family.

Merrily has worked at The Outdoors School as an Outdoor Learning Support Assistant since January 2020. She is currently training as a Level 3 Forest School Leader as it’s her passion to help people learn and care for the natural world. In her spare time Merrily enjoys gardening, exploring in her campervan, walking on Dartmoor, wild swimming and climbing.

Dougie joined the Outdoors School as Head of Pastoral after a long military career and has experience of education, welfare & pastoral support and outdoor adventurous training in that sector. An advocate of lifelong learning, he believes in the power of the outdoors as a learning environment. In his spare time he enjoys painting, barefoot running, wild swimming and spending time with his family and dog.

Adam started his education career as a mainstream primary school teacher. He did this for a few years before joining the Outdoors school as an Assistant SENCo supporting the Shillingford, Tiverton and Crediton site. Adam has seen how the education system does not work for all children and Is passionate in supporting all children to succeed in and out of school. Outside of work, you will often find Adam training for varies sports with the most recent, Paris Marathon!

Matt has always had a deep love of the outdoors which started early on running off into the woods to make countless tree houses and marvelling at wildlife. His interest in the natural world led him to leading a scout group and then onto nature schools in the South of England. In Matt’s spare time he loves to spend time hiking and camping with his other half and dog. Matt enjoys teaching basic woodworking techniques and sharing his knowledge, he is also a chef and enjoys cooking with any who wish to join in. Matt is a huge advocate to learning through play based off the individual’s interests.

Sam works as a Curriculum Tutor for The Outdoors School. His aim is to give the children we are working with as many different opportunities and experiences as we can; this can hopefully lead to finding talent, creating inquisitiveness and enjoying ourselves. He trained as a Primary School teacher and has always been passionate about working outdoors and nurturing the next generation of learners . Sam loves being surrounded by nature and in the next five years hopes to climb Mont Blanc.

Becky is a qualified teacher with experience in primary and secondary as well as home schooling! She is also involved in running the family sports event business. Becky loves helping young people realise how brilliant they are and that they can achieve anything they want to. In her spare time you will find her playing hockey, baking, spending time with family and friends or watching a movie with plenty of snacks!!

Flo came to the outdoors school after completing a degree in outdoor adventure education. They spent some time at a alternative provision school as a 1:1 learning mentor which was based indoors. Having seen the impact the outdoors can have on learning and mental wellbeing they wanted to try a learning setting that involved spending more time outdoors. Outside of work Flo likes to spend time climbing, wild swimming or hiking.  

Claire started her career in biology research before becoming a qualified teacher. She combined her love of natural history, all things outdoors and teaching to work for many years in environmental education and community engagement. She made the move to SEND teaching with her own intervention class at a local school before joining The Outdoors School where she is now a Curriculum Tutor. Claire enjoys hiking, SUP, cycling, art, reading and growing vegetables and happy fat slugs at her allotment with her family.

Hannah is a trained primary school teacher beginning her career in Bristol before moving back towards the sea! Hannah loves being outdoors and sharing this with young learners.
In her spare time you may find her eating, exploring or spending time with her loved ones. Maybe even all together.

Harry has an academic background in Linguistics and Business Studies and is a qualified English (as a foreign language) teacher. After trying his hand at a corporate career in London Harry changed direction and have come to The Outdoors School after five years of working outdoors, predominantly as a Groundsman, and more recently as a mentor and support worker, both freelance and at a local Further Education College. In Harrys spare time he enjoys practising martial arts, playing guitar and singing and getting out into Devon’s beautiful countryside.

Craig came from mainstream education and has never looked back. He loves engaging with the learners and exploring new ways to keep learning fresh and exciting. In his spare time, he loves sport and is a keen footballer and boulderer. Craig loves music and this is his method for grounding his brain when he gets too hyper – as he often does. He loves the Summer and loves to spend from May to October camping, cooking outdoors and on as many beaches as he can.

Adrian has taught the Humanities and PE to Key Stages 1 to 5 for over 20 years in such diverse places as Kathmandu in Nepal, Jersey, London and now Devon. With a keen interest in nature and challenge he has cycled the length of Britain, completed the Camino de Santiago wall across Spain, reeked the highest peaks in the Himalayas and more recently sailed 45,000 miles around the world.  His love of challenge, the outdoors and the mindset of ‘being our best’ is what he hopes his learners at The Outdoor School will be inspired and thrive from.  Adrian has been a curriculum tutor with Hazel group at the Tiverton school and is now the Site Lead at the South Brent School where he enjoys managing an incredible site, great staff and wonderful learners. 

Grace has over 10 years experience in Early Years, more recently working within SEN. Grace has her Forest School assistant qualification and is highly passionate about outdoor learning and wrote her university dissertation on the benefits of Forest School. In her spare time Grace enjoys hiking and wild camping, she recently completed the Two Moors Way hiking for 117 miles and camping along the way for 7 days. 

Karl is the Woodland Learning Support Assistant at South Brent.
He spends most of his time with learners on Project Based Learning activities, including Food Preparation & Cooking, Woodland Activities and fixing things.
Karl spent 25 years in the British Army, primarily in Logistics, gaining a wealth of experience in a great many fields, spent time as a metal fabricator, landscape gardened and spent 2 years as technician in a secondary school DT Dept before joining TOS. He loves the outdoor life and is most content when building & fixing stuff, gardening, hiking/camping and supporting the local scout group.

Chris is a Curriculum tutor at South Brent with a real passion for delivering learning opportunities in any experience. Having done his Degree in Education Studies Chris has a great knowledge of different teaching and learning styles and caters his approach to meet each learners needs. He also discovered the fantastic opportunities being in the outdoors offers when he completed his level 3 Forest School Lead with The Outdoors Group and spent 3 years as a Forest School lead in a local Autism Spectrum Disorder specialist school. Chris has a lot of energy both at work and home. He has a massive love for skateboarding but also enjoys football, mountain biking and being a dad to two equally energetic children.  

My name is Milly, I am a Curriculum Tutor at the South Brent site.  Before TOS, I spent 4 years working as an SEN Teacher in Plymouth. I am a fungi enthusiast. Outside of work I enjoy stand up paddleboarding (SUP), climbing and yoga- I try to combine all three at the same time! If I am not in the sea, I am in a woodland searching for mushrooms.

Finian practised as a primary school teacher across Devonshire before joining the Outdoors School as a pastoral tutor at South Brent. He has a strong passion in the benefits of the outdoors in young people.
In his free time Finian gets his thrills from riding the deep winter surf. He loves to get in the water with his camera, shooting waves, surfing and elusive marine wildlife.

Lizzie shares her experience of teaching through learning through play and creativity. Lizzie has taught in a variety of settings, working with caring inspiring creative teams in mainstream and specialist provisions.  Lizzie and her family have provided parent and child foster placements and respite care. Lizzie carries a sketch book in her bag and loves a pot of earl grey tea. Lizzie is a Curriculum tutor and can be found with the Otters at South Brent.

Woody started his education career as a mainstream primary school teacher. It was here that he decided to train as a forest school leader. During the training and working as a forest school leader he developed a passion for learning outdoors. Woody joined the team as a Pastoral Tutor in Shillingford but now teaches on the South Brent site. In his spare time, he enjoys painting, playing football, paddle boarding and spending time with his family and dogs Bertie and Dougie.

Kathy has a passion for the outdoors and sharing a love of learning.  Kathy has travelled the world but her heart and home is always in Devon.  Having taught all ages in a variety of setting, she has found her natural environment in the woodland of the Outdoor School. 

Dougie joined the Outdoors School as Head of Pastoral after a long military career and has experience of education, welfare & pastoral support and outdoor adventurous training in that sector. An advocate of lifelong learning, he believes in the power of the outdoors as a learning environment. In his spare time he enjoys painting, barefoot running, wild swimming and spending time with his family and dog.

For the past almost 20 years Debbie has worked on a 1-1 basis in primary schools as a learning support assistant. You can find her walking her British Bulldog in her spare time!

Jordon joined TOS at the start of January 2021 and in that time has been a 1:1, LSA and is now a Curriculum Tutor. His background is in Supporting Teaching and Learning. Jordon believes in accessible education for all learners and giving them unique learning experiences in order to build their confidence and ability. In his spare time Jordon enjoys his new hobby Warhammer 40k and being outside collecting rocks and sea glass.

Harry has worked at TOS for just over 2 years and is a Pastoral Tutor at the Tiverton site, Harrys background is sport and personal training and believes educating young people on the importance of exercise to aid in physical and mental well being will help give the young people in his care the best chance for the future by creating good habbits and routine. In his spare time Harry enjoys spending time with his family and going to the gym

Karen has over 20 years experience working in various Devon Schools. If you have any questions or queries relating to School, please get in touch and she will do her best to help. Karen enjoys cooking, including baking, walking, visiting friends and spending time with her family.

Jane has over 35 years administrative experience, including working in both mainstream and specialist independent schools, and works alongside Karen in the school office, where she is happy to help with any questions or queries.  Jane enjoys travelling (both near and far), dining out and cookery – particularly trying out recipes from her large and ever-increasing collection of cookery books.  After moving to Devon in 2017, she is still enjoying discovering new places in the county with her family, including their Labradoodle!

P has worked as SENDCo as a senior member of staff in mainstream schools for 6 years. As a result she strongly believes that all learners can succeed when provided with the right tasks, support and understanding. In her spare time P likes to spend time with her family and friends, walking and playing with her 2 Therapy dogs Mr Darcy and Bingley, and cooking, reading and playing her saxophone.

Adam started his education career as a mainstream primary school teacher. He did this for a few years before joining the Outdoors school as an Assistant SENCo supporting the Shillingford, Tiverton and Crediton site. Adam has seen how the education system does not work for all children and Is passionate in supporting all children to succeed in and out of school. Outside of work, you will often find Adam training for varies sports with the most recent, Paris Marathon!

Daisy has worked for the Outdoors School for many years and works as a therapeutic tutor. She meets the needs of the learners through therapeutic intervention and spends most of her day either playing the sand tray, banging drums or swinging in hammocks. Outside of work, Daisy is training to be a play therapist.

Beth has been working in the education sector for the last 14 years in many different roles.  She always enjoys being outside and loves being a part of the outdoors school. Beth specializes in teaching the learners literacy across all sites and continues to support a love for learning, which is a big thing in her life!

Rob started his career as an Early Years specialist teaching in mainstream settings. A strong advocate of connecting young people with natural spaces and wildlife, Rob went onto setup forest school programs in mainstream schools and led education outreach programs for Devon Wildlife Trust before joining The Outdoors Group. He successfully comanage the company’s Kindergarten before joining the School team. He now utilises his educational background and passion for learning outdoors to support the academic progress of our leaners. Outside of work Rob enjoys running and likes to channel his passion for birdwatching by involving himself in local bird groups.  

Suzie has been working in the Outdoor Industry for a number of years. She holds a variety of Nationally Recognised Outdoor, Teaching and Assessor qualifications and has experience working with people of all ages and abilities within an outdoor setting. In her spare time Suzie enjoys being active…surfing, paddling and cycling being some of her favourite activities to participate in….she also loves being creative and is a keen drummer.