Emma Howard, Headteacher
Emma joined Swanwick Hall School in April 2024 as Headteacher. She is determined to ensure that every child leaves Swanwick Hall with the grades they require to go on to their next destination and the personal qualities that will enable them to make an excellent contribution to the world that we share.
Prior to joining the Trust, Emma worked as a Headteacher in a Secondary school in Nottingham. During her time there, she oversaw a massive shift in the culture of the school and secured ‘Good’ in the schools most recent Ofsted inspection. Emma graduated from Coventry University with a degree in Geography and completed her PGCE and Masters in Education at the University of Birmingham.
Emma’s legacy sentence is “She encouraged others to be brave and make the change’.
Shane Worrall, Deputy Headteacher
Shane gained a degree in Education with Mathematics from Sheffield Hallam University. He has now worked in five secondary schools in Lincolnshire and Derbyshire, three of which as a senior leader.
He joined Swanwick Hall School in 2014 and has been responsible for our inclusion provision, leading on Safeguarding, our pastoral system and being the leadership team link for Special Educational needs and Disability since 2019.
Karen Whitehead, Deputy Headteacher
Karen gained a degree in German at the University of Hull. After studying for her PGCE at Sheffield University, Karen began her teaching career at Swanwick Hall School in 2001 and has proudly moved through a range of roles in the school since then. Fluent in German and Spanish, Karen spent several years leading the Languages Faculty, before joining the Leadership Team in 2018. Promoted to Deputy Headteacher for Curriculum in 2024, Karen’s responsibilities include leading the design and delivery of a broad and balanced curriculum and ensuring the curriculum is ambitious and accessible for all. Karen plays a pivotal role in raising attainment, working closely alongside subject leaders on curriculum design, in addition to assessment and feedback. Furthermore, she oversees the continuous professional learning for middle leaders. Karen is also the ECT and ITE Induction lead so has the privilege of supporting colleagues new to the profession.
Paula Shanahan, Assistant Headteacher
Paula began her teaching career in 2013 after completing a joint honours degree in Geography and Sport Science at Loughborough University. She went on to complete her PGCE in Secondary Geography at the University of Nottingham. Paula has spent her teaching career within the Two Counties Trust, where she led a successful geography department before becoming Head of Humanities in 2016. In 2018, she was designated a Specialist Leader in Education (SLE), supporting schools and universities with curriculum development. She joined Swanwick Hall in 2021, where her areas of responsibility included teaching and professional learning.
Lucy Owen, Assistant Headteacher
Lucy gained a BA (Hons) Degree in French and International Relations from Nottingham Trent University and then a PGCE in Modern Foreign Languages from the University of Sheffield. She spent her first two years working as a French and German teacher in a school in Nottingham and gained her Masters in Applied Professional Studies in Education from the University of Sheffield during this time. Since working at Swanwick Hall School as a French and Spanish teacher, she has undertaken the roles of Assistant Student Progress Leader and Student Progress Leader for Key Stage 5, as well as Progress and Achievement Leader for Year 7 and Year 8. Lucy then became Assistant Headteacher for Key Stage 3 with a focus on pastoral work and then moved onto focusing on both Key Stage 3 and 4. She is still an Assistant Headteacher but is now overseeing PSHE, student leadership, personal development, the house system, tutor time and Year 6 transition.
Rob Warren, Assistant Headteacher
Rob completed his teaching degree at Nottingham Trent University in 2006, with a specialism in Design and Technology. He joined Swanwick Hall School in 2006 as an NQT, and has remained with us ever since. Through his journey as a teacher at the school he has held a number of responsibilities including Assistant Student Progress Leader for Technology and over the past 6 years as a Progress and Achievement Leader who has worked across all of the year groups within KS3 and KS4. Rob has always been passionate about working within a pastoral and inclusion based role, and outside of this now mainly now teaches Construction and Engineering within Design and Technology. Rob has recently been appointed as Assistant Headteacher within the Inclusion Team.
David Godwin, Associate Assistant Headteacher
David gained an honours degree in Optical Management in 2000 from Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. Afterwards, he worked as a qualified Dispensing Optician for a major high street Opticians. It was during this time, that David realised a particular passion for working with young people whilst still applying his love and passion for Science. In 2005, David gained a Diploma in Higher Education (Secondary Science Education) and PGCE in Secondary Science Education from Sheffield Hallam University. David has since worked in two other schools in Rotherham and Derbyshire, before joining Swanwick Hall School in 2011 as Head of Science. Since 2022, David has held the post of Strategic Data Lead and has recently been appointed as Associate Assistant Headteacher responsible for Data and Data Systems, Reporting, Exams, Timetable and Options.
Rebecca Porritt, Assistant Headteacher
Rebecca gained a degree in history and then a PGCE in History teaching from the University of Nottingham. Rebecca joined Swanwick Hall as an NQT in 2005 and has remained at our school ever since. She has held a variety of positions at Swanwick Hall School, including successfully leading both the history and geography faculties.
Rebecca joined the leadership team at Swanwick Hall in 2023 and is currently responsible for personal development, careers and student leadership. Alongside her role at Swanwick Hall, Rebecca is also Trust Senior Leader for History at the Two Counties Trust.
Steve Moss, Associate Senior Leader
A physics specialist, Steve is Head of Science and is particularly proud of the significant improvement in Science outcomes since his appointment. This has been driven by developing a strong curriculum and building a cohesive, passionate team dedicated to delivering excellence for all students. Alongside this, he also serves as an Associate Senior Leader with responsibility for whole-school transition, ensuring that every child moving from primary to secondary school feels supported, confident, and inspired.
Steve studied at the University of Derby and Nottingham Trent University, where he also completed his PGCE in Secondary Science. His passion lies in ensuring that every student experiences exceptional teaching and learning, enabling them to thrive academically and personally.
Steve’s legacy sentence is: “He inspired me to be the best I could be, so that I could make a positive contribution to the world we share.”
Ben Deaville, Associate Senior Leader
Ben studied for his undergraduate degree at the University of Birmingham and his PGCE at the University of Nottingham. He came into teaching in 2011 following a career in business and was appointed Head of Physics in 2012. In 2021 Ben was appointed Head of Sixth Form. During his time as Head of Sixth form Ben has been most proud of the growth in student numbers at sixth form and the development of the curriculum and personal development, enabling students to truly enhance their life choices.
In 2025 Ben was appointed Associate Senior Leader with specific responsibility for careers. Through this he is excited to have the opportunity to introduce Swanwick Hall’s Activating Ambition mentor scheme to develop student leadership and employability as well as overseeing the launch of the Unifrog system for careers across the whole school.