Who's Who
To speak to a member of our team, please call us on 020 8807 2656 or email office@westleaschool.co.uk
Paul Quinn | CEO
Paul Quinn has a multi-sector background, as well as exceptional experience in the education sector. His ambition for West Lea is to facilitate a culture that is ethical, positive, impactful and happy. He believes this will breed success and produce an environment where staff, pupils and families can flourish.
Paul became CEO in September 2021, having previously served as director of operations, responsible for the daily management of all non-teaching activities and staff, which has helped give him an holistic understanding of the school.
Paul has over 18 years’ experience in school and trust governance, having served as a Chair of Governors, trustee and Chair of Trustees in two Multi-Academy Trusts. In 2017, Paul was ordained as a Deacon in the Catholic Church and is in part-time ministry. Paul has degrees in Pastoral Ministry and Theology, as well as a National Professional Qualification in Executive Leadership (NPQEL). Additionally, he is a founding and pivotal member of Enterprise Cooperative Trust, an organisation dedicated to improving the life chances of children and young people across Enfield in ways that benefit the community.
Renee Flourentzou | Director of Education
Renee has a wealth of experience in education and working with young people. As Director of Education, she believes that all young people deserve the opportunity to flourish and if we dream big and work together as a community we can make a real difference to the lives of children and young people.
Renee has worked at West Lea for many years, previously as Head of School for the Learning for Life campus. She established West Lea’s Supported Internship and Work Experience Programmes, bridging the gap between education and work for students with SEND.
Before joining the school, Renee founded and ran the charity Edmonton Community Partnership, bringing together 23 schools in a collaboration that raised aspirations and improved outcomes for children and families in disadvantaged communities. She holds an MA in Child Studies from KCL, focused on children’s rights, education and child protection and a degree in English Literature.
Additionally, Renee is trustee of Enterprise Cooperative Trust and a Member of the Children First Academy Trust, and works to deliver opportunities of children and young people across Enfield.
Melanie Bignold | Director of Education
Melanie joined the school in 2022 as Director of Education. Prior to this she spent 14 years in secondary and further education, with many leadership roles, including deputy head, assistant head, head of year and head of department.
Most recently, Melanie served as vice principal for quality of education at Aylward Academy, where she oversaw the whole academy curriculum. She is passionate about developing excellent CPD opportunities and has worked as a specialist leader of education to develop routes for all.
Melanie has an undergraduate degree in Modern Greek and French Studies from Kings College London University and undertook her PGCE in Religious Education at the Institute of Education, London.
Melanie passionately believes in the school’s vision of a world where everyone can flourish. She is driving this through the development of the West Lea curriculum, which aims to break down barriers for students with special educational needs and disabilities.
The values of West Lea sit firmly with Emma’s beliefs and she is passionate about including the families of students in West Lea’s vision and curriculum. From a young age, Emma has been driven to improve the lives and long-term outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and believes in involving the whole family.
Emma has been working in the education sector for many years. She began her career working as a primary teacher in Islington, where she stayed for nine years, before moving on to teaching pupils with SEN in Hackney for a further five years. She joined West Lea in 2019 and is excited to continue her journey as headteacher. Emma will be leading high quality teaching and learning and preparing learners for their transition to secondary school.
Tom has worked in mainstream secondary schools for the past 10 years and has supported pupils who have SEN throughout much of his life. He is a huge advocate of inclusion and striving for the very best for all. He has known of West Lea School for many years and feels lucky to work here.
Before becoming Head of School, Tom worked at West Lea as an Assistant Headteacher and is proud of the strong relationships he has developed with colleagues, pupils and parents.
Catherine joined West Lea School in 2019. She is Head of School for the Key Stage 4 Campus and oversees the schools’ Key Stage 4 SEMH provision.
As the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead, Catherine is passionate about safeguarding and ensuring our young people are as safe as possible as they navigate the real and online world. Living and working in the borough of Enfield, Catherine has a particular interest in contextual safeguarding and works with a number of agencies across the borough to support students at West Lea School.
Catherine’s previous experience includes working for over 20 years at a mainstream secondary school in Enfield. After originally qualifying as an Art Teacher, Catherine has taught a number of different subjects over the years including Art, Health and Social Care, Public Services, RE and Geography, with a particular focus on working with students with special educational needs. Catherine is also on the Governing body of Orchardside school in Enfield.
Kika has worked at West Lea since 2018 and is responsible for the day-to-day running, management and organisation of post-16 provision which includes a college bridging programme supporting students to transition into further education and a very successful Supported Internship Programme which has seen 90% of interns move into employment. In her role she seeks to achieve the highest standards of staff performance and student achievement whilst maintaining a focus on high quality of teaching and learning as well as positive outcomes for students.
Prior to joining West Lea, Kika worked in a variety of roles within the areas of education & adult social services including as a Partnership Coordinator for Enfield Council, a Project Manager for Edmonton Schools Partnership and a Governor Support Adviser for a portfolio of schools.
Jose graduated from his degree in Psychology in 2003 at University of La Laguna, Canary Island, where he also did a Masters in Clinical Psychology and Health in 2005. As part of this, he focused on mental disorders, diagnosis, interventions and links between mental and physical health.
He began his work as a psychologist in 2003, before becoming a clinical psychologist three years later, working mainly with adults and the elderly.
In 2012, he moved to the UK and started working with children and families in a private schools with learning disabilities, such as Downs syndrome, ASD, ADHD and ODD. In the years to follow, he worked with the NHS (CAMHS) and a Local Authority, before accepting his role at West Lea School in 2020, where he now supports students with special educational needs and manages a therapeutic team.
Angela graduated with a BSC Computer Science & Education degree and went on to do a PGCE in Secondary Computer Science.
She has many years of school experience, from teaching in a large mainstream secondary school to being part of the local authority advisory support service where Angela supported all primary, secondary and special schools within the borough.
Angela joined West Lea as Head of Computing. In 2022, she was appointed as Head of Curriculum for Numeracy, problem-solving and Personal Development domains. This includes curriculum areas Science, Maths, Computing Life and Work, PSHE and PE.
Tanveela Is West Lea’s Head of Curriculum for Social and Communication leading on English, Reading, Knowledge of the World and the Creative curriculum. Having graduated with a Politics and Sociology undergraduate degree Tanveela undertook a PGCE in primary education specialising in History, and has completed her NPQH at the Institute of Education.
Tanveela has worked in South West London, Berkshire and Hackney and held a variety of senior roles leading on assessment, phonics, KS1, school improvement, Early Years and strategically led a children’s centre. She joined West Lea in 2021 after previously working in Hackney as a Head of School in a mainstream primary school.
By being a part of the West Lea family, Tanveela has been able to follow her passion to eradicate disadvantage children may face due to their personal circumstances and is committed to helping every child achieve their potential. West Lea’s vision and values of learning for life, and a belief that pupils deserve a life without barriers is in harmony with her own and she is excited to be part of this journey.
Patrick joined West Lea as a Head of School in 2006 having previously held Senior and Middle Leadership posts in three Enfield Secondary Schools over a period of 20 years.
Patrick graduated from The University of Aberdeen with a Degree in Divinity and went on to complete a Secondary PGCE (Religious Studies and History) at Durham University.
Patrick’s experience and passion is supporting children and young people to be as successful as possible in their adult lives with no limits as to what they can achieve.
As Head of Quality and Standards, Patrick leads on assessment, data systems which support school improvement. This involves working across the campuses and with all stakeholders. So, it’s best to check where Patrick is going to be if you are meeting with him!
