Speakers

Cathal Lynch is an experienced education leader with a proven track record of driving systemic school improvement and fostering inclusive, high-performing cultures. 

He was the founding headteacher of an independent SEND school that achieved an Outstanding Ofsted rating and became a National Director of Day Schools for a SEND group.  As COO and strategic director, he co-founded a MAT, wrote a successful MDIF bid and delivered evidence-informed leadership development programs, including assessment, facilitation and coaching on the NPQEL. 

His achievements include securing DfE approval for Senior Mental Health Lead training and establishing the Wellbeing Quality Mark (WQM) based on his book Building Belonging: A Systematic Approach to School Improvement and Emotional Wellbeing. 

The WQM helps settings address the requirements of the OFSTED toolkit by supporting them to adopt whole-school approaches to SEND that target early identification and interventions, while acknowledging providers who promote effective wellbeing.

Cathal now works as a freelance educational consultant with leadership expertise that spans governance, change management, CPD and strategic planning across mainstream, special, and independent education settings in both primary and secondary phases.