Speakers

With over 15 years of experience in education, Ricky has worked across a range of specialist settings, beginning his career as a teacher and senior leader in schools supporting pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties (SLD/PMLD). For the past four years, he has served as Headteacher at Northern House Academy, a specialist SEMH primary school in Oxfordshire.

Since taking up post, Ricky has led the school through a rapid and sustainable transformation—from Inadequate to Outstanding in just three years—driven by a relentless focus on values-led leadership and inclusive practice.

His approach is grounded in the belief that clarity, consistency, and collaboration form the bedrock of effective provision. He works closely with staff, pupils, and families to create a culture where everyone feels safe, valued, and ambitious. Through embedded, evidence-informed pedagogy, strategic assessment practices, and a strong universal offer, the school has enabled high levels of engagement and significantly improved outcomes for some of the most vulnerable learners.

Ricky is passionate about empowering all adults in the school community—whether TAs, teachers, SENCOs or leaders—to take ownership of inclusive practice. He has developed frameworks to support teams in embedding values-led approaches into daily routines, curriculum design, and behaviour support.

Alongside his headship, he provides outreach, mentoring, and system leadership across the trust and wider region, supporting others to strengthen SEND provision through sustainable, values-driven change. His work is underpinned by the belief that the learning is within the challenge — and we are all the drivers of change.