Dove House Academy

Staff (ID 1099)

• Faye Watton-Lawrence
  Associate Executive Principal and SAT Safeguarding Lead
  Faye Watton-Lawrence

  A little about myself

  I have been working in special education for the majority of my career, initially in London and now in my home city of Portsmouth. Having joined Solent Academies Trust in January 2018, I have had the privilege of working across Redwood Park Academy, Mary Rose Academy and Dove House Academy. More recently, I have also expanded my role trust wide as the Solent Academies Trust lead for Safeguarding & Child Protection; a particular area of professional interest for me. This has afforded me limitless opportunities to enhance and extend outstanding provision for young people with a very broad range of additional needs, from Moderate Learning Difficulties through to young people with the most Profound Medical and Learning needs. I completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Autism in Education in 2015, with a focus on innovative strategies for supporting self-regulation in children with Autism. My focus is, and always will be, on supporting our pupils and their families to achieve the happiest, most independent and fulfilling futures possible. In line with this, I am passionate about ensuring that our children and their families receive an equitable offer. I am committed to working closely with a broad range of external partners from Social Care, Health and the wider community in pursuit of disability and SEND advocacy.

  Hobbies and interests

  I am married and live in Southsea with two young daughters. Having left London for a life by the seaside, I enjoy long walks and days out at the beach with my family. I am a keen baker and love sharing my cooking with family and friends - as well as the staff and children across Solent Academies Trust!

  What excites me about my role

  It is my absolute privilege to work alongside the pupils, families and staff across our Trust. What a joy to work in an environment where no day is ever the same and where having fun and making a meaningful contribution is central to everything that we do. The team at Solent Academies Trust is a superb example of how hard work, determination, creativity and nurture combine to make something very special. Together we ensure that every child is given the best opportunity to shine possible - no one could ask for more.

• Maarit Eben
  Principal
  Maarit Eben

  A little about myself:

  I am humbled and overjoyed to have been appointed as Principal at Dove House Academy. As a former parent at the school myself, I have experienced first-hand the transformative power of this ambitious community. I am passionate about ensuring Quality First Teaching for all pupils, focusing on transferable skills which support a successful transition into adulthood. My focus is on encouraging young people to be comfortable with being their authentic selves and equipping them, through a meaningful, personalised education, to lead ‘gloriously ordinary lives’ in which they are heard and represented and have choice and agency.

  I have worked in Special Education – as a teacher and a leader - for over 20 years. Before I came to Dove House, I was Deputy Headteacher of a large, diverse all-age special school for pupils with moderate, severe and profound learning difficulties. I have a particular interest in Autism and I am trained in Advanced PECS, Advanced TEACCH and as an AET trainer. I promote structures, routines and predictability as the foundation of a safe, regulating learning environment. As a secondary-trained English teacher, I am passionate about Literacy – decoding, Reading for Pleasure and digital literacy - and its power as the ultimate life skill. I hold a Postgraduate Diploma in Special Needs / Inclusive Education. I embrace trauma-informed practice and respond to young people with a focus on relational and Restorative Practice.

  Hobbies and interests:

  I am married and have two children – a young adult and a teenager. In my spare time, I am an avid birder, with a particular interest in native British birds, and I love nature walks. I like to record and identify birds on my Merlin app! I am a passionate gardener and grow a range of vegetables (with a varying degree of success!), with chillies being my favourite. I enjoy fibre arts, especially crochet. I read a lot, particularly books about wildlife and different cultures. I am an enthusiastic baker, with ginger flapjacks as my signature bake, as I am sure my family, friends and colleagues would say!

  What excites me about my role:

  I am passionate about PfA, ‘Preparing for Adulthood’, and feel privileged to be able to support and watch the pupils in my care grow into well-rounded young adults who have inner confidence, determination, dreams and aspirations. I enjoy building trusting relationships with families and external partners, working restoratively and problem-solving together to improve outcomes and life chances for young people.

  I am a curious lifelong learner myself and thrilled to collaborate with and learn from colleagues, who share my values and ethos, both at Dove House and across Solent Academies Trust.

• Dave Dupont
  Vice Principal
  Dave Dupont

• Mel Walton
  Associate Principal
  Mel Walton

• Sam Leadbeater
  Associate Principal
  Sam Leadbeater

• Andrea Merritt
  Interim Assistant Principal Quality of Education
  Andrea Merritt

• Karen Ollive
  Assistant Principal SENCO/DSL
  Karen Ollive

• Becky Wilson
  Assistant Principal Regulation & Wellbeing
  Becky Wilson

• Kate Read
  Assistant Principal Post 16
  Kate Read

• Sharon Burt
  Chief Executive Officer - Solent Academies Trust
  Sharon Burt