Additional Support Needs (ASN) Scotland Conference

Dr. Judith Turbyne became Chief Executive of Children in Scotland in August 2021.

She has spent most of her professional life working in and with the charity sector. For much of that time she worked in international development, with charities challenging global poverty and inequality. She worked in Latin America and the Caribbean for many years before moving to Dublin as the CEO of Progressio Ireland.

Judith returned home to Scotland in 2013 as Head of Engagement with the Scottish Charity Regulator where she had the pleasure of working with many charities across Scotland. She is currently the Deputy Chair of the Corra Foundation.

Judith has a PhD from the University of Bath which looked at empowerment in development. Aside from her wonderful friends and family, the things that make her most happy are mountains, music, running, cricket and a good book.

Angela completed her professional qualification and Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of London and subsequently progressed her career in the third sector.

She initially specialised in mental health, working in senior positions for SAMH after moving to Scotland in the late 80s. Her final full time positions were as Director of Families Outside, the Scottish organisation working with and on behalf of prisoners families, and then CE of Includem; focused on fragile children and families at risk of removal to care or involvement in the youth justice system.

In both these roles Angela was involved in national policy and practice review activity e.g., secure care, youth justice, Childrens Hearing System. Latterly she was a member of the Workforce thematic group for the Review of Children and Young People in Care – now The Promise.

Since 2018 Angela has continued her interest in equality and the enablement of potential, especially for young people, through involvement in a range of initiatives and organisations.

Currently she is a Non Exec Member at Consumer Scotland, a volunteer at Grace Chocolates and a qualified independent leadership coach working with emerging and established leaders. She is currently establishing an advisory committee at Consumer Scotland focused on consumers in vulnerable circumstances.

In 2019 Angela was asked by Scottish Government, COSLA and ADES to Chair the Review of the Implementation of Additional Support for Learning legislation in Scotland. This was presented to the Cabinet Secretary for Education in March 2020. Although Angela has had  no subsequent formal involvement, she has continued to support positive activity through commentary and speaking. She was recently asked to contribute to the current Reviews of Education and of Qualifications and Assessment in Scotland and she is a member of the Advisory Group for Northfield School in Aberdeen.

Ashley Ryan is the Director of Enable Works – one of the three pillars of Enable. Leading one of the largest and most successful employment support teams in Scotland, Ashley is responsible for an income of £12million, 145 employees and her team supports more than 5,500 people who have disabilities or barriers to work to develop their employment skills.
Ashley joined Enable more than a decade ago and has worked in a variety of roles before her appointment as the Director of Enable Works in 2021.

Colin was born in Edinburgh in 1980. Educated at Inverkiething High School, he went on to study at Napier University and The University of Edinburgh and graduated from Edinburgh University with a Bachelor of Education (Hons) degree in Design and Technology.
Colin continued his professional learning on Standard for Headship, In Headship and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education Leadership from University of Stirling.
Previously, Colin has worked for Fife Council as a Design and Technology Teacher and a range of Pupil Support (ASL)leadership roles.
Colin has held several Senior Manager positions across a range of schools both within Fife Council and Clackmannanshire Council. This includes Depute Headteacher (Support) and Headteacher roles. Colin served as Headteacher of Alloa Academy from 2017 to 2022 in Clackmannanshire. Within Colin’s headship at Alloa Academy, he was Headteacher for Extended Additional Support Needs (EASN), which is the local authorities provision for supporting learners with complex additional support needs.
Colin is a graduate of Columba 1400 and is committed to Values Based Leadership.
He was appointed as Chief Education Officer in Clackmannanshire in August 2022 and continues to lead across Clackmannanshire educational establishments (ELCs, primary, Secondary and ASL provisions), Sport + Leisure, Libraries and Community Learning + Development.
Away from work Colin likes spending time with his family, watching football and playing guitar.

Jill began her teaching career as a primary teacher at Clackmannan Primary in Clackmannanshire before applying for a secondment as a class teacher at Lochies School for children with severe and complex needs. From there she moved into secondary ASD provision at Alva Academy working with young people with ASD from across the local authority. In 2021, Jill moved into the ASN Department at Alva Academy supporting learners with additional needs who access the mainstream curriculum. She is currently PT of ASN at Alva Academy and leads on differentiation across the school. Jill is passionate about inclusion, creativity and celebrating success.

Gayle completed her doctoral degree in clinical psychology at the University of Glasgow and have practised as a clinical psychologist working in Greater Glasgow and Clyde ever since. She has worked for many years with children with intellectual disabilities in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). She works with children and young people with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities and moderate to severe mental health problems and have worked closely with education colleagues to support their inclusion. For the past two years she has also been the Professional Lead for Psychology in Specialist Childrens Services in GG&C.

Claire has worked in the college sector for over 20 years and is passionate about supporting those who face barriers in accessing learning and helping learners reach their potential. Claire leads on a range of curriculum areas with Supported Education being a core curriculum area which aims to develop the employment prospects of learners with additional support needs.

Julie has worked in Additional Support Needs for 30 years both as a practitioner and a manager. Julie has experience working in both Secondary and Further Education.

She has worked with young people with a diverse range of needs, specialising in learning disability and autism.  She is passionate about supporting young people to be fully included in their learning and in times of transition.   She was involved in setting up the first Project Search employability course, designed for young ASN people,  in Glasgow.  She is focused on employment outcomes for ASN young people.

Headteacher at St. Roch’s Primary and Deaf School.  St Roch’s has a roll over 360 learners.  50% of learners are EAL.  95 % families live in SIMD 1 and 2.  50% learners have a ASN.  School has a deaf inclusion provision for 25 learners.

Completed Into Headship Qualification  – interests in leading strategic change and collaborative professional practice.

BSc. Psychology (Hons) – specialist interests in language acquisition, cognitive development and wellbeing.

Values inclusion, collaboration and catholic faith.

Katie Robinson is Headteacher at Sanderson High School, and additional needs provision in South Lanarkshire. Sanderson is a standalone provision, which supports young people with a wide variety of needs. Katie was previously a history teacher and became aware of the need to provide bespoke curriculum within this subject – skills which transferred directly to the ASN sector. Katie gained most of her teaching experience within complex learning, particularly with pupils with ASD. Transitions are always particularly challenging for these pupils, so innovative strategies are required. Increasing complexity of need within the ASN landscape means constantly changing and adapting to better meet pupil needs – which makes leadership in this sector interesting, diverse, and rewarding.

Katie has 2 daughters, and when not headteachering enjoys traveling, reading and kickboxing.

Dr Stella Mouroutsou is a Lecturer in Education. She teaches on the Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programme within the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Stirling. Her research interests include: inclusive education, early childhood education and policy enactment. Prior to joining the University of Stirling, she completed her PhD in the School of Education at the University of Glasgow where she also held teaching and research positions. She supervises students at masters and doctorate level. Stella is a member of the Scottish Universities Inclusion Group (SUIG). Also, she is a member of the Scottish Educational Research Association (SERA) Executive board and convenor of the SERA Inclusive Education Network.

Carol began her career as an English teacher at Armadale Academy in West Lothian. Not long into her career she started to work with the Support for Learning  department as she had a  special interest in ASN.  Carol then enjoyed many years working in Student Support leaderships roles working with teams to support and reduce barriers to learning in middle and senior leadership roles. Carol took up the role of  Acting Headteacher in an ASN school where she worked for a year and a half before returning to Armadale Academy as Headteacher. After several years, Carol moved onto a QIO  position with an ASN focus with West Lothian Council. Carol Is currently Headteacher at Cedarbank School – a secondary provision for young people with severe learning needs and social and emotional barriers to learning. 

I have been a Head Teacher in Scotland for 21 years. I recognise the importance of celebrating neurodiversity. Our whole school community work in partnership to ensure that we are being inclusive to all, and continually adapt how we can best meet the needs of our learners. Strathmore School was the first school in Scotland to receive the prestigious award of being ADHD friendly from the ADHD foundation.