Our Staff

A small, specialist team — known to every pupil and family.

Every member of staff at Sage is recruited and trained to work with young people facing emotional barriers to school attendance. Relationships are at the heart of what we do.

Gemma Fulcher

HEADTEACHER & DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEAD

Gemma is The Sage School's Headteacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). A qualified teacher who has taught science for over 18 years in secondary schools, she spent seven years on the Senior Leadership Team at Cromwell Community College — most recently as Vice Principal for Teaching and Learning — and is an examiner for AQA.

Her passion for SEND and pupil wellbeing developed through earlier roles as Head of Year and Assistant Principal for Behaviour, Inclusion and SEND. For Gemma, 'supporting pupils with their social and emotional needs is just as important as giving them a well-rounded education.' She is also a proud mum of three.

With years of experience in education, Gemma understands the difficulties faced by families who have children who find attending a mainstream school setting a challenge. She is passionate about SEND, and supporting families in navigating the systems to gain the support they deserve and need.

'Setting up this unique school to provide pupils with the support they need, whilst still ensuring they receive a quality education, which sets them up for the next chapter of their life has been a dream of mine for many years'.

Sarah Amor

DEPUTY HEADTEACHER & SENDCO

Sarah is an experienced SENDCo and qualified English teacher. She holds a BA (Hons) in Literature, an Advanced Diploma in Special and Inclusive Education, an MEd in Special Educational Needs and the National Award in Special Education Needs Co-ordination (NASENCo). She is also a qualified Education Supervisor, Advanced Education Coach.

She's one of those people who's always known what she wanted to do and began her career by doing some work experience with students with SEND whilst studying for her A-Levels. She developed an on-site alternative provision unit at the school in which she worked, as well as becoming a qualified Nurture practitioner, leading to the creation of a secondary Boxall Nurture Group.

Sarah is particularly interested in alternative education programs that have a life skills link and has taught a range of courses within the ASDAN suite. She is both an assessor and verifier of the King's Trust Achieve program. She also loves chocolate.

Helen Fiore

TEACHER

Helen specialises in the teaching of mathematics and has worked in education for over 10 years, supporting pupils with SEND and those with lower prior attainment.

She is passionate about helping every learner build confidence, develop key skills and achieve their potential — believing everyone deserves a chance to be seen and recieve the support they deserve.

A proud mum of four, nothing fazes her. She also loves baking and eating chocolate.

Lisa Craske

TEACHER

Lisa is a qualified science teacher with nearly 22 years of experience across mainstream secondary schools and, more recently, a specialist school for pupils with a wide range of additional needs.

Her time in specialist settings has deepened her expertise in supporting medical, cognition and learning, and social, emotional and mental health needs. A former Head of Year, she values the pastoral side of teaching and getting to know each pupil as an individual.

Outside of work she enjoys time with her husband, two daughters and her beloved cat Hugo.

Harli Watson

Pastoral Support Worker

Harli supports pupils to develop emotional regulation, self-control and positive attitudes to learning.

With over 10 years of experience working with young people in special educational settings, she is passionate about helping pupils build confidence and manage their emotions and anxieties so they can live fulfilling lives.

Harli prides herself on always finding the positive in every person and situation and oozes positivity — like the rest of the team, she's a chocolate lover.

Blue

Therapy Dog (in training)

Blue is a full-time member of staff and a therapy dog in training.

He provides comfort, affection and a calm, non-judgemental presence — helping reduce anxiety and increase feelings of safety. Blue offers a mutual focus for building rapport and easing pupils into engaging with one another.

He gives excellent cuddles, enjoys playing with a range of toys, listening to pupils read on the bean bag, a bit of dressing up, and a good belly rub.