Clarity Independent School
"Refreshed learning that changes lives."
"...Just wanted to say, as I always do on repeat, thank you to Clarity for all you do for (pupil).
Today, all I heard was praise for (pupil), from staff old and new. The progress has of course come from (pupil's) sheer determination but also, staff at Clarity. You have a fantastic team there, from teaching staff to the office staff and all in between..."
Parent of year 11 girl
Meet our Staff
Head Teacher and Proprietor
Debbie Hanson (Deputy DSL) d.hanson@clarity.essex.sch.uk
Debbie Hanson founded Clarity Independent School in 2019, following the popular success of Clarity SEN Consultancy Ltd, launched in 2012. This built on her Ofsted Outstanding childcare provision 'Home2home Childcare'.
She is the Proprietor and has been Head Teacher since opening the school in June 2019. She is passionate about enriching children's lives and ensuring they thrive and are happy. She loves teaching and has always been driven to help children who are vulnerable or struggling. Debbie has been teaching since 2002 and has built up a wide collection of professional qualifications.
Assistant Head, DSL
Michelle Deveney m.deveney@clarity.essex.sch.uk
Michelle has been working with young people since 1992 and became a qualified teacher in 2011, her specialism being SEN. She achieved her honours degree through the open university and consists of Maths, ICT and social science. She is a qualified Designated Safeguarding Lead and brings 7 years SEND Leadership experience from before she joined Clarity Independent School, plus the past years experience as Maths Lead and SEN Class Teacher at Clarity since 2021. She will be conducting her National Professional Qualification in SEN Coordination over the next 18 months.
Assistant Head, SENDCO, Deputy DSL, Attendance Lead
Richard Clow Senco@clarity.essex.sch.uk
Richard has been teaching in Primary, Secondary and Special schools since 2007, including 5 years at Castledon SEN School. His most recent role was to model high quality teaching in support of the School Improvement Plan for a mixed Year4/5 class. He has been a subject leader for Geography, History, RE and MFL, as well as a middle leadership trainer. He has a First Class Honours degree in ITT with QTS, which he studied at Anglia Ruskin University, followed by his National Award SENCo Post Graduate study at University College London.
Finance Manager and Exams Officer
Mrs Lorenna Alvarez finances@clarity.essex.sch.uk / exams@clarity.essex.sch.uk
Lorena has a background in finance, administration, procurement and business operations, and has enjoyed working in a variety of commercial roles throughout her career. She particularly enjoys working with numbers, solving problems and finding ways to make things work more efficiently. She is very much a people person and enjoys being part of a team, as well as supporting others behind the scenes. She is delighted to have joined Clarity Independent School as Finance Manager and Exams Officer and is looking forward to getting to know the school community.
Grace studied Film and Media at college and enjoys bringing her creativity to the school. Working with children has been a new-found interest, and she loves all art forms! She teaches the NCFE Art qualification at the school.
HLTA/ Business Manager Apprentice
Miss Grace Louise Hanson
g.louise@clarity.essex.sch.uk / businessmanager@clarity.essex.sc.uk
Caroline joins us from Moulsham Junior School, Chelmsford, where she was teaching English interventions to boost reading and writing, Maths interventions, and cover teaching across all subjects since 2021.
SEN Teacher Caroline Cattell c.cattell@clarity.essex.sch.uk
SEN Teacher Mr Sam Powell
s.powell@clarity.essex.sch.uk
Sam has a BSc Hons in Biological
Science followed by his PGCE
teaching qualification and has worked in mainstream and SEN schools since September 2021.
SEN Teacher Mr Lawrence Hurter
l.hurter@clarity.essex.sch.uk
Lawrence has worked as an English Teacher for many years in an award-winning school in Mtubatuba, South Africa, where he was also the Chairperson. Since coming to the UK, he spent since 2024 working as a Young People's Services Manager, working with young people struggling with SEMH needs.
Office Manager Lauren Gray
admin@clarity.essex.sch.uk
Lauren joins us from a local GP surgery, where she has been working as their receptionist since 2016.
HLTA Lisa Petrie
l.petrie@clarity.essex.sch.uk
Lisa joins us from Elmhall Primary school, where she has been working as a HLTA supporting children with SEN since 2014. She has also worked in Hope Life Academy tutoring autistic children and used to own her own bakery!
Trainee HLTA Mrs Dianne Spencer
d.spencer@clarity.essex.sch.uk
Since 2015 Diane has worked in primary and secondary schools as a TA, HLTA and a Reading Intervention Tutor, supporting SEND students and whole classes. She recently graduated from the Open University with a First-Class Honours Degree in Education. She loves foreign languages and speak French and Spanish.
Site Manager Steve Hanson
S.hanson@clarity.essex.sch.uk
Steve manages the health and safety of the school, focussing on safety and organisation so that everything runs smoothly. He holds a Level 3 Diploma in Food Hygiene.
