Clarity Independent School
"Refreshed learning that changes lives."
Excellence at Clarity!
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* 100% performance in Health and Safety audit March 2025 for 3rd year running!
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 for 20 years, 15 of these in SEN, and has built up a wide collection of professional qualifications.
Assistant Head, DSL
Michelle Deveney m.deveney@clarity.essex.sch.uk
I have been working with young people for over 30 years and became a qualified teacher in 2011, my specialism being SEN. I achieved my honours degree through the open university and consists of Maths, ICT and social science. I am a qualified Designated Safeguarding Lead and bring 7 years SEND Leadership experience from before I joined Clarity Independent School, plus the past 4 years experience as Maths Lead and SEN Class Teacher at Clarity. I will be conducting my National Professional Qualification in SEN Coordination over the next 18 months.
Assistant Head, SENDCO, Deputy DSL
Richard Clow Senco@clarity.essex.sch.uk
I have been teaching in Primary, Secondary and Special schools since 2007, including 5 years at Castledon SEN School. My most recent role was to model high quality teaching in support of the School Improvement Plan for a mixed Year4/5 class. I have been a subject leader for Geography, History, RE and MFL, as well as a middle leadership trainer. I have a First Class Honours degree in ITT with QTS, which I studied at Anglia Ruskin University, followed by my National Award SENCo Post Graduate study at University College London.
Business Manager
Leigh Sellwood businessmanager@clarity.essex.sch.uk
Leigh joins us from Schools For Every Child, where she has been working for the past 15 years. She has completed many roles there, including becoming the Central Finance Officer for the academy trust. We are very happy to welcome Leigh into the school and onto our staff team, as our Business Manager.
SEN Teacher Caroline Cattell c.cattell@clarity.essex.sch.uk
Caroline joins us from Moulsham Junior School, Chelmsford, where she has spent the past nearly 4 years teaching English interventions to boost reading and writing, Maths interventions, and cover teaching across all subjects.
SEN Teacher Mr Sam Powell
s.powell@clarity.essex.sch.uk
I have a BSc Hons in Biological Science followed by my PGCE teaching qualification and have worked in mainstream and SEN schools for over 3 years.
SEN Teacher Mr Lawrence Hurter
l.hurter@clarity.essex.sch.uk
I have worked as an English Teacher for many years in an award-winning school of 530 pupils in Mtubatuba, South Africa, where I was also the Chairperson for 11 years. Since coming to the UK, I spent last year working as a Young People's Services Manager for Life-Line Projects in Dagenham, working with young people struggling with SEMH needs.
Office Administrator 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 spent 11 years as HLTA, working with children with SEND. She has also worked in Hope Life Academy tutoring autistic children and used to own her own bakery!
HLTA Anita Kidd
a.kidd@clarity.essex.sch.uk
I qualified as a HLTA, Level 4 in 2021 and have 14 years' experience of working with in main stream and specials needs schools.
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Trainee HLTA Mrs Nicola Goodchild
n.goodchild@clarity.essex.sch.uk
I have been working with children with autism, SEMH and ADHD for over 4 years in my previous school. I have completed trauma Perceptive Practice training for both schools and families and am a Mental Health Lead.
Trainee HLTA Miss Annabelle Mills
I have always loved working with children with SEND and have just graduated from Portsmouth University with a first class BA (Hons) degree in Film and Creative Writing. I am passionate about storytelling, creativity, and am excited to bring my love of visual media and imaginative writing into the classroom.
HLTA Miss Grace Louise
g.louise@clarity.essex.sch.uk
I studied Film and Media at college and enjoy bringing my creativity to the school. Working with children has been a new-found interest, and I love everything art! I teach the NCFE Art qualification at the school.
