Our Staff

Nyree Parker

Headteacher - Arc School Ansley

Nyree Parker is the Headteacher of the Arc School, Ansley and has been in post since the beginning of March 2019.  Following the completion of a Degree in Biology, Nyree took several years in industry before taking up a residential care worker role at Alderwasley Hall School in Derbyshire.  As a result of her experiences here, Nyree decided to complete her teacher training, with a view to specialising in SEN.  In 2001, she qualified as a Secondary Science Teacher, with a specialism in Biology and took up post in a mainstream secondary school in Stafford.  During this time, Nyree spent much of her time working with the SEN department and supporting young people to access Science successfully.

In 2005, Nyree returned to Alderwasley Hall School as a class teacher and began to specialise specifically in Autism.  During this time, she worked closely with a large therapy team and developed skills and strategies to support young people with Autism to access education and gain qualification commensurate with their ability.  During her time at Alderwasley Hall School, Nyree was promoted to the Head of English role and then to the Assistant Head role, with responsibility for the Sixth Form.  In addition to this, she completed an MA in Autism through Sheffield Hallam University.

Nyree left Alderwasley Hall School in 2015 and took up post at Longdon Park School in Derbyshire.  Longdon Park was a new provision for young people with high functioning Autism and associated emotional and behaviour difficulties.  In 2016, Nyree introduced the therapy dog to the school and continued to work to develop the therapy provision.  In November 2016, Nyree became Head of School and continued to develop and grow the school, building an ethos of mutual respect, unconditional positive regard and holistic approaches, until leaving in March 2019 to join the Arc School.

Nyree is passionate about improving the life chances of young people and supporting those diagnosed with Autism to achieving the very best outcomes in order to move on to lead rewarding and fulfilling lives after education.

Angela Howe

Deputy Headteacher

Angela Howe is delighted to be joining the fantastic team of staff and pupils, as Deputy Headteacher, at the Arc School, Ansley. Angela has been in post since September 2023. She is passionate about creating and planning for real life opportunities that will make a positive difference for the lives of all the children here at Arc. 

Angela’s journey began after her first degree in Psychology, in 2003. She wanted to give back to her community and decided to work, for a short time, at the secondary school she attended as a student. Angela continued to develop and hone her skills working in mainstream for a considerable number of years before wanting to turn her attention to sharing her knowledge and sharpening her skills to support the quality of education for children with special educational needs. Using her experience and skillset, Angela worked at her first SEN school as an Assistant Headteacher working with children 3-19 years old, that had a wide range of special needs. Angela then moved on to her second Assistant Headteacher position at a SEN school for children with autism. Using the pupils EHCP’s Angela designed bespoke behaviour plans for individual pupils that made a significant difference to the life chances of the pupils, making the teaching and learning day consistent and enjoyable.

Angela specialises in the Quality of Education, with her focus and interests in Teaching and Learning, Behaviour and Inclusion. Her 20+ years in education extends across teaching psychology, performing arts curriculum lead, teaching and learning strategies, quality first teaching, curriculum development, writing bespoke individual pupil action plans, metacognition strategies, tracking recording and monitoring impact. 

Ms Howe is an experienced senior leader that is proactive, compassionate and committed to keeping children safe, whilst providing a holistic education that supports the needs of all pupils. Her management approach is derived from strategic planning and forward thinking, ensuring that strategies that are embedded are relevant and effective in supporting pupils and the school’s vision and values.                                                                                            

Gail Carter

Assistant Headteacher/SENCO

I have over 20 years of experience in the Special Educational Need sector both personally and professionally. I am passionate about young people gaining the skills they aspire in order for them to lead a meaningful life to them. 

I gained my BPhil Special Education Needs: Autism (Children) and my PGDIP Special educational Needs: Autism (Adults) both with the University of Birmingham. 

I started my teaching quite late in my career at Homefield College where I gained my DTTL’s qualification. Whilst at Homefield, I progressed from Life Skills and Catering tutor to Life Skills Co-ordinator, Vocational Co-ordinator and to Residential Manager. I left Homefield to join MacIntyre No Limits as Programme Co-ordinator as I missed teaching. 

In 2017, I started at Lewis Charlton School for young people who have diagnosis of SEMH. Here I worked on Community learning programme initially, leading to Heading a bespoke unit for young people with ASC. Whilst working at Lewis Charlton, I gained my Qualified Teacher and Lecturer Status and started my SENCO journey, completing my NASENCO qualification in January 2021. 

Prior to starting at Arc Ansley in April 2022 as SENCO, I have also worked for a short time as Head of an Alternative Provision which was challenging and rewarding at the same time!

My hobbies include Beekeeping, reading, knitting and gardening.

Emma Rheeston

Assistant Head/Pastoral Lead

Alice Tucker

Assistant Head – Curriculum

 I completed my undergraduate degree in music and psychology in 2010 and took a gap year in Australia, working as an Au Pair. I then trained as a mainstream secondary music specialist teacher, gaining qualified teacher status and a postgraduate certificate in education, but quickly realised that working with students with a diagnosis of autism was my passion after gaining experience of supporting a student with an EHCP in my first year of teaching.

I worked as a nurture teacher in a mainstream school after this where I specialised in supporting the transition of students with autism to their secondary school placement. I then moved to work in a specialist autism school as a key stage 3 teacher and decided to move into leadership by becoming Head of key stage 3.

More recently, I have worked for a local authority as a specialist teacher for ASC supporting students in a range of educational placements and supporting teachers with ASC best practice for the last 4 years alongside understanding how the local authority support students with autism and other diagnosis. Within this role, I also managed a resource base, staffed by specialist communication support workers, which supported students with autism to be included in their school community. I have recently completed my MEd in Autism and Children through the University of Birmingham.