Welcome To Our School
Brearley Hall School welcomes students between the ages of 11 and 16 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) in place. The school is situated within the grounds of Brearley Hall, a 16th-century manor house, and is surrounded by over 30 acres of Brearley Wood. It has been home to several notable figures, including Dr. John Fawcett and Branwell Brontë. With its rich history and natural resources, Brearley Hall provides an enchanting environment for children to learn and grow.
All our learners are children who have experienced significant difficulties in mainstream education. We are a specialist school dedicated to supporting young people with social, emotional, behavioural, and mental health challenges, helping them re-engage with learning and make both academic and social progress.
We specialise in providing a stimulating, safe environment where children can thrive through a varied and personalised curriculum. This curriculum is guided by the National Curriculum and tailored to each child’s individual needs and interests.
Our flexible and adaptive approach is rooted in meeting the unique needs of every child. Our aim is to foster and maintain an ethos where education is unquestionably valued as a pathway to success.
Our Staff
Tayyaba Ahmed
BSc (Hons) Psychology, NPQSL, PGDE, QTLS, DSL.
Director of Education
Tayyaba has worked in specialist independent schools for most of her career and developed curriculums that are creative and meet the needs of individual children. She has been involved in numerous Ofsted inspections, all of which have been graded a minimum ‘good.’ Tayyaba, in her previous role was a Regional Headteacher, overseeing a number of specialist schools in the Northwest.
Tayyaba has a wealth of experience working with students with varying SEMH needs. She feels strongly about supporting young people and wants to provide them with positive education experiences.
Tayyaba is committed to ensuring our provision meets the needs of all pupils and they are given the best educational experiences and environment, where they can thrive and make progress both academically, socially and emotionally.
Dominique McDonagh
Head Teacher
Dominique has over 20 years experience of Teaching in Education and has taught students all over the UK and even internationally! Dominique has over 5 years' experience working with students with SEMH needs. Dominique hopes to inspire and support those who have had difficult experiences to reach their potential. She believes that every child, who each has their own individual needs and experiences, is capable of achieving anything that they set their young minds to.
Vicky Vandervelde
Family Support Manager
Vicky has previously worked as a learning mentor in mainstream primary school and in various British Forces schools overseas. Vicky has a wealth of knowledge and experience in developing positive social, emotional and behavioural skills with the children she works with. She has a passion for life skills, cooking and gardening.
Wayne Traynor
Engagement Lead
Wayne is our Engagement Lead who is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to support positive behaviour and emotional well-being among our students with SEMH needs. His role involves working closely with students, staff, and parents to create a safe and supportive learning environment. He creates opportunities for meaningful participation in school activities and learning experiences. His proactive approach helps to identify and address barriers to engagement, promoting a sense of belonging and motivation among students where they can thrive academically and emotionally. Wayne takes a huge amount of pride in his role and enjoys supporting children both at school and home using his experiences from different roles to guide, progress and get the best possible outcomes for all children.
Kashif Qureshi
Attendance & Intervention Officer
Kashif plays a vital role in promoting regular school attendance and addressing barriers that may prevent students from attending consistently. Kashif monitors attendance records, identifying patterns of absenteeism, and working closely with students, families, and staff to develop and implement strategies to improve attendance, this includes interventions off site and home visits.
His role creates an environment where students feel motivated and able to attend school regularly ensuring all students have the opportunity to benefit fully from their educational experience.
