Learn Free Conference 2022 Speakers
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Our Keynote Speaker
Peter Gray
Peter Gray, Ph.D., research professor at Boston College, is author of Free to Learn (Basic Books) and Psychology (Worth Publishers, a college textbook now in its 8th edition). He has conducted and published research in neuroendocrinology, developmental psychology, anthropology, and education. He did his undergraduate study at Columbia University and earned a Ph.D. in biological sciences at Rockefeller University. His current research and writing focus primarily on children's natural ways of learning and the life-long value of play. He a founding member of the nonprofit Alliance for Self-Directed Education and a founding board member of the nonprofit Let Grow. His own play includes not only his research and writing, but also long distance bicycling, kayaking, back-woods skiing, and vegetable gardening.
Peter Gray
Peter Gray, Ph.D., research professor at Boston College, is author of Free to Learn (Basic Books) and Psychology (Worth Publishers, a college textbook now in its 8th edition). He has conducted and published research in neuroendocrinology, developmental psychology, anthropology, and education. He did his undergraduate study at Columbia University and earned a Ph.D. in biological sciences at Rockefeller University. His current research and writing focus primarily on children's natural ways of learning and the life-long value of play. He a founding member of the nonprofit Alliance for Self-Directed Education and a founding board member of the nonprofit Let Grow. His own play includes not only his research and writing, but also long distance bicycling, kayaking, back-woods skiing, and vegetable gardening.
Featured Speakers
Naomi Fisher
Naomi Fisher is a clinical psychologist and author of "Changing Our Minds: How Children Can Take Control of Their Own Learning". She is the mother of two children who have never been to conventional school. She lives in Hove, England, where she works as a trauma therapist. She is passionate about spreading the word that school is not the only way to get an education.
Naomi Fisher
Naomi Fisher is a clinical psychologist and author of "Changing Our Minds: How Children Can Take Control of Their Own Learning". She is the mother of two children who have never been to conventional school. She lives in Hove, England, where she works as a trauma therapist. She is passionate about spreading the word that school is not the only way to get an education.
Dr Harriet Pattison
Harriet is an erstwhile home educator turned researcher. She is especially interested in visions of alternative childhood and has written and researched on policy, pedagogy and philosophy regarding home education.
Harriet Pattison
Harriet is an erstwhile home educator turned researcher. She is especially interested in visions of alternative childhood and has written and researched on policy, pedagogy and philosophy regarding home education.
Alberta Stevens
Alberta Stevens is a British Christian home educator of Sierra Leonean heritage, who lives in London, England with her two boys. Alberta is also a writer, speaker, podcast host and home education coach at Homegrown Sonshine. She creates wholesome and culturally diverse resources and courses to help home educators craft their unique learning journeys with confidence, ease and cultural authenticity. Alberta is passionate about helping busy and overwhelmed parents find joy and fulfillment in home-schooling. She does this by guiding her clients towards life-giving rituals that help breathe wonder, meaning and connection into their daily family rhythms. Prior to home educating, Alberta managed learning programmes within community and youth development and more recently, within corporate social responsibility, for over 21 years. Alberta has a BA Hons in Marketing and Politics and is currently studying for a MA in Christian Leadership/Theology at St Mellitus College, London.
Alberta Stevens
Alberta Stevens is a British Christian home educator of Sierra Leonean heritage, who lives in London, England with her two boys. Alberta is also a writer, speaker, podcast host and home education coach at Homegrown Sonshine. She creates wholesome and culturally diverse resources and courses to help home educators craft their unique learning journeys with confidence, ease and cultural authenticity. Alberta is passionate about helping busy and overwhelmed parents find joy and fulfillment in home-schooling. She does this by guiding her clients towards life-giving rituals that help breathe wonder, meaning and connection into their daily family rhythms. Prior to home educating, Alberta managed learning programmes within community and youth development and more recently, within corporate social responsibility, for over 21 years. Alberta has a BA Hons in Marketing and Politics and is currently studying for a MA in Christian Leadership/Theology at St Mellitus College, London.
Heidi Conway
Heidi Conway, once trainer of life coaches and national manager in the corporate world, now an Aussie mum of home educated teens. Heidi sees herself, as a changemaker mother, a qualified global coach of other changemakers, on a national and international mission with a deep entrepreneurial spirit and drive of a true edupreneur. Heidi is Co-Founder of Changemaker Teens Global and is based in Brisbane, Australia. Stemming from a personal development journey of over 30 years, she understands the importance of “holding the space” for your children as you facilitate their learning and raise your changemakers to discover their unique pathway in life.
Heidi Conway
Heidi Conway, once trainer of life coaches and national manager in the corporate world, now an Aussie mum of home educated teens. Heidi sees herself, as a changemaker mother, a qualified global coach of other changemakers, on a national and international mission with a deep entrepreneurial spirit and drive of a true edupreneur. Heidi is Co-Founder of Changemaker Teens Global and is based in Brisbane, Australia. Stemming from a personal development journey of over 30 years, she understands the importance of “holding the space” for your children as you facilitate their learning and raise your changemakers to discover their unique pathway in life.
Speakers
Sarah Gillie
A university lecturer and former primary school teacher, Sarah combines her passion for learning with a parents’ perspective. Family diagnoses of neurodivergence only strengthened Sarah's belief that inclusive practice should recognise individual strengths and needs. Her doctoral research focused on the experiences of families who home educate to meet children's individual needs.
Sarah Gillie
A university lecturer and former primary school teacher, Sarah combines her passion for learning with a parents’ perspective. Family diagnoses of neurodivergence only strengthened Sarah's belief that inclusive practice should recognise individual strengths and needs. Her doctoral research focused on the experiences of families who home educate to meet children's individual needs.
Heidi Steel
Heidi lives with her husband and four children in South East England. She is an ex-teacher turned unschooler who moved beyond the traditional paradigms of the classroom when she became disillusioned with the education system. For the past ten years, she has been unschooling her four children, who are happy living and learning as they go.
Heidi Steel
Heidi lives with her husband and four children in South East England. She is an ex-teacher turned unschooler who moved beyond the traditional paradigms of the classroom when she became disillusioned with the education system. For the past ten years, she has been unschooling her four children, who are happy living and learning as they go.
Gayle Hanlon
Based in Ontario, Canada, Gayle is a home educating veteran of 30 years. Gayle has been instrumental in inspiring many families to feel confident and encouraged to begin and follow through on this journey of self-discovery and enlightenment. Gayle is the Principal at Agate Private School and the author of multiple workshops including Intro to Homeschooling, Single Parent Homeschooling, Homeschooling through High School, Alternative School Incubator and more. She is a specialist in assisting students 12+ pursuing post secondary entrepreneurial ventures.
Gayle Hanlon
Based in Ontario, Canada, Gayle is a home educating veteran of 30 years. Gayle has been instrumental in inspiring many families to feel confident and encouraged to begin and follow through on this journey of self-discovery and enlightenment. Gayle is the Principal at Agate Private School and the author of multiple workshops including Intro to Homeschooling, Single Parent Homeschooling, Homeschooling through High School, Alternative School Incubator and more. She is a specialist in assisting students 12+ pursuing post secondary entrepreneurial ventures.
Randall Hardy
Randall and Mary Hardy have six adult children. The older ones attended a Christian school, whilst the younger three were home educated. When Ed Balls commissioned the Badman Review in 2009, they, like many other HE families, were quickly introduced to the world of political lobbying. They continued to monitor the political situation in subsequent years and found themselves having to devote more time to this with the introduction of Lord Soley's Private Member's Bill. Randall has managed to get two articles published on the TES website, questioning the prevailing "project fear" about home education.
Randall Hardy
Randall and Mary Hardy have six adult children. The older ones attended a Christian school, whilst the younger three were home educated. When Ed Balls commissioned the Badman Review in 2009, they, like many other HE families, were quickly introduced to the world of political lobbying. They continued to monitor the political situation in subsequent years and found themselves having to devote more time to this with the introduction of Lord Soley's Private Member's Bill. Randall has managed to get two articles published on the TES website, questioning the prevailing "project fear" about home education.
Ian Cunningham
Ian Cunningham is Founder and Trustee of the Centre for Self Managed Learning and the Chair of Governors of SML College. Through the years, Ian has been a professor, CEO of a business school, and company director. He has published six books and over 120 articles and papers in areas such as education, learning, leadership and organisational change. In his spare time, Ian dances with the Three Score Dance Company in Brighton.
Ian Cunningham
Ian Cunningham is Founder and Trustee of the Centre for Self Managed Learning and the Chair of Governors of SML College. Through the years, Ian has been a professor, CEO of a business school, and company director. He has published six books and over 120 articles and papers in areas such as education, learning, leadership and organisational change. In his spare time, Ian dances with the Three Score Dance Company in Brighton.
Bekkie Graham
Bekkie is based in Cornwall, UK, and is a multimedia artist, independent researcher and home educating mum of four.
Bekkie Graham
Bekkie is based in Cornwall, UK, and is a multimedia artist, independent researcher and home educating mum of four.
Anne Laure Jackson
Anne Laure is an Occupational Therapist and Sensory Health Coach. She trains, coaches and equips people online in sensory processing issues, offering hope, understanding and empowerment. She has a BSc OT degree with Distinction, PG Dip with Commendation in SI and is an Advanced Practitioner in Sensory Integration. She been home educating her three children for the last 20+ years and has a passionate heart for supporting people live in their best sensory health
Anne Laure Jackson
Anne Laure is an Occupational Therapist and Sensory Health Coach. She trains, coaches and equips people online in sensory processing issues, offering hope, understanding and empowerment. She has a BSc OT degree with Distinction, PG Dip with Commendation in SI and is an Advanced Practitioner in Sensory Integration. She been home educating her three children for the last 20+ years and has a passionate heart for supporting people live in their best sensory health
Juliet English
Juliet is an experienced home educator who is passionate about encouraging and empowering parents to educate their children with boldness and freedom. She is engaged in a number of initiatives which benefit home educators in the UK, drawing on her personal experience of educating her own 7 children, running groups, activities and conferences, as well as her background in Social Work. She is a co-director at Streams for Home Educators, an admin on many Facebook home education groups, has spoken at several home education conferences, hosts rooms on Clubhouse and has been interviewed for podcasts. She more recently contributed to an upcoming book on home education. Juliet’s idea of fun is creating, crafting, and singing.
Juliet English
Juliet is an experienced home educator who is passionate about encouraging and empowering parents to educate their children with boldness and freedom. She is engaged in a number of initiatives which benefit home educators in the UK, drawing on her personal experience of educating her own 7 children, running groups, activities and conferences, as well as her background in Social Work. She is a co-director at Streams for Home Educators, an admin on many Facebook home education groups, has spoken at several home education conferences, hosts rooms on Clubhouse and has been interviewed for podcasts. She more recently contributed to an upcoming book on home education. Juliet’s idea of fun is creating, crafting, and singing.
Alison Sauer
Alison Sauer
Peter Berg
Dr. Peter Berg, the founder of Youth Transformations, works with teenagers and young adults as a mental health and transition counselor at Franklin Pierce Univeristy. He is an adjunct instructor at Southern New Hampshire University, in the Doctor of Educational Leadership program. Previously he was a Principal at a democratic school in Maine. The author of the best-selling book The Tao of Teenagers: A Guide to Teen Health, Happiness & Empowerment, his work includes helping teenagers empower themselves so they can take charge of their health and happiness and be the masters of their own lives. His mission is to guide youth and families to create transformations that lead to health, happiness and empowerment. He holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and has written extensively on alternative, holistic, integrated educational theory and integrated health. Peter is an organizer for the Alternative Education Resource Organization representatives worldwide, as well as AERO events and is a reviewer for the American Educational Research Association. He has consulted on many school and organizational startups.
Peter Berg
Fabienne Vailes
Fabienne is an educator, author of 'The Flourishing Student' and co-author of 'How to Grow a Grown up', wellbeing expert and parent of 2 boys aged 14 and 12 on a mission to change the face of education. She's been researching what makes students flourish and languish in education and in life. She's host of the Flourishing Education Podcast where she has powerful imperfectly perfect conversations with amazing individuals and shines the light on their wonderful work. She's dedicated all her work to finding out how we become flourishing lifelong learners and achieve our full potential.
Fabienne Vailes
Fabienne is an educator, author of The Flourishing Student and co-author of How to Grow a Grown up, wellbeing expert and parent of 2 boys aged 14 and 12 on a mission to change the face of education. She's been researching what makes students flourish and languish in education and in life. She's host of the Flourishing Education Podcast where she has powerful imperfectly perfect conversations with amazing individuals and shines the light on their wonderful work. She's dedicated all her work to finding out how we become flourishing lifelong learners and achieve our full potential.
Wendy Charles-Warner
Wendy is an independent academic researcher and educator with a specialist interest in home education. She has been involved in this field of research for 13 years and with home education practice and assessment overall, for almost 4 decades. In the last 12 years, this has included advising individuals, NGOs and governments in respect of home education. Wendy frequently works with local authority staff, OFQUAL, and the DfE in respect of home education. She is regularly asked to contribute to articles and debates on home education and gave evidence to the Education Select Committee in March 2021. She has also previously given evidence to the Welsh Assembly Government in respect of home education. Wendy is Co-Chair of Education Otherwise.
Wendy Charles Warner
Wendy is an independent academic researcher and educator with a specialist interest in home education. She has been involved in this field of research for 13 years and with home education practice and assessment overall, for almost 4 decades. In the last 12 years, this has included advising individuals, NGOs and governments in respect of home education. Wendy frequently works with local authority staff, OFQUAL, and the DfE in respect of home education. She is regularly asked to contribute to articles and debates on home education and gave evidence to the Education Select Committee in March 2021. She has also previously given evidence to the Welsh Assembly Government in respect of home education. Wendy is Co-Chair of Education Otherwise. .
Alice Khimasia
Alice has been unschooling herself and her four sons for over 12 years. She is a TEDx speaker and passionate advocate for the right to learn. She is studying for her Masters in ‘Childhood in Society’ at the University of Warwick where she is also a Co-Creation Officer in the Institute for Advanced Teaching and Learning. She is a Sussex girl at heart, and a seeker of magic in the spaces between us.
Alice Khimasia
Alice has been unschooling herself and her four sons for over 12 years. She is a TEDx speaker and passionate advocate for the right to learn. She is studying for her Masters in ‘Childhood in Society’ at the University of Warwick where she is also a Co-Creation Officer in the Institute for Advanced Teaching and Learning. She is a Sussex girl at heart, and a seeker of magic in the spaces between us.
Julia Black
As an innovative educationalist, neurocoach and serial entrepreneur Julia has worked with thousands of families to introduce a culture of learning that leads to high performance. A mother to two teenagers, with an MA in International Relations, a BAFTA and Grierson nominated documentary director and a certified Master Neurocoach. Julia is a passionate advocate for mothers’ empowerment. Julia has seen first-hand that the biggest difference to a child’s educational success is when a mother reclaims the power within them to be an empowered, inspiring leader within her home.
Julia Black
As an innovative educationalist, neurocoach and serial entrepreneur Julia has worked with thousands of families to introduce a culture of learning that leads to high performance. A mother to two teenagers, with an MA in International Relations, a BAFTA and Grierson nominated documentary director and a certified Master Neurocoach. Julia is a passionate advocate for mothers’ empowerment. Julia has seen first-hand that the biggest difference to a child’s educational success is when a mother reclaims the power within them to be an empowered, inspiring leader within her home.
Stephanie Sewell
Stephanie helps families whose child or teen is not thriving to find and navigate a new education path (or tweak an existing one!), either in school or outside of school.
Her formal title is Independent Education Consultant. What stands out about Stephanie's work is her heart-based, well-being focused approach, and her ability to build supportive relationships with both parents and their kids/ teens. This means that young people are able to find their way back towards their innate love of learning and their inherent ability to self direct their learning. Along the way, Stephanie also provides support and resources to their parents so that they have the knowledge and confidence to travel this path as well.
Stephanie lives with her family in the Gatineau Hills of Quebec, right on the border with Ontario. Her personal home/unschooling experience is based in these two provinces; professionally she supports families around the world.
Stephanie Sewell
Stephanie helps families whose child or teen is not thriving to find and navigate a new education path (or tweak an existing one!), either in school or outside of school.
Her formal title is Independent Education Consultant. What stands out about Stephanie's work is her heart-based, well-being focused approach, and her ability to build supportive relationships with both parents and their kids/ teens. This means that young people are able to find their way back towards their innate love of learning and their inherent ability to self direct their learning. Along the way, Stephanie also provides support and resources to their parents so that they have the knowledge and confidence to travel this path as well.
Stephanie lives with her family in the Gatineau Hills of Quebec, right on the border with Ontario. Her personal home/unschooling experience is based in these two provinces; professionally she supports families around the world.
Ortal Green
Ortal is a passionate educator with a mission to empower teachers and parents to nurture tomorrow’s innovators. She started her career as a computer scientist and worked for top global hi-tech companies such as IBM and Mercury for several years. Working at the forefront of this cutting-edge industry helped her understand the impact of technology on the future of work. Additionally, as Ortal watched her three sons' journeys through primary school, she realised they were not being prepared for this future. While Ortal saw the movement towards STEM as going in the right direction, essential skills such as creative thinking and the development of an innovative mindset, to name a few, were being left out. Having a solid technological background and being a Design Thinking practitioner, she was able to see that there was a need and a way to bridge this gap. Therefore, Ortal co-founded “Glittering Minds” and created an innovative school program. This program provides the needed paradigm shift in education by introducing Design Thinking as the new pedagogy. Ortal is also an author. She wrote the book “Think Unique” which empowers teachers to create tomorrow’s innovators in their classrooms. This book provides teachers with the knowledge and tools required to set up children for success in the 21st century.
Ortal Green
Ortal is a passionate educator with a mission to empower teachers and parents to nurture tomorrow’s innovators. She started her career as a computer scientist and worked for top global hi-tech companies such as IBM and Mercury for several years. Working at the forefront of this cutting-edge industry helped her understand the impact of technology on the future of work. Additionally, as Ortal watched her three sons' journeys through primary school, she realised they were not being prepared for this future. While Ortal saw the movement towards STEM as going in the right direction, essential skills such as creative thinking and the development of an innovative mindset, to name a few, were being left out. Having a solid technological background and being a Design Thinking practitioner, she was able to see that there was a need and a way to bridge this gap. Therefore, Ortal co-founded “Glittering Minds” and created an innovative school program. This program provides the needed paradigm shift in education by introducing Design Thinking as the new pedagogy. Ortal is also an author. She wrote the book “Think Unique” which empowers teachers to create tomorrow’s innovators in their classrooms. This book provides teachers with the knowledge and tools required to set up children for success in the 21st century.
Omnis Education
Jenn Sutherland- Miller is the Omnis CEO – in this case, Chief ‘Evangelist’ Officer – whose job is to spread the message of this paradigm shift in education and their ‘school of the future’, far and wide. She is also their Chief Education Officer and is responsible for ensuring that they offer world class learning opportunities for ALL students and develop a team of world class educators. Jenn has over 20 years of experience in supporting families to build a world class education for their children outside the four walls of a classroom. In addition to successfully homeschooling her own four children, from birth to university entrance while traveling the world, full time, for over a decade, Jenn has a degree in education and has worked with hundreds of families as a consultant and educational coach.
Lea Jovy-Ford is the Omnis COO – in charge of all things operations to ensure that they build Omnis Education in alignment with the values & standards they hold themselves to. A former management consultant with Accenture, Lea has deep experience in creating world class customer experiences and is fanatical about the details of HOW something is done. As a pioneer of the location independent movement since 2006, she has run three remote-first companies of her own and has coached hundreds of people out of conventional employment into location independence – over the past two decades. Lea has a blended, multi-racial family with 4 children who are all home educated.
Omnis Education
Jenn Sutherland- Miller is the Omnis CEO – in this case, Chief ‘Evangelist’ Officer – whose job is to spread the message of this paradigm shift in education and their ‘school of the future’, far and wide. She is also their Chief Education Officer and is responsible for ensuring that they offer world class learning opportunities for ALL students and develop a team of world class educators. Jenn has over 20 years of experience in supporting families to build a world class education for their children outside the four walls of a classroom. In addition to successfully homeschooling her own four children, from birth to university entrance while traveling the world, full time, for over a decade, Jenn has a degree in education and has worked with hundreds of families as a consultant and educational coach.
Lea Jovy-Ford is the Omnis COO – in charge of all things operations to ensure that they build Omnis Education in alignment with the values & standards they hold themselves to. A former management consultant with Accenture, Lea has deep experience in creating world class customer experiences and is fanatical about the details of HOW something is done. As a pioneer of the location independent movement since 2006, she has run three remote-first companies of her own and has coached hundreds of people out of conventional employment into location independence – over the past two decades. Lea has a blended, multi-racial family with 4 children who are all home educated.
Molly Ashton
Molly is an enthusiastic advocate for home education with a passion to encourage others on this journey. She and her husband have four children, two by birth and two by adoption. Through both professional and personal experience, she has insight into the challenges of parenting children with additional needs. She co-hosts ‘Mended Teacups’ a UK home-education podcast and blogs at Mothering through the Seasons. She has authored “The Kite’s Tale - A Story of Adoption” and has compiled “Another Way to Learn? Finding the Beauty in Home-Education “ written by UK home educators and launching this September. She is rooted in the beauty and rhythms of the countryside in which she and her family live in their ongoing quest towards self-sufficiency.
Molly Ashton
Molly is an enthusiastic advocate for home education with a passion to encourage others on this journey. She and her husband have four children, two by birth and two by adoption. Through both professional and personal experience, she has insight into the challenges of parenting children with additional needs. She co-hosts ‘Mended Teacups’ a UK home-education podcast and blogs at Mothering through the Seasons. She has authored “The Kite’s Tale - A Story of Adoption” and has compiled “Another Way to Learn? Finding the Beauty in Home-Education “ written by UK home educators and launching this September. She is rooted in the beauty and rhythms of the countryside in which she and her family live in their ongoing quest towards self-sufficiency.
Gina Riley
Gina Riley, Ph.D. is a Clinical Professor and Program Leader of the Adolescent Special Education Program at CUNY – Hunter College. Dr. Riley has over fifteen years experience working with teens diagnosed with learning disabilities and emotional/behavioral disorders. She is also a seasoned academic, with years of teaching, research, and supervisory experience within the fields of special education, psychology, school psychology, and mental health counseling. In addition, Dr. Riley has extensive experience in online education and distance learning at the college/university level. She is known internationally for her work in the fields of homeschooling, unschooling, and self-directed learning. Her books include Unschooling: Exploring Learning Beyond The Classroom (Palgrave Macmillan, 2020) and The Homeschooling Starter Guide (Rockridge Press, 2021).
Gina Riley
Gina Riley, Ph.D. is a Clinical Professor and Program Leader of the Adolescent Special Education Program at CUNY – Hunter College. Dr. Riley has over fifteen years experience working with teens diagnosed with learning disabilities and emotional/behavioral disorders. She is also a seasoned academic, with years of teaching, research, and supervisory experience within the fields of special education, psychology, school psychology, and mental health counseling. In addition, Dr. Riley has extensive experience in online education and distance learning at the college/university level. She is known internationally for her work in the fields of homeschooling, unschooling, and self-directed learning. Her books include Unschooling: Exploring Learning Beyond The Classroom (Palgrave Macmillan, 2020) and The Homeschooling Starter Guide (Rockridge Press, 2021).
Nicola Leyland
Nicola's story is about discovering the power of trust and autonomy as a parent following a freak accident, as she overcame her disappointment and disbelief at the 'help' she encountered following her son's accident.
Nicola Leyland
Nicola's story is about discovering the power of trust and autonomy as a parent following a freak accident, as she overcame her disappointment and disbelief at the 'help' she encountered following her son's accident.
Michael Reeve
Mike and his wife Amy have 5 children aged between 1 and 10 and are in their sixth year of their Home Ed journey. Mike works full time as a business analyst where he fanatical about all things data. Outside of work, Mike is involved in his church's children's ministry, where he leads the 7-11 year-old's kids group. Amy and Mike are passionate about seeing parents being encouraged and empowered in their role of raising children.
Michael Reeve
Mike and his wife Amy have 5 children aged between 1 and 10 and are in their sixth year of their Home Ed journey. Mike works full time as a business analyst where he fanatical about all things data. Outside of work, Mike is involved in his church's children's ministry, where he leads the 7-11 year-old's kids group. Amy and Mike are passionate about seeing parents being encouraged and empowered in their role of raising children.
Brittany Burton
Brittany is a home educating mum of 5. She has been instrumental in creating a local network of nearly 90 home educating families in West London. She is passionate about making connections in her community for the benefit of individuals, families, local businesses, and local artists. She blogs about ideas in education, family, and community at Our Thriving Hive.
Brittany Burton
Brittany is a home educating mum of 5. She has been instrumental in creating a local network of nearly 90 home educating families in West London. She is passionate about making connections in her community for the benefit of individuals, families, local businesses, and local artists. She blogs about ideas in education, family, and community at Our Thriving Hive.
Sian Lowe
Siân is a former secondary school teacher who is now in her third year home educating her 3 daughters. Moving her children from mainstream education to home education has been life changing, life enhancing and quite possibly the bravest thing she has ever done! Her desire is to empower and encourage those who wish to explore home education for themselves. Siân gets very excited about all that she is learning along with her daughters and when she isn’t furthering her education she enjoys nothing more than a cheeky latte in a café with a good friend.
Sian Lowe
Siân is a former secondary school teacher who is now in her fourth year home educating her 3 daughters. Moving her children from mainstream education to home education has been life changing, life enhancing and quite possibly the bravest thing she has ever done! Her desire is to empower and encourage those who wish to explore home education for themselves. Siân gets very excited about all that she is learning along with her daughters and when she isn’t furthering her education she enjoys nothing more than a cheeky latte in a café with a good friend.
Sean McDougall
Sean McDougall is an active home educator and trustee of the Centre for Personalised Education, where he is heavily involved in the defence of the rights of home educators. He has a strong campaigning background in relation to politics and home education, and is a recognised leader in the field of design thinking, focused primarily on educational and social innovation. His background includes winning Guardian Society's first ever Charity of the Month award, working on the Northern Ireland peace process, campaigning for better support for foster carers and running a three year campaign on future learning for the Design Council, where one of his 'clients' won UK Headteacher of the Year by introducing principles of co-design into education. He is presently mentoring a leading UK charity as it uses design thinking to find new ways to support vocational learners. In 2014 he was awarded a fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts for his contribution to the field of socially innovative design
Sean McDougall
Sean McDougall is an active home educator and trustee of the Centre for Personalised Education, where he is heavily involved in the defence of the rights of home educators. He has a strong campaigning background in relation to politics and home education, and is a recognised leader in the field of design thinking, focused primarily on educational and social innovation. His background includes winning Guardian Society's first ever Charity of the Month award, working on the Northern Ireland peace process, campaigning for better support for foster carers and running a three year campaign on future learning for the Design Council, where one of his 'clients' won UK Headteacher of the Year by introducing principles of co-design into education. He is presently mentoring a leading UK charity as it uses design thinking to find new ways to support vocational learners. In 2014 he was awarded a fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts for his contribution to the field of socially innovative design
Joanna Merrett
Joanna is a home educating parent of two amazing children. She is a researcher by nature and was Inspired by their experience of home education to study further so she is currently at Exeter University studying towards her Masters in Educational research. She then hopes to move onto a PhD.
Joanna Merrett
Joanna is a home educating parent of two amazing children. She is a researcher by nature and was Inspired by their experience of home education to study further so she is currently at Exeter University studying towards her Masters in Educational research. She then hopes to move onto a PhD.
