A detailed review of each staff member
Sam joins LCE, as the proudly appointed headteacher of LCE Academy, the inaugural school of the Life Changing Education organisation.
As a vastly experienced senior leader, his responsibilities have included behaviour, safeguarding, attendance, pastoral systems, multi-agency planning and whole-school culture within mainstream education.
Sam has established himself as an impactful, compassionate and unapologetically pupil-centred leader. With fifteen years working in education, successfully upholding positions in senior leadership capacities in Oldham, Sam is impeccably placed to understand the local educational landscape, and he both understands the need to support the most fragile learners and commits to doing so in every area of the curriculum and learning experience.
Leaning on his leadership experience Sam is dedicated to creating an environment that allows children and staff to belong, matter and ultimately progress. Sam’s approach emphasises secure and predictable routines, high-quality relationships and consistent professional standards, enabling pupils to re-engage with learning while building the skills they need for future success. He has expressed his excitement to continue to learn and develop alongside the established and inspiring team already at LCE
Sam is committed to supporting and working with his team to create a safe, ambitious and inclusive environment, in which every pupil is known well, supported effectively and able to take on challenging learning pathways in preparation for successful and personalised next steps.
LCE are delighted to have secured Sam as the headteacher of LCE Academy.
LCE Academy is built on the belief that every young person deserves a school where they feel safe, understood and inspired to grow. We are proud to be creating a genuinely transformative SEMH provision for our community, driven by relationships, shaped by compassion and committed to changing futures.
Our provision is designed for children and young people who:
Have identified SEMH needs
Require a more personalised and therapeutic learning environment
May struggle to thrive in mainstream settings
Need consistent relational support to feel safe, regulated and ready to learn
LCE Academy is built around:
A multi-disciplinary team with extensive expertise
Highly structured routines that reduce anxiety and promote confidence
Therapeutic, calm and sensory-aware environments
Small class sizes and personalised learning
A relational approach centred on trust, safety and wellbeing
Every aspect—from staffing to spaces—has been designed with SEMH needs at the forefront.
Pupils follow a broad, ambitious and carefully adapted curriculum, including:
Core academic subjects
Personal development and life skills
Therapeutic and wellbeing programmes
Creative and vocational learning opportunities
Our curriculum aims to close academic gaps while helping pupils build confidence, independence and emotional resilience.
SEMH support is woven into every part of their school day. This includes:
Key-worker relationships
Therapeutic interventions
Daily check-ins and regulation routines
Trauma-informed practice
Restorative approaches
Bespoke support plans tailored to each pupil’s needs
Our goal is to help pupils feel safe, understood and empowered.
LCE Academy has been designed specifically for SEMH learners, with:
Calm, low-stimulation classrooms
Breakout therapy rooms
Sensory-aware spaces
Outdoor learning areas
Safe zones for regulation
Structured routines and movement breaks
The environment is a key part of helping pupils regulate, feel secure and engage successfully in learning.
