Our well-qualified and experienced staff team plays a central role in helping our young people to reach their potential. North Hill House has a large team working across the main school site and our residential areas, including:
- Senior Leadership
- Qualified teachers
- Learning support assistants
- Care support staff
- Therapy team
- Two paediatric occupational therapists
- Speech and language therapist
- Counsellor
- Elsa
- School administration team
- Catering
- Housekeeping
- Maintenance
A commitment to training
Here at North Hill House School, we understand that good staffing is about quality, not just quantity. We stand out for the fact that 100% of our teachers have qualified teacher status and all of our care staff have, or are working towards, a Level 3 qualification. Our Therapy Team and other support services staff are all fully qualified in their own areas of expertise.
Meet our team
Michael Pearce, Headteacher
This is my second year as Headteacher, and I am working hard with the whole school community to develop our provision, ensuring that the child is at the heart of everything we do. I am excited to continue my journey at North Hill House School and to build on the strong foundations we have already established.
Prior to joining North Hill House School, I was Deputy Headteacher at Newbury Manor School in Mells. My primary responsibilities there included developing the curriculum and supporting the Headteacher. I implemented a creative and supportive curriculum to ensure that every pupil at Newbury Manor made at least good progress, accessing an exciting and engaging learning experience. As Deputy Safeguarding Lead, I also ensured that all pupils were safe and able to benefit from a wide range of opportunities through trips and visits.
Before my time at Newbury Manor, I spent four years as Assistant Headteacher at a special school in Chippenham, Wiltshire, where I was responsible for overseeing curriculum development. I have also worked in mainstream education as Head of PE and Performing Arts in Bath, and over my 20-year career in education, I have taught PE and been heavily involved with the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.
Outside of school, I am passionate about animal rescue and have been involved in voluntary work rescuing dogs from Romania for five years. I currently have many pets, including chickens, ducks, and five dogs—two of which are rescues from Romania. I am also an enthusiastic cyclist, love walking, and enjoy spending time outdoors. This passion for the outdoors extends to my professional life, where I strongly advocate for outdoor learning opportunities as an integral part of our curriculum at North Hill House School.
Adam Smith, Assistant Headteacher and SENCo
My journey in the field of education started in Vietnam approximately 13 years ago, where I taught English and Art for three years. Since returning, I have taught in every stage of primary education and have loved working as a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo). My experience as a SENCo in mainstream primary education inspired me to pursue a career in the Special Educational Needs sector and this has brought me to North Hill House.
My educational background in Art and Design informs my approach, enabling me to appreciate and deploy creative teaching methods. I have always found it incredibly fulfilling to support young people on their learning journeys, and my philosophy revolves around the concept of holistic and inclusive education. In line with this, I am a strong advocate for flexible teaching strategies that are tailored to accommodate the needs of each young person.
Outside of school, I love being outdoors, particularly when hiking, cycling, and camping. I enjoy sharing these experiences with my own children and believe that woodlands and outdoor spaces offer unique opportunities for holistic development that complement and support the learning that happens in the classroom.
Lisa Conley, Deputy Headteacher - Quality of Education
I am delighted to have joined the Senior Leadership Team at North Hill House School. My background has been in a mixture of mainstream science teaching and hospital education in Bath and Birmingham. In my most recent role, I had responsibilities for data and reporting, and have developed and implemented new systems for both.
I have a life-long passion for science, my interest of which was sparked during a visit to a Victorian apothecary when I was seven years old. I remember wondering to myself how did the Apothecary know the potions would work? How were they discovered!? This has stayed with me and led to me completing a degree in Pharmacology at University. I still visit the apothecary most years to this day!
Outside of school I love being outdoors. I am very fond of walking, especially around the Mendip Hills and coastal paths, often accompanied by my family and our beagle. I like to read lots of books as well as being a (sadly rather competitive) Scrabble player!
Leigh Murray - Assistant Headteacher – Behaviour and Personal Development
Leigh Murray, Assistant Headteacher at North Hill House. I have worked in Specialist education for over 11 years in a variety of roles, Most recently as a deputy headteacher for an FE college. My experience is primarily working with learners 14-24 in further education, supporting their transition to adulthood.
My background prior to education has been very mixed and I have gained skills in many industries such as; care, hospitality, trades, retail and policing. I use this experience in my teaching now through careers advice and supporting learners into employment.
Carly Brown, Pastoral Manager & Mental Health Lead
My career in specialist education started over 20 years ago in a residential college working with young people 16-25yrs where I started as a learning support worker and worked my way to senior leadership level. In that time, I have run residential homes linked with our FE provision, then moving up to Care Coordinator and Safeguarding Lead overseeing multiple residencies within the community and supporting our students to access education effectively whilst developing their independence and social communication skills to become confident and independent members of the community.
I transferred to North Hill House in April 2023 and am committed to ensuring our students are receiving the support they need to be successful in their educational journey whilst ensuring students feel safe and able to access all aspects of their learning.
Outside of school I enjoy going for walks, especially in frosty weather, swimming and spending time pottering about in the garden.
Seeking a rewarding career?
By joining our team at Aspris Children’s Services, you will have the opportunity to help change the lives of the children and young people that we support. To explore our current job vacancies, please click here.
Key contact details
For general enquiries, please contact:
E: northhillhouseschool@aspriscs.co.uk
T: 01373 466 222
To contact the Headteacher:
Michael Pearce
North Hill House, Head of School
E: Michaelpearce@aspriscs.co.uk
T: 01373 466 222