Meet the Team

Robert Gasson

Chief Executive Officer

Rob is an experienced CEO with extensive board room experience as both a CEO and trustee. Rob’s first Headteacher role started in 2000, he has Masters Degrees in Economics and Education Management and has worked extensively with pupils who exhibit challenging behaviour and those who are unable to access school due to their health. He has contributed to developing leading policy and practice in this field and is a passionate advocate of inclusion, and proud father of two.

Gaynor Boyden

Chief Operations Officer

Gaynor qualified as a chartered accountant after studying for a degree in European Finance & Accounting and has worked in education since 1996, more recently as Head of Administration Finance and Resources, in industry in France as Head Accountant for a CD Mastering company as well as in practice in the UK. Her skills include financial management & analysis, leadership & management and devising and implementing continuous improvement strategies as well as speaking fluent French. Gaynor believes that her hands-on management approach builds excellent relationships helping both people and the organisation to prosper and flourish in a happy environment. When not constrained to the office she enjoys spending time with her extensive family & friends on the beach in the summer and around a rugby pitch in the winter

Helen Casson

Deputy Chief Executive Officer

After graduating from the University of East Anglia in PsychoSocial studies, Helen completed her PGCE at Sheffield Hallam University. She then taught in Sheffield for a few years before moving to an inner London school as Assistant Headteacher, leading on student and staff wellbeing. After a move to Cornwall in 2011, Helen became Deputy Headteacher at Looe Community Academy. Helen is a trained SENCo and a Thrive practitioner and is passionate about ensuring the needs of all young people are met. Helen sat on our Wave MAT board for number of years and is delighted to have now joined the Wave team. Outside of school Helen and her family enjoy exploring Cornwall in their rusty VW camper and bright orange beetle!

Chris Denley

Executive Principal

Chris started teaching at Greendown Community School in Swindon in 1997 as a History teacher. He became Director of Vocational Provision, organising work-related learning before being appointed to the Leadership Team as Assistant Head with responsibility for Curriculum, Assessment and ICT. In 2008 he moved to West Penwith to become Deputy Head, and then Head of School, at Cape Cornwall School. He was a Specialist Leader in Education for Truro and Penwith Teaching School and supported schools across Cornwall in developing teaching and learning. He moved into alternative provision and set up an education provider with colleagues, before joining Wave and teaching with CHES. He has continued to support Teaching and Learning, working with Stansfield Academy, and was appointed Associate Principal with Wave, based at Penwith Academy, in January 2023.

Outside of work Chris has a family with three children. He enjoys playing guitar, cycling, running and surfing. He loves watching football with his sons who share his love for the mighty Swindon Town and Liverpool. He also enjoys watching rugby with his Dad, and supports Dings Crusaders from afar. He has recently completed his MA in History and is an Outreach Team member of the British Association for Local History. In his spare time, he is researching a book about working-class religious affiliation and leisure in Bristol the end of the Victorian period.

Tessa Claridge

Principal - River Dart Academy

Tessa has been in education for over 20 years. Starting her career in further education and holding various senior leadership roles, Head of Department in Surrey, Head of College in Cornwall and as Head of Education and Pastoral Operations in Oxfordshire. Tessa has used her varied experiences to inspire learners from different backgrounds, ages, and abilities to achieve and engage in education. Tessa has a passion to ensure an excellent student experience. In her spare time, Tessa likes to spend time with her family and dogs.

Haydn Pearse

Principal - Caradon Academy

Haydn has been in teaching for 18 years. He completed his BSc Combined Hons degree in Physical Education, Sport and Human & Applied Biology in Liverpool. He completed a PGCE at Chester College before going on to teach secondary Physical Education in Worcestershire for several years before relocating to Cornwall. Haydn joined Caradon Academy as a PE and PSHE teacher and has enjoyed making a difference with challenging pupils ever since in his role as Vice Principal and now Principal. Outside of work Haydn loves Rugby and spending time in the outdoors with his family and dogs.

Lucy Stocker

Principal - CHES Academy

Lucy has been a teacher since 1995 and has worked in Primary Schools and at Cornwall College Camborne before joining CHES in 2008. Lucy started out as an English teacher with CHES and moved on to being the SENCO in 2012, then Vice Principal in 2016 before becoming the Head of School at CHES in 2019. She completed the National Award for Special Educational Needs Coordination in 2014 to help her support SEN pupils within CHES. Lucy is married and enjoys spending time with her family.

Frances Harland

Principal - Torlands Academy

Frances completed a degree in English Literature at Exeter University in 1988 and then worked for a literary agency specialising in foreign rights for English and American publishers in London. After moving to Devon in 1994, she undertook a PGCE in English at St Luke’s, Exeter University, before teaching in North Cornwall. Her interest in alternative provision stems from her experience of teaching a Year 11 student in outreach as they were not permitted to attend school on health grounds. In 2006, she began working in Devon with students unable to attend mainstream school for a range of complex reasons. She feels strongly about inclusion, and about meeting the needs of all young people, whatever their barriers to learning.

Russell Clarke

Principal - Shoreline Academy

Russell’s teaching career began in Birmingham after completing a BSc (Hons) in secondary design and technology Education at Nottingham Trent University in 1998. Much of his experience is in pastoral support within mainstream schools. His previous leadership roles have included Senior Head of Learning and Guidance, Assistant Head Teacher and Deputy Head teacher. Russell’s family relocated to Devon in 2016 and he was appointed Vice Principal at Shoreline Academy in July 2017, becoming Principal in Sep 2022.

Sam Gilronan

Principal - Glendinning Academy

Sam has been teaching for 26 years and has a wealth of experience in mainstream and alternative provisions having undertaken the role of SENCO over 18 years in settings across Kent and Devon. Throughout her career, she has been passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of young people with SEND. She holds a Masters Degree in Speech and Language Difficulties and has utilised this to support children, families and schools over 4 years working across East Devon as an Advisory Teacher for the Communication and Interaction Team. Recently she was seconded by NASEN  to work as the Deputy Regional Lead for SEND in the South West and carried out this exciting role for 2 years alongside working as an Assistant Headteacher and SENCo at a specialist provision in North Devon. While not at work Sam enjoys spending time with her family and dog making the most of the beautiful coastline and scenery of Devon.

Andie Parker-Jones

Principal- Nine Maidens

Andie has worked in Nine Maidens since 2014 as Careers Lead and PSHE teacher. Before this she worked in a number of local secondary schools as a humanities teacher and Head of Department and has travelled extensively. In her spare time Andie enjoys paddleboarding, hiking and photography. 

Harry Welch

Principal- Stansfield Academy

Harry started his career at The Brunel Academy in 2015 as a HLTA. He has work as an Advocate from 2018 until 2020 where he joined the extended leadership team in the role of Lead for Engagement. In 2021 was appointed the Lead for Behaviour whereby he has operational and strategic oversight of behaviour, attitudes and attendance as well as being the Designated Safeguarding Lead. 

Harry is a Trauma and Mental Health Practitioner and a Dialectical Behavioural Therapist and is passionate about supporting young people to overcome trauma and adversity to become the best possible versions of themselves. 

Before moving into a career in education Harry was an aspiring rugby player who was selected to represent England Rugby U19's. 

In his spare time Harry enjoys following local sport including 'The Fisherman' Brixham RFC and Brixham AFC. 

Huw Morgan

Acting Head of School - North Cornwall

Huw has been in education for over 20 years having completed both a BA (Hons) degree in Sport and Human Movement Studies and PGCE at Cardiff Met University.  He then taught PE in a number of Schools in and around Plymouth taking up positions such as Head of Department, Head of Year, Associate Senior leader before becoming Assistant Vice Principal. Having always been passionate about working with the most challenging students, Huw joined North Cornwall Academy as Vice Principal and is now Acting Head of School. Huw enjoys spending any spare time with his family and having played football extensively throughout Cornwall, now spends most of his weekends transporting his children around to one of their many sporting events.

Sean Wiltshire

Head of School - Penwith

Sean has been working in Education since he was 16 years old. He started out as a youth worker Watersports Instructor for Gloucester County Council before going to Exeter University to study Exercise and Sport Science where he achieved a BSc with honours.

Following university, he worked several jobs including for Archers Brewery as an Assistant Brewer he then moved back into Education as an Education Support Assistant in a Special School for students with a statement of special educational needs for behaviour and emotional difficulties.

Sean then trained to become a teacher of Physical Education before moving to Bexleyheath Academy a 2000 pupil academy in London. Sean progressed at Bexleyheath from being an NQT to become the head of Physical Education where he managed a department of 10 staff before becoming Assistant Vice Principal for Behaviour and Safety. He also spent an extended time as Acting Vice-Principal working under 4 Headteachers. Leaving London to join Wave in Devon and then moving to Cornwall..  

Sean has played rugby since the age of 7 in his time he has played for the University of Exeter winning the BUSA Championship at Twickenham before going on to play for Blackheath in National League Division 2 and one occasion represented Wasps A team as a guest player.

Sean has stayed involved in Watersports and has completed the Fastnet once as well as several Cowes weeks and other Royal Ocean racing Club events. He still spends as much time on the water as he can either paddleboarding, kayaking or sailing. He has also held qualifications in Water Sports including being a Senior Dinghy Instructor, Powerboat Instructor and VHF Radio Instructor.

Lucy Holloway

Director of Education and Executive Principal

After graduating from the University of Durham, Lucy completed her PGSE at the University of Exeter and had been teaching ever since. Most leadership jobs in schools, Lucy has experienced, as either a Pastoral, Department, Phase, Trust and Senior Leader, and also as a Governor and SLE;  a career spanning 27 years in a wide range of educational establishments. 

Joining WAVE originally at CHES APA as a teacher, following a career break to raise 3 small children whilst completing a Masters at the University of Bath in Education, Lucy joins the new Trust School Development Team as Curriculum strategic Lead. 

A well planned and taught rich, varied and yet uncluttered curriculum; one that is 'Alternative' yet still 'Provides' -is what Lucy provides strategic support for.  Reengaging pupils with reading is one of our biggest drivers; bringing in support for the effective teaching and leadership of reading in schools has been key to this. Lucy works with external organisations, as well as internally through our Subject Networks, to grow and build capacity in all curriculum areas, including charities such as the Youth Sports Trust, neighbouring Trusts, Teaching Hubs and EEF Associate Research School and County subject networks.

Mike Keveth

Progress Lead

After graduating from the University of Exeter with a degree in Pure and Applied Mathematics, Mike then completed his PGCE before working as a mathematics teacher in two Hampshire schools in the 1990s. Mike moved back to his home county of Cornwall to join Looe Community School initially as Head of Mathematics, before becoming an Assistant Headteacher in 2001 and then the Deputy Headteacher from 2008.  Whilst at Looe, Mike was also briefly seconded to the Local Authority as a Secondary Mathematics Advisor.  In 2014, frustrated by the political direction of education, Mike and his wife decided to leave education for a new challenge and started their own hospitality business.  After four successful years, they sold their business and Mike resumed his teaching career with Wave.  Mike believes passionately that education should not be a ‘one size fits all’ and likes to be ‘creative’ when solving problems.  When the Torlands Academy was formed in 2019, Mike became the lead teacher for both mathematics and online learning, was promoted to Assistant Headteacher and now works across the Trust.  Outside of school, Mike enjoys family life, exploring the South West with his two dogs, almost any sport, and is an avid Plymouth Argyle supporter. 

Gemma Phillips

Head of School - Restormel

Gemma graduated in 2011 from the University of Plymouth with a BSc (hons) in Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies. She then went on to work with offenders and their families, as well as creating educational opportunities within in a Prison setting. Following this Gemma worked with children and young people in a secondary school in Kent, launching an alternative provision setting. Gemma is currently studying a Masters in Advanced Child Protection with the University of Kent. She is passionate about safeguarding and supporting children and their families to ensure that everyone has different opportunities to be successful. Outside of work Gemma enjoys spending time with her family and friends.  

Kerrie Lenehan

Trust Lead for Primary and SEN

After graduating from Reading University with a degree in Primary Teaching and Music, Kerrie started off her career teaching in primary schools in Berkshire. She then relocated back home to North Devon in 2006 where she became deputy headteacher and acting headteacher in a large primary school as well as being fortunate to become one of the first Thrive Licensed Practitioners in the area. Kerrie took a career break to raise her two young children. Upon returning to teaching, Kerrie completed her SENCO qualification and, after 20 years in mainstream education, moved to Alternative Provision. 

Kerrie is now Trust Lead for Primary and SEN and has been instrumental in ensuring there is a rich and varied curriculum in place with reading at its heart. She is passionate about ensuring pupils feel a sense of safety and belonging through relational and restorative approaches, and where pupils are curious, empathetic and have high aspirations for their future.

Kerrie enjoys spending quality time with her family, usually over a home cooked meal or cheering on the side of the rugby pitch. She also loves travelling, reading, the gym and windy beach walks.