New Head of Centre Announced for Arbour Vale School’s Satellite Provision
Arbour Vale School is delighted to announce the appointment of Sarah Mitchell as Head of Centre for its new satellite provision, recently approved by the Department for Education.
Sarah qualified as a Primary teacher in 2003, specialising in SEND with a particular focus on autism. She has worked exclusively in special schools, developing extensive experience across Early Years, Primary and specialist autism provision.
She began her career in a primary autism setting before becoming Early Years Lead. She later moved to a large all-through special school for pupils aged 2–19, where she held several leadership roles including Primary Lead and Head of Specialist Provision for pupils with autism. In this role, she established a new autism provision and led outreach support for mainstream schools.
Sarah joined Arbour Vale School as part of the senior leadership team, completing her SENDCO qualification and strengthening systems around admissions and annual reviews. As Assistant Principal and SENDCO, she has worked closely with local authorities and mainstream settings to ensure pupils receive the right support at the right time.
She is also a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and the Designated Teacher for Children Looked After. Safeguarding remains central to her leadership approach, particularly in supporting vulnerable pupils and their families.
Sarah said:
“I am incredibly proud to take on the role of Head of Centre. Early intervention is vital in giving children the best possible start, and I am excited to lead a provision that will support pupils to thrive and develop in their own unique ways.”
Neil Sykes, Principal of Arbour Vale School, said:
“This new provision strengthens our ability to meet the needs of pupils earlier and more effectively. It is firmly rooted in the ethos and practice of Arbour Vale School. Sarah is a valued and longstanding member of our leadership team, and her experience, integrity and focus on pupil wellbeing make her the right person to lead this next phase of our development.”