Welcome from the head
Ben Coombes
Acting Headteacher
Ben Coombes, an experienced Senior leader in education, joined the Wessex Lodge team in 2022, moving from a MHU and PRU in Somerset. Prior to that Ben ran a successful education consultancy following a three-decade long career in a variety of Schools across the UK. Ben is passionate about sport and has coached at all levels from local clubs to international teams. Ben enjoys working at Wessex Lodge as not only does it give him the farm environment he would happily live in, but also for the tangible difference it makes to the pupils who are lucky enough to attend. In his spare time Ben volunteers for Lowland Rescue, in a bid to escape from an ever-growing list of renovation projects, and relaxes by spending time in the Wiltshire and Dorset countryside with his two dogs.
Nigel Troop
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Nigel has worked with children with early life trauma for over 40 years in a variety of settings. He started his career as a residential worker and then moved into teaching 35 years ago, after completing his PGCE at Goldsmiths. He has worked in a variety of settings including residential SEMH schools, pupil referral units and independent special schools. In addition he managed provision for vulnerable students in a mainstream setting for a number of years. He has worked as a senior teacher, Deputy Head and Head teacher during the course of his career and currently is Assistant Head at WLS with responsibility for leading the Safeguarding team. Despite cutting down on his work commitments in recent times, He remains committed to the ethos of creating a school environment that is inclusive, child centred and safe for all our students.
Ant West
Assistant Headteacher – Primary
Ant is the Assistant Head at Wessex Lodge Primary School. He is also Head of Education covering all 3 of our sites, and has brought fresh ideas, pedagogies and strategies to Wessex Lodge School since his arrival in 2022. He has 7 years Mainstream experience, 4 years working in SEN & SEMH provisions and has taught and lead a number of departments and Key Stages. Ant believes building and maintaining positive relationships between staff, students, parents and carers is at the forefront of any successful cohort. Ant is passionate about creating an individualised curriculum for each of our students and supporting them with the tools they need to become successful in the wider world. You will find Ant across both our sites, and at break time enjoys joining in with enrichment activities such as football, badminton and handball. ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which our students can use to change and shape our world’.
Caroline Stedman
Head of Finance
Having started my career in sales I moved over to an administrative role in a main stream school, this is where my passion for working within the education sector began.
I moved to Wessex Lodge School in 2019 and haven’t looked back.
The amazing team at the school have supported me to learn new skills and allowed me to grow not just in my career, but as a person too.
My role has since evolved from Senior Administrator into the School Business Manager.
This new role keeps me very busy, from HR, Finance, budgets and fleet support, to supporting the lunch and admin teams.
In my role I enjoy being able to support our young people, from the ‘behind the scenes work’ arranging trips etc. to be front of house and greeting them on their arrival.
Bethany Vowles
Assistant Headteacher – Ark
After working in mainstream education for 9 years Bethany moved into the SEMH sector. With a background in teaching English Bethany is passionate about communication and in giving young people the skills the need to understand the world around them. As Head of Education and English Lead at Wessex Lodge School Bethany has worked to create a curriculum that supports students of every stage in making good progress and being able to access future opportunities. The students that we work every day deserve the absolute best from their teachers and as a member of SLT Bethany feels strongly about enabling staff to provide this. Bethany was recently appointed Assistant Head at the Ark and will take up the post when she returns from maternity leave.