Helen Ridout

Helen Ridout is currently Headteacher of Ysgol Bryn Castell. Helen spent the early part of her career in Cambridgeshire, she returned home to Wales in June 2010 where she joined the team at Ysgol Bryn Castell as Deputy Headteacher and was appointed to the position of Headteacher in May 2014. Helen was a finalist in the Inspirational Teaching Awards 2015 for Special School Headteacher of the Year.

Helen is an active member of a range of networks including the All-Wales Special Schools Group, Local School Cluster within Bridgend, CSC Special School and PRU Group and has held the position of Chair of South Wales Association of Special School Headteachers since February 2019. Helen is also an NPQH Mentor and a member of the Estyn Special School Stakeholder Group.

“As a respected participant within a range of networks, I gather views from leaders at all levels from across the educational community. This enables me to effectively support and challenge the work of the National Academy for Educational Leadership Wales in an innovative and solution-focussed way, to influence thinking at local, regional and national levels.”