Jamie Richards

I'm an active person with a strong interest in sport and fitness, especially football and American football, which keep me motivated and engaged. I also enjoy travelling and experiencing new places. I spent time working in New York which gave me a valuable perspective. Outside of work and hobbies, I have two young children, and I focus a lot of my time on supporting them as they grow and being present in their day-to-day lives. I have built my career around working with children in a wide range of settings, from summer camps to alternative provision and mainstream education. Much of my work has focused on supporting pupils who find education challenging, and in mainstream I took a leading role in shaping the personal, social and mental health curriculum to better meet their needs. Before spending ten years in a mainstream primary school, I worked in an alternative provision for 7-16-year-olds, gaining extensive experience in behaviour support, tailored learning and helping young people re-engage with education.

I chose to work at Conquer because I believe every young person deserves the opportunity to thrive in an environment that truly suits their needs. Throughout my career in education, I've learnt a great deal about myself both professionally and personally, and the strongest theme has always been my commitment to supporting young people who find accessing education challenging. My patient, calm and understanding nature lends itself well to this work, allowing me to build trust and create the conditions children need to succeed. I'm a firm believer in equitable learning, and being part of Conquer gives me the opportunity to make a meaningful impact socially and educationally on the young people who, in my view, benefit from this support the most.