Charlotte Van Niekerk
Head of Service
Hello and welcome to The Shires Group. I am the service lead for the two schools (Stretton and Oakham) and a children’s home at Stretton, that make up our group. I am proud to lead the strategic development of all our services, ensuring the highest quality standards of education and care for all our children and young people.
Michelle Jordan
Headteacher and Lead DSL
On behalf of our community, welcome to Oakham Shires School. As the Headteacher of our school, I feel privileged to work alongside a committed team of professionals who craft a personalised holistic curriculum every day to ensure the best outcomes possible for our young people, in preparation for adulthood.
Charlotte Saunders
Deputy Head/SENCo and DSL
Hello and welcome to Oakham Shires School. I am delighted to be the Deputy Head / Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator for the children and young people at our school.
Our children and young people here at Oakham Shires School receive the highest quality of provision and care to enable them to reach their full potential. As school SENCo I oversee their needs and provisions, ensuring that they have everything they require to be able to develop, make progress and achieve their aspirational outcomes.
Paul Mackay
Behaviour and Attitudes Lead and DSL
As the Behaviour & Attitudes Lead at Oakham Shires, I work closely with the Family Liaison Officer and Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), Joe Allen, to support the individual needs of students. Through the AAD (Ask Accept Develop) and TIP (Trauma-Informed Practice) approach, we ensure a positive, inclusive environment that promotes engagement and attendance, helping every student thrive on their journey with us.
Joe Allen
Family Liaison Officer and DSL
As a Designated Safeguarding Lead and Family Liaison Officer at Oakham Shires, I am committed to ensuring the safety, wellbeing, and support of every child in our school. I work closely with families, staff, and external agencies to create a nurturing environment where all students can thrive. Whether addressing safeguarding concerns or providing guidance, my goal is to build trust and offer the help needed for every child and family to feel valued and supported
Mandy Pickersgill
Senior Administrator
I have been working for The Shires Group since 2016, supporting our children and young people in an administrative capacity. As part of my role I support the school leadership team to ensure admissions run smoothly, our pupils have the resources they require to achieve their Outcomes and our Safer Recruitment responsibilities are fully met.
Nicole Roberts
Site Resources Manager
I have been part of The Shires Group since August 2018. In my role, I cover Oakham Shires, Stretton Shires, Care and Education, and Stowe Court. My main responsibility throughout all sites is to make sure Health and Safety is at its very best and the students and residents of our settings are always kept safe following correct policies and procedures.
My favourite part of working for The Shires is seeing the growth in all aspects of our students and residents lives and being able to support this through the areas I look after.