Senior Staff & Governance

Senior Leadership & Governance

Our team of SEN qualified teachers at LVS Hassocks have an excellent understanding of the nature of autism and its impact on effective learning.

Senior Leadership Team

The school is under the leadership of Principal, Rachel Borland and supported by Alice Brennan, Assistant Head, Stefan Amati, Director of Studies & Outcomes and Sarah Sherwood, Director of SEN.

Rachel Borland – Principal

Rachel began her career as a secondary teacher in Hong Kong, having grown up and been schooled there. She quickly rose the leadership scale after working for the British Council in HK and Jordan. Rachel went on to manage a language school, a secretarial college and founded her own training company, alongside writing English textbooks for the Asian market.

After completing a MA in language and communication research Rachel worked at Bath University for a while, before securing her first headship in the independent sector in Leicestershire. Her next appointment was as Principal of a large boarding school in Nigeria, before joining the Alpha Plus group as Principal in Birmingham and then London.

In London Rachel was instrumental in the design and build of a new Boarding college situated over Westminster Bridge. She then worked at a bilingual school in Shanghai, which included the opening of a primary school and SEN unit, the first of its kind in Shanghai.

Rachel is the Vice Chair of Governors of a large secondary school in Brighton as well as a governor of an infant school in Worthing. She has two adult children who both work in the education industry and lives on the south coast where she can be seen cycling on a good day.

Her special professional interests are raising educational standards and staff welfare.

Sarah Sherwood - Director of Special Educational Needs

 Sarah works at both LVS Oxford and LVS Hassocks, where, with the Leadership Teams, she ensures that the schools are meeting the many and diverse needs of our pupils.

Our vision of academic achievement, employability and independent living necessitates a thorough assessment for new pupils, ensuring that the transition into LVS Hassocks is as stress free for the individual as possible, and the necessary support is available from day one.

We congratulate Sarah on achieving her Doctorate in Education at the start of 2022, and give thanks to Sarah for her dedication to her role in our schools.

LVS Hassocks is proud to be an employer that supports staff in their personal and career development.

Alice Brennan - Assistant Headteacher

Alice joined LVS Hassocks in September 2022 having spent the last decade working in large mainstream secondary schools teaching English.

Stefan Amati - Director of Studies and Outcomes

Stefan has taught in primary schools for 12 years, including schools in East London and on the South Coast. He lives in Brighton with his young family and when not at work, spends much of his time on his first love of football; he is chairman and coach for the youth section of local team Montpelier Villa FC.

In his previous role, he was an Assistant Head, where he focused on improving how Maths is taught using a mastery approach.

He recently completed his National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) and is now eager to use his skills to help children with special educational needs make the most of their time at LVS Hassocks.

Governing Body

Responsibility for the provision of education at the Schools owned by the Licensed Trade Charity is vested in the Trustee Body who will direct the Licensed Trade Charity Chief Executive in the formulation of education policy.

The Licensed Trade Charity Chief Executive’s delegated task is to manage the policy efficiently, to maintain oversight of the Schools and to provide a variety of support services. The Licensed Trade Charity Chief Executive will carry out his/her management responsibilities in partnership with the Executive Director of Education and the Governing Body.

The Chairman of the LVS Hassocks Governing Body is Mr Mike Clist.

If you would like to contact any of the trustees or governing body, please email Clare Clark, Clerk to the Trustees: Clare.Clark@ltcharity.org.uk