Meet the Team

Prior to joining Laurus Ryecroft, Mr Carling worked at a secondary school in South Manchester. He has over ten years’ experience in senior leadership roles. Originally from Newcastle, Mr Carling studied History at Sunderland University and went on to achieve a Master’s degree in Education at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Mr Carling is extremely proud to work at Laurus Ryecroft and has been with the school since it first opened. He is passionate about supporting students to achieve their potential and open the door to the future of their choice. He has also completed a National Professional Qualification in Headship, and relishes the opportunity to continue building the strong community at Laurus Ryecroft.

He has worked in a range of school contexts and experienced a variety of roles throughout his career which have focused on achievement, behaviour, pastoral care, and effective teaching and learning. He is committed to creating the best possible opportunities for his students to succeed and firmly believes in the importance of a rigorous and consistent approach to school discipline.

Mr Davidson is passionate about enabling students to develop a love of learning that will support them as they take their next steps in life.

Ms Clifton has been teaching Science at schools in the North West for over 15 years. She joined Laurus Ryecroft when it opened and is proud to have been part of the school’s journey so far. Ms Clifton loves learning and enjoys enabling students at Laurus Ryecroft to discover their own passion for learning.

At the heart of the English curriculum are stories from across history and from around the world, and Ms Iwantschak relishes exploring these with students. She is passionate that students at Laurus Ryecroft are supported in honing their reading, writing and oracy skills both within English and across the curriculum to ensure they can express themselves with confidence and eloquence.

He has worked in several schools and has held a number of roles across the Laurus Trust, including Head of House and Assistant Head of School.

Mr Lancaster believes the role of PE and physical activity is imperative in young peoples’ lives for both their physical and mental health; he strives to equip students with the knowledge and skills they require to become lifelong learners in the subject.

He is passionate about ensuring students thrive at school, leaving with many options available to them, and is very much looking forward to working with new students at Laurus Ryecroft.

He has previously been the Head of Maths at two schools in Manchester, during which time he was also appointed as a Specialist Leader in Education.

Mr Herring is passionate about the use of maths in context and realistic maths to support understanding and mathematical reasoning. He believes that all students should get the opportunity to understand the maths they do through accessible and engaging problems.

She worked at Cheadle Hulme High School as a Mathematics teacher before moving overseas. Whilst working overseas, Ms Evans completed a Master’s degree in education and gained experience within a number of pastoral roles.

Ms Evans joined Laurus Ryecroft in September 2019 and is extremely proud to be able to work with such hardworking and resilient students. She believes all students deserve the right to be part of a supportive school environment where they are encouraged to reach their potential in all areas.

After a brief period working in sales, Mr Booth began his career in education, taking on roles such as Teacher of Geography, Head of Geography, Head of House, and Head of CEIAG.

As one of the members of staff who has been at Laurus Ryecroft since the very beginning, he is now an Assistant Head of School with a responsibility for Personal Development which includes our Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG), academic enhancement and aspiration, and electives programmes.

She joined Laurus Ryecroft in 2020 and is currently completing her Masters in Education through Manchester Metropolitan University.

Ms Gill is passionate about the power of language and the written word. She believes that developing knowledge and skills in these areas allows students not only to express their ideas articulately, but also to open the door to the future of their choice.

Before joining Laurus Ryecroft in 2021, Mrs Tighe taught Science for 8 years in schools both in the North West and Leicestershire.

She strongly believes that all students should have the opportunity to learn about science, so that they can understand the world around them. She enjoys seeing students’ questioning and curiosity deepen when they realise that there is so much we still do not know, and so much to still discover in the world of science!

Following this, she joined the Laurus Trust in 2015 and moved to Laurus Ryecroft as Head of Maths in 2022.

Miss Clifford believes that maths and the problem solving within maths lessons is useful for all students in order to support them with the future of their choice.

She believes it is important that students with SEND receive equal opportunities to allow them to develop academically, socially and emotionally by providing an inclusive environment that develops confidence and resilience.

Her role as the SEND Lead is to support staff to recognise and cater for the individual needs of students, enabling them to fully access the curriculum through differentiation and support in and out of the classroom.

Miss Alexander is also a qualified dance teacher and has many years of experience working with young people of all ages.

Mrs Rooney is passionate about supporting students and removing any barriers to learning to help them achieve their full potential. She recognises each student is unique and therefore the support that they require is personalised to their needs.

As part of the SEND Lead role, Mrs Rooney supports the transition of pupils from primary to secondary school and throughout their journey in Year 7 and Year 8. As part of the transition process, she will go to primary schools to meet with teachers/SENDCO to collate information about pupils to help aid a smooth transition to high school. Mrs Rooney is key point of contact for parents and carers in Year 7 and Year 8.

Miss Merry is committed to ensuring all students are given equitable educational opportunities so they can achieve their full potential.

Her role as KS4 SEND Lead is to assist staff at Laurus Ryecroft in recognising and catering for SEND students in Years 9, 10 and 11. This enables them to access a full curriculum by identifying individual needs and developing tailored strategies that support each student’s learning style, strengths, and challenges. Miss Merry also supports students with the transition into post-16 studies.