Mark joined the Laurus Trust in 2020, with his substantive role involving the strategic leadership of SEND and Inclusion across the Trust. He has been part of school leadership teams, including as Assistant Head of School at Didsbury High School and more recently at Hazel Grove High School.

Prior to joining the Laurus Trust, he has held a variety of roles across different sectors of the education system. Most recently he was a Senior Lecturer in Education, supporting and training the next generation of teachers, with expertise in SEND and Inclusion and Professional Practice. He also taught on the MA Education and had various leadership roles in the higher education sector. Mark has a particular expertise in Social, Emotional and Mental Health, having previously been a specialist teacher supporting inclusion in Stockport across Primary and Secondary schools as well as being a SENCO in multiple schools.

Mark grew up in Stockport and spent much of his career working in the local authority, so he understands the context well. He attended the University of St Andrews to read Geology and Geography and went on to the University of Edinburgh to achieve his PGCE, leaving Scotland to return to the local area. Mark is completely committed to professional learning, having completed a masters in SEN and Inclusion and a doctorate in education over the last decade. Much of his free time is dedicated to his family, with three teenage children, often spending time in the ‘great outdoors’. 

Laurus Grace is an Alternative Provision 11-16 Free School offering specialist provision for students who require additional support with their social, emotional skills and their mental health. These have been a barrier to learning and attendance within their previous settings. Our students thrive within a small, nurturing environment and aspire to achieve through undertaking GCSEs to prepare them for further education or employment.

We will move from our current temporary accommodation in early 2026 and will slowly increase our numbers to our full provision of 80 students.

We will build upon the outstanding provision within our mainstream Trust secondary schools, to develop a high quality and ambitious curriculum offer to our students that aligns with our Trust Vision.

We believe that students who have experienced setbacks within mainstream education deserve the same educational offer as their peers. This will be realised within a specialist provision through two curriculum strands:

Academic Curriculum

Our outstanding teachers and support staff will offer an ambitious core and optional academic curriculum where they will typically study 6 GCSE qualifications or equivalent.

Restorative Curriculum

Our specialist and pastoral staff will offer a curriculum to develop social and emotional aspects of learning and promote positive mental health.