Email: mandy.byrne@stmarys.ac.uk
Tel: 020 8240 4178
Biography
Mandy joined St Mary’s in 2015 as a lecturer in Primary Professional Studies with a focus on the work-based routes into teaching. She now leads the Primary Education Foundation degree course. Mandy also teaches on the professional studies module in the second year of the undergraduate degree sharing her expertise in teaching and learning for the diverse needs in primary schools. She works closely with the Autism Education Trust and ADHD Embrace to develop provision for our trainees.
Mandy taught in primary schools in central London for 28 years prior to joining St Mary’s. A wide range of roles including leading assessment, literacy, English as an additional language and humanities led to a role in senior leadership. She led SEND provision as SENCo for 18 years in school, working collaboratively with the local authority SEND lead through the SEND consultation and reforms of 2014. Mandy held a senior role training other SENCos across the then tri-borough, supported a second school in Westminster as SENCo and trained as a person-centred practitioner. She held the position of staff governor contributing to the strategic planning of the school from the governor point of view. Mandy went on to hold the deputy headteacher role prior to moving to St Mary’s.
Mandy has been passionate about meeting the needs of the most vulnerable pupils in schools and developed strong professional relationships and communication with parents, carers and families. She enjoyed the co-production through working with outside agencies, leading on education and care for Looked After Children (LAC) in the school and establishing learning links with the local SEND social school. Mandy prioritised the training of teaching assistants and strategic work with expert colleagues.
Mandy continues to develop the SEND provision for trainees at St Mary’s and is working in partnership with a strategy focus alumni group of ECTs and beyond, Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust and Queen Elizabeth 11 Special School to develop the tools for placements in SEND settings.