Our team

Alexis Johnson

Alexis joined the Trust in 2019 and has been involved in SEND education for the majority of his career. He started his career as a Lecturer at Hartlepool College teaching A Level, Access to HE and GCSE but found his vocation teaching the Learning Support classes which inspired him to work in the field of SEND.  For the last 15 years he has held a variety of senior leadership positions in charities that support children, young people and adults with additional needs with a focus on education, training and care.

He is currently a partner governor at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospital and an Associate Trustee at an educational charity that supports people with Autism. He is also the Responsible Individual for Dickson House children’s home which is part of the Trust. His mum was brought up in a children’s home and then fostered so he appreciates the value of high-quality care during childhood. 

He does enjoy spending time with family especially by the seaside or abroad with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys travel, music, reading and football and is a keen supporter of Middlesbrough FC who he has been following for over 40 years. He has the wrinkles to prove it! He does love learning whether it’s an idea, a theory or a skill which is one of his core values along with humility, positivity, leadership, humour, gratitude, equality and perseverance.

Natalie Firth

Natalie has worked for the Trust since 2006, first as the Deputy Manager of the Nursery, progressing to the role of Manager in 2011, before becoming Director of Quality and Support Services in 2024.

She has a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Studies and a National Professional Qualification in Executive Leadership (NPQEL). Natalie spends all of her free time with her husband, their three boys and their little French Bulldog, Max.

She spends most weekends being ‘footy mum’ cheering the boys on from the side lines. She loves going on family holidays, taking walks on the beach and going to the cinema.

Phil Carter

Phil joined the organisation in 2010 becoming the first senior HR appointment to the Trust Executive Board. Prior to this he held senior HR positions as Head of HR, Group HR Manager and Divisional HR Manager operating in the Construction and Civil Engineering, Rail Engineering and Manufacturing sectors.

As a Chartered Member of the CIPD and a respected HR generalist with over thirty years of experience as a HR professional his specialist fields are in Employee Relations, Strategic HR Management and Employment Law.

Outside of work he pursues a lifelong passion for music and photography, often combining the two in his work as a freelance live music photographer at concerts and festivals around the UK. 

He regards his move of fifteen years ago into the specialist education sector as being by far the most fulfilling and rewarding time of his career and considers it a privilege to work alongside such a dedicated and committed workforce on a daily basis.

Saleem Rafiq

Saleem joined the organisation in May 2025 and is a member of the Trust Executive Board. He is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and holds a Mathematics Degree from the University of Warwick.

Saleem is passionate about the power of education to change lives and has experience of working across different educational settings including school, college, and university.

In his free time he’s an avid reader, and finds running and walking great ways to unwind and reflect. He also enjoys sports and especially those that involve hitting a ball around a court – whether it’s tennis, squash, or pickleball.

Helen Goddard

Helen has worked for the Trust since 2010, first as a Team Supervisor, then as Deputy Manager within the Nursery. She is a qualified Early Years Teacher and has a BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Studies. She recently achieved the National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership and is currently studying towards achieving a level 7 in Leadership. 

Helen likes to spend her free time with her son, friends and family. She loves to travel and go on holidays abroad and spends most weekends taking her little boy to play football.

Helen’s favourite part of working in the Nursery is watching the children grow and develop and supporting families along the way. She is extremely proud to work in the Nursery and appreciates the impact the staff have on the children in their care.

Kate Warner

Kate has worked at Doncaster Deaf Trust since 2002. She started her journey as a residential care worker at Doncaster School for the Deaf and quickly progressed to a team leader. Over the years, she has worked in College and School, running the residential provisions but in 2011, she became the Registered Manager for the Children’s home onsite.

Kate absolutely loves her job, with every day being different and exciting. From management duties, to working on shift and Ofsted inspections, she covers it all. Her main purpose is to ensure that as a team, they help to create a safe and nurturing environment, whereby children have the opportunity to have a positive childhood experience, with the best possible outcomes.

In her spare time, Kate is a mother of two children. Both have additional needs, which gives her a greater appreciation for her role. She loves to swim and after donating half of her liver to her daughter who needed a liver transplant in 2013, she took part in the British Transplant Games for 3 consecutive years, winning a Gold, Silver and bronze medal in the Live Donor races.

Sarah Barton

Sarah joined us in 2025 and has 24 years of experience in the education sector. 

Her most recent post was Assistant Director and Head of Education, Skills and Work at HMP Doncaster.  In this role, she set and led the strategic direction for all educational initiatives.  Prior to this, Sarah led the Service for Deaf Education at City of Doncaster Council after initially working as a Primary School teacher where her love of teaching deaf children started.

Sarah said: “I am thrilled to take up the post of headteacher at Doncaster School for the Deaf. My career has been dedicated to supporting and empowering d/Deaf children and young people, and I am passionate about creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment.”

Tracey Jamison

Tracey has dedicated 18 years of her career to our college, making a profound impact on the lives of students and staff alike. She joined the college when it was ‘Doncaster College for the Deaf’, initially stepping in to cover a six-week application period. During this time, she fell in love with the college’s mission and quickly immersed herself in supporting deaf students with SEND needs, realising she had found her calling.

Throughout her career, Tracey has held various positions, including Transition Coordinator, Transition Manager, Senior Curriculum Manager, Deputy Principal, and now Acting Principal. Her leadership style is distinctly person-centred, always keeping students at the heart of her decisions. Tracey’s unwavering commitment, energy, passion, and vision have driven her to enhance the student experience and maintain supportive learning environments.

Tracey shares, “I believe in the power of education to transform lives. My goal is to ensure every student feels valued, supported, and empowered to achieve their full potential.”

Outside of work, Tracey enjoys spending time with her family and friends, embracing life to the fullest through activities such as walking, camping, holidaying, and attending live music events. She doesn’t take herself too seriously and loves to laugh. Tracey is also deeply involved in her children’s activities, cheering them on from the sidelines of football matches and through the window at gymnastics.

Tina Rafferty

Tina has worked for the Trust for over 8 years. She is very community minded and invested a lot of time volunteering in her local area providing activities for 4 to 18 year olds and employability/training for adults and was a District Councillor from 2010 to 2015.

She had previously worked in the Welfare to Work Industry for 15 years. Having spent a lot of her career working with individuals who had multiple barriers that deemed them unemployable, she soon realized the positive impact that was created given the right support.

She believes that anyone who wants to work should be given every opportunity that has huge benefits to not only the individual but also the communities in which they live.

Don Conway

Don has been Chair of Trustees since 2024.

He is a highly respected Senior Architectural Technologist with over 36 years of experience, will bring his extensive skills and passion for the Deaf community to the leadership of the Foundation’s board.

He is a member of the Full Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (MICAT) and worked for the City of Doncaster Council for 36 years, a role he continues to deliver on a flexi-retirement basis.

He is excited to leverage his skills and experience to further enhance the services at The Carr Fenton Foundation.

Don is passionate about Deaf education and community, and looks forward to working with the board to support and grow our services. The Foundation aims to improve the quality of SEND education and expand community engagement and outreach.

Charles Warde-Aldam

Sue Dumican

Sue has been a Trustee since early 2020 initially as the Registered Individual for Little Learners Day Nursery, a role she still holds. As a retired teacher and having worked in several SEND settings, Sue became the Safeguarding Trustee with responsibility to oversee the safeguarding reporting system for both School and College, working closely with the Designated Safeguarding Leads as well as other members of staff . Sue is also the Vice Chair on the Board of Trustees . She is deeply passionate about the Foundation’s work and is committed to supporting the organisation in all its endeavours to provide a safe and meaningful future for our children and young people.

In her spare time, Sue is an avid cricket fan, an enthusiastic home cook and has a lifelong passion for music. Her greatest joy is spending time with her four grandchildren even though they are all taller than her now!

Mark Warde-Norbury

In addition to being a Trustee of the Carr Fenton Foundation, he sits on the Charity’s Finance & Audit Committee. Over the years, Mark has established and advised businesses and charities in a number of sectors, and brings finance and broad business experience to his involvement and voluntary work in the charitable sector.

Mark is a director of a number of UK businesses, including one that is listed on the London Stock Exchange, and a trustee of five charities, including The Carr Fenton Foundation.

Tom Bell

Tom Bell is a passionate advocate for the Deaf community and an experienced executive leader dedicated to creating a more accessible and inclusive society. As Chief Operating Officer of SignWow, a Deaf-owned and Deaf-led technology company, he leads global operations, business growth and innovation, helping organisations transform the way they communicate with Deaf people through British Sign Language, AI and accessible technology.

Profoundly Deaf himself and the proud father of three Deaf boys, Tom brings both professional expertise and lived experience to everything he does. He is especially proud to serve as a Trustee of The Carr Fenton Foundation, a role that holds deep personal significance as his wife’s grandmother attended Doncaster School for the Deaf, strengthening his family’s connection to the Foundation’s history and mission.

As Board Lead for BSL Strategy, Tom is committed to championing British Sign Language, Deaf culture and equal opportunities for Deaf children, young people and adults. His leadership is driven by a belief that every Deaf person should have the opportunity to thrive through education, employment and full participation in society.

Tom is also Vice Chair of York & District Deaf Society and a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership (FIoL), continuing to support and inspire positive change across the Deaf community.

Michael Wilkinson

Michael Wilkinson is an experienced education technology leader and non-executive director with over 20 years of experience founding, scaling, and leading EdTech businesses across the UK and internationally.

As UK Managing Director of ClickView, Michael leads the UK growth of an award-winning curriculum video platform trusted by over 10,000 schools.

Alongside his leadership roles, Michael has direct experience as a founder and entrepreneur. In 2006, he founded i-education, best known for its pioneering games-based learning platform ‘I am Learning’, which delivered games based learning and assessment to over 12,000 schools worldwide. Following the acquisition of i-education by Frog Education in 2012, Michael served as Deputy Managing Director, helping to grow the multi-award-winning platform to over 12 million users across 24 countries — expanding into new European and Australian markets and the corporate LMS sector.

Beyond his executive career, Michael has a strong record of civic and community leadership. He has served as a non-executive director of Doncaster Chamber of Commerce since 2014, including as President from 2018 to 2020, and as Chair of the British Chambers of Commerce Northern Regional Assembly from 2019 to 2021.

Michael is a Member Governor of XP Multi Academy Trust. As a trustee and Link Governor for Digital at the Carr Fenton Foundation (formerly Doncaster Deaf Trust), he brings his technology expertise to bear in the charity sector. He is also a trustee of Doncaster Youth Jazz Association (DYJA), championing the role of music and the arts in young people’s lives.

Neil Thomas

Neil joined as a Trustee in 2024. He is a former police Superintendent finishing his career managing operational policing in Doncaster. He was also a member of the Adults and Children’s Safeguarding Boards and the Community Safety Partnership.

Neil is currently the Chair of the Youth Justice Service Management Board in Doncaster as well as an Associate Hospital Manager in two mental health facilities in the Region.

Neil brings expertise in safeguarding, influencing at strategic partnership level, risk management and performance delivery.

Neil said ‘ I am delighted to join the Trust and look forward to assisting in its development in the forthcoming years’

Neil’s interests include sport, travel and his dog.

Kate Goodman

Kate has been a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (MCIPD) for over 30 years. She has worked in a variety of private companies, then moved to a government agency for schools and for the last 25 years has been working in local government and in schools in a range of HR roles specialising in employee relations, recruitment and policy development. During the pandemic Kate spent time managing and supporting testing services.

Kate has a “long” family connection with the Foundation as her mother started her teaching career at the Doncaster School for Deaf Children, her sister has worked at the school for over 30 years and her son was one of the first babies to attend the nursery when it reopened as Little Learners.

Kate has been a Trustee since 2023 and is hoping to use her range of skills to support the Trust.

Helen Goddard

Helen has worked for the Trust since 2010, first as a Team Supervisor, then as Deputy Manager within the Nursery. She is a qualified Early Years Teacher and has a BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Studies. She recently achieved the National Professional Qualification in Early Years Leadership and is currently studying towards achieving a level 7 in Leadership. 

Helen likes to spend her free time with her son, friends and family. She loves to travel and go on holidays abroad and spends most weekends taking her little boy to play football.

Helen’s favourite part of working in the Nursery is watching the children grow and develop and supporting families along the way. She is extremely proud to work in the Nursery and appreciates the impact the staff have on the children in their care.

Emily Plant

Natalie Allison

Sharon Hawksworth

Kim Simons

Sarah Barton

Sarah joined us in 2025 and has 24 years of experience in the education sector. 

Her most recent post was Assistant Director and Head of Education, Skills and Work at HMP Doncaster.  In this role, she set and led the strategic direction for all educational initiatives.  Prior to this, Sarah led the Service for Deaf Education at City of Doncaster Council after initially working as a Primary School teacher where her love of teaching deaf children started.

Sarah said: “I am thrilled to take up the post of headteacher at Doncaster School for the Deaf. My career has been dedicated to supporting and empowering d/Deaf children and young people, and I am passionate about creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment.”

Lana Cook

Melissa Kasparek

Steph Fogg

Kate Warner

Kate has worked at Doncaster Deaf Trust since 2002. She started her journey as a residential care worker at Doncaster School for the Deaf and quickly progressed to a team leader. Over the years, she has worked in College and School, running the residential provisions but in 2011, she became the Registered Manager for the Children’s home onsite.

Kate absolutely loves her job, with every day being different and exciting. From management duties, to working on shift and Ofsted inspections, she covers it all. Her main purpose is to ensure that as a team, they help to create a safe and nurturing environment, whereby children have the opportunity to have a positive childhood experience, with the best possible outcomes.

In her spare time, Kate is a mother of two children. Both have additional needs, which gives her a greater appreciation for her role. She loves to swim and after donating half of her liver to her daughter who needed a liver transplant in 2013, she took part in the British Transplant Games for 3 consecutive years, winning a Gold, Silver and bronze medal in the Live Donor races.

Paul Nelson

Donna Dodds

Donna Elliott

Julie Greenwood

Rebecca Lyle

Teresa Jones

Melanie Allen

Tracey

About me

I’m the Principal of Yorkshire Rose College and part of the senior leadership team within The Carr Fenton Foundation. I work closely with staff, students, governors and partners to make sure our college continues to be a safe, inclusive and ambitious place for young people and adults with SEND.

What I do

In simple terms, my role is to lead the college’s vision, quality and day-to-day direction. This includes safeguarding, curriculum development, staff wellbeing, quality assurance and working with external partners to make sure we’re providing the very best opportunities for our students.

No two days are ever the same — my time is usually split between working with staff teams, listening to student voice, meeting with parents/carers and stakeholders, and planning for the future.

How I support students

Students are at the heart of every decision I make. I believe strongly in listening to student voice and making sure our learners feel heard, valued and empowered. My approach is always person-centred, strengths-based and rooted in inclusion.

Something students can always come to me about is anything that doesn’t feel right for them — whether that’s learning, wellbeing or making our college even better.

What I enjoy most

The part of my role I enjoy most is seeing students grow in confidence, independence and self-belief. I’m especially proud when I see teams working together creatively to remove barriers and find solutions that really work for individual students.

My values

Inclusion, kindness and high expectations are really important to me. I believe that every student deserves to be seen for who they are and supported to achieve more than they thought possible.

A little more about me

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family, getting outdoors when I can, and celebrating the successes of the people around me — especially our amazing staff and students. I’m also a proud Manchester United supporter, so there’s usually some football chat not far away!

Lisa Tansley

Joanne Ellis

About me

I have worked for the Foundation for over thirty years, following in the footsteps of several family members who have also dedicated their time here. My connection to the Foundation is deeply personal – my grandparents were profoundly deaf, and my grandfather attended the school as a residential pupil.

Because of this, I am passionate about ensuring that every child has access to an education without barriers, where they feel supported, valued and able to thrive.

What I do

I began my career working in residential departments within the foundation, supporting children as young as five, and later working with young people aged sixteen. Over time, I progressed into a Residential Manager role, developing my leadership skills and commitment to high-quality care.

I later moved into the college, where I led the pastoral department, which at the time was very small, consisting of just myself and one other member of staff. From there, I developed my knowledge and expertise in safeguarding, which is now the focus of my current role. The pastoral team has since grown significantly into the large, skilled team it is today, supporting young people to navigate the complexities of the modern world.

Safeguarding covers a wide range of responsibilities across the college day, and alongside my additional responsibility for health and safety, no two days are ever the same.

Everything I do is centred around keeping children and young people safe, happy and supported in all aspects of their lives.

How I support students

Students are at the heart of everything I do. My role is focused on making sure they feel safe, protected and able to enjoy their learning experience.

I am committed to creating an environment where young people feel listened to, respected and secure. I work closely with staff and students to ensure that any concerns are addressed quickly and that the right support is always in place.

Students can come to me about anything that affects their safety, wellbeing or happiness – ensuring they always have a trusted adult to turn to.

What I enjoy most

The part of my role I enjoy most is knowing that I am making a difference to the lives of children and young people. Seeing them happy, safe and able to succeed is incredibly rewarding.

My values

I strongly believe in safety, inclusion and care. Every child deserves to feel secure, understood and supported to achieve their potential without barriers.

A little more about me

Outside of work, I am passionate about cooking and food, and I enjoy spending time doing both. I also have three cats who are treated like royalty and very much part of the family!

Michael Ibbotson

About me

I’m the Admissions and Student Experience Director at Yorkshire Rose College, working within the Senior Management Team. I work closely with staff, students, governors and a number of external stakeholders such as our local authorities. I am a qualified SENCO, CMI Manager and previously enjoyed teaching sessions such as Sport, Cooking Skills and Supported Internships. I am also a proud Governor across three specialist schools.

What I do

I lead on admissions and transitions across the College, working closely with a range different schools and settings as well as local authorities to ensure a smooth and supportive journey for every student. I also have oversight of our wonderful Careers, Work Experience, and Transition teams, alongside student support and EHCP coordination, with a strong focus on delivering an outstanding student experience. I am committed to ensuring that student voice shapes and drives everything the College does.

What I enjoy most

The part of my role I enjoy most is seeing students develop along their own individual journey in our College and seeing them succeed and progress to their next steps. I also enjoy the variety of my role from one day talking at an event about our offer to families and professionals to the next day working across different teams to ensure student provision is aligned with their needs and outcomes.

My values

Students are at the heart of every decision I make. I believe strongly in listening to student voice and making sure our students feel heard, valued and empowered. My approach is always person-centred, strengths-based and rooted in inclusion. I believe every individual deserves equal opportunities in accessing education and the right support to reach their own positive destination into adulthood.

A little more about me

When I’m not at work I enjoy time with my family and friends. I am a great lover of all varieties of music and I aim to be outside as much as possible, whatever the weather! I am passionate about exercise and nutrition, with a desire to always learn more about the benefits of this for our own wellbeing.

Felicity Nicholson

About me

I’m the Curriculum and Quality Director at Yorkshire Rose College, where I’m part of a passionate leadership team committed to making a real difference to the lives of our students. My role is a big part of who I am. I genuinely love what I do and feel very proud to be part of such a forward-thinking, inclusive college community.

What I do

My role focuses on shaping and maintaining a high-quality, ambitious curriculum that meets the needs of every student. I work closely with colleagues across the college to develop learning opportunities that are meaningful, engaging and continually improving.

A typical day might involve working alongside staff teams, reviewing quality, supporting new ideas within the curriculum and making sure we are offering the best possible experiences to our students.

How I support students

One of the most rewarding parts of my role is seeing the journey our students go on during their time with us. Over time, I often see them become more self-assured and comfortable in who they are, which is incredibly special to witness.

I am passionate about creating opportunities for students to experience things they may not otherwise have accessed, helping to broaden their horizons and build important life skills. It is always meaningful to hear from parents and carers about the difference they have seen in their young person, especially in terms of confidence, independence and overall development.

What I enjoy most

What I value most is working with such a dedicated and like-minded staff team. There is a shared sense of purpose across the college and a genuine commitment to doing the very best for our students. It is inspiring to be part of a team where people care so deeply and are always striving to move forward and improve.

My values

Inclusion is central to everything I believe in, which is why I am currently completing a Master’s degree in Inclusion. I am passionate about making sure all students feel that they belong and that they are supported to achieve their full potential.

I also strongly believe in kindness, collaboration and having high expectations for what our students can achieve.

A little more about me

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with friends, listening to music and travelling. I have quite a wide taste in music, but I particularly enjoy indie and alternative bands such as R.E.M., Arctic Monkeys, Pulp and The Shins.

I love visiting new places, trying different foods and learning about other cultures. Japanese food is a favourite of mine, especially sushi and ramen. I also have a serious sweet tooth, so I can never resist a sweet treat!

Julie Hamshaw

About me

I am proud to be the Curriculum and Behaviour Director at Yorkshire Rose College, where I am deeply committed to nurturing both students and staff to achieve their full potential. Working closely with our dedicated team, I support the Curriculum and Behaviour Managers and the Positive Behaviour Manager to create an enriching, inclusive, and empowering learning environment.

What I do

I work closely with both staff and students, supporting the Curriculum Manager and the Positive Behaviour Manager to deliver a high-quality, inclusive, and aspirational learning experience.

I lead on the development of our non-accredited curriculum across the college, shaping two key pathways Independence and Communication & Wellbeing to ensure every student benefits from a truly personalised and meaningful journey. My work is driven by a belief that education should equip young people not only with knowledge, but with the confidence, life skills, and resilience they need to flourish beyond the classroom.

Alongside this, I oversee pastoral care across the college, ensuring students are supported to engage with their daily timetables with confidence and security. Our dedicated Communication, Resilience, Emotional and Wellbeing (CREW) team provides tailored, responsive support throughout the week, empowering students to manage their emotions, build resilience, and develop strong self-regulation skills.

At the heart of all I do is a commitment to nurturing each individual helping them to feel understood, valued, and empowered to succeed. I am passionate about creating opportunities for every student to grow in independence, develop their voice, and achieve their full potential in a supportive and inspiring environment.

How I support students

My main aim is to support students in every possible way through both the curriculum and pastoral care so they can truly thrive and achieve their lifelong goals and aspirations. I am

committed to ensuring that every young person feels confident in who they are, understands their unique strengths, and leaves with a clear sense of purpose and direction for their future.

I believe that success looks different for every student, and I am passionate about creating the right environment and opportunities for each individual to grow, develop, and flourish. Whether through personalised learning pathways or strong pastoral support, I strive to ensure every student feels valued, understood, and empowered.

Seeing students grow into their potential and step forward with confidence and belief in themselves is what inspires and motivates me every day.

What I enjoy most

What inspires me most about my role is seeing students grow—not only in their learning, but in their confidence, independence, and belief in themselves. Those moments when something truly clicks are incredibly powerful. Watching a student begin to recognise their own potential and take pride in their achievements can be truly transformative.

It is these moments of growth, no matter how big or small, that drive my passion and remind me why the work we do is so important.

My values

Valuing inclusion, leading with kindness, and having high aspirations for every student are at the heart of everything I do. I truly believe that every young person deserves to feel seen, understood, and valued for who they are, while being supported to achieve their aspirations.

Central to this is my belief that when we take the time to really know our students recognising their strengths and championing their potential they are capable of achieving incredible things. It is through this strong, compassionate approach that students are empowered to grow in confidence, fulfil their potential, and succeed in meaningful and lasting ways.

A little more about me

Outside of work, I love spending quality time with my family. We enjoy going out for meals together and trips to the theatre something we always look forward to and value as time well spent.

I also have a new puppy who keeps me on my toes and brings lots of joy to everyday life. He’s a great excuse to get out for regular walks and enjoy some fresh air,

Chris Brawn

Penny Brownson

Vicky Shirt

Julie Wright

Tina Rafferty

Tina has worked for the Trust for over 8 years. She is very community minded and invested a lot of time volunteering in her local area providing activities for 4 to 18 year olds and employability/training for adults and was a District Councillor from 2010 to 2015.

She had previously worked in the Welfare to Work Industry for 15 years. Having spent a lot of her career working with individuals who had multiple barriers that deemed them unemployable, she soon realized the positive impact that was created given the right support.

She believes that anyone who wants to work should be given every opportunity that has huge benefits to not only the individual but also the communities in which they live.

Neil Keeton

Jo Holt

Simon Tacey

Lianne Tabone

Julie Orrill

Brian Green