The Link School specialises in meeting the needs of students who have Speech, Language and Communication difficulties and provides placements for students from a wide range of local authorities.
This section provides key information including how the school spends the funding it receives, its policies and procedures, how students perform in exams and assessment, inspection information and the schools self-evaluation.
We provide a quality education that puts every child at the centre of their learning so that they are able to celebrate their strengths and overcome their barriers.
Our small special school values all our learners equally, recognising their individual strengths, barriers and aspirations. It provides a calm and nurturing environment in which to flourish.
Students at The Link School often choose to stay on after their Year 11 studies and join our Sixth Form in order to prepare for their adult lives. We also welcome students from other schools who meet our admission criteria.
I have taught in special schools since 1988 having experience in both the maintained and non- maintained sector. I have been a school leader since 2004 and am committed to training and developing staff to meet the needs of children and young people with special educational needs in order to maximise their potential. I have a particular interest in strategies that enable families to successfully understand and manage autism and other communication barriers as well as strategies to promote positive mental health. I am a keen practitioner researcher and seek to use and discover the most effective approaches for children that will make a long term difference to their life opportunities. I have worked in a voluntary capacity for various different organisations over the years, most recently for the Livability / Prospects charity where I support young people and adults with learning disabilities and communication needs to integrate successfully into their local communities.
Abimbola Taiwo relocated to the United Kingdom as a legal immigrant from Nigeria for further qualitative education and global work experience. I had my first degree in Philosophy and went on to earn postgraduate qualifications in Business Administration and Project Management.
I currently oversee the Project Management/Business Development function for Spring Community Hub where I review and develop the systems for the organization’s food banks and other project initiatives for the vital community support that we provide.
Inspired to collaborate on dynamic stakeholder engagement, I continue to mould myself as a development strategist and project management consultant to work with governments and other institutions to be able to capture the requirements and changing priorities of diverse groups and match same with critical interventions that produce maximum positive impact through the relevant model, policy, and program initiatives.
I also recently trained as a freelance journalist to create positive digital media content to help shape and inform diaspora issues and interests.
Sarah is an experienced human resources professional with current and previous roles in business management, project management, generalist HR and consulting. She holds a Masters in HRM and is CIPD qualified. Sarah enjoys working effectively with senior leadership teams to deliver and support the development of their organisations in achieving their objectives, using strong communication and relationship building skills.
Sarah is also passionate about personal and career development, not just for her self but it committed to helping those in her community and spheres of influence. She believes a good education provided should be holistic, supporting children wholly. Allowing them to become the best versions of themselves in a safe environment. The ethos and values at Link schools seeks to do just that and Sarah wants to help support them, as best as she can, in achieving their goals.
After a career in research, I trained as a teacher and spent 25 fulfilling and happy years as a teacher of Chemistry and Head of Department in a Croydon school. Since retiring four years ago I have continued my interest in education by becoming a volunteer at Holly Lodge Educational Centre in Richmond Park. This is a unique small charity in the heart of Richmond Park, offering educational programmes that explore science, nature and history, specialising in activities for young people with special needs. I enjoy leading activities in the Victorian classroom and exploring the nature trail and park with the young children. Every group is different and presents me with new challenges.
As a governor I would be continuing my commitment to helping young people with special needs and utilising my experience of school management to enable the school to progress and develop, as it faces new challenges.
I am the Chief Operation Officer for Mercer UK. I’ve spent all of my career, over the last 30 years plus, consulting and working in the financial services industry with corporate clients. I live locally and wanted to get involved with a local school now that my own children have grown up. I have a daughter of 25 and a step daughter who benefited from special education as she has a learning disability. I am delighted to have been appointed as a governor at The Link since March 2018 and to take on the new portfolio lead focusing on School Life. In my spare time I enjoy running and singing in a rock choir.
