About Our Team

Beacon is led by Fiona Field and Steve O’Connell, two experienced teachers who work closely together to create a calm, supportive and responsive environment for young people who may find school difficult.

One of Beacon’s strengths is the way we work as a team. We know our pupils well and notice the small cues that tell us how they are feeling — changes in mood, energy, confidence or willingness to engage. We communicate closely throughout the day so that we can adapt quickly and make sure each young person gets the support they need.

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We understand that, for many families, getting through the door is not simple. Mornings can be stressful, parents can be exhausted from fighting for support, and the world can feel overwhelming for young people with SEN. Because of this, we aim to offer support that is practical, flexible and human.

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Our teaching assistants and supporting staff are carefully selected to reflect this same way of working. We look for adults who are calm, observant, kind and able to work as part of a close team, so that pupils experience consistency, understanding and care throughout Beacon.

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At Beacon, our team is small by design. Pupils are known properly, noticed quickly, and supported by adults who take the time to understand what helps them feel safe, settled and ready to learn.

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Fiona Field 

Fiona is a qualified teacher with over 20 years’ experience supporting children and young people across schools, alternative provision and community settings. She has specialist training and experience in autism, ADHD, trauma awareness, safeguarding and mental health.

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Fiona brings warmth, calmness and careful thought to everything she does at Beacon. She is highly organised and methodical, but always with the purpose of making sure young people feel safe, understood and well supported. From planning provision and communicating with families, to developing policies, routines and learning spaces, Fiona helps create the structure behind Beacon that allows pupils to relax, trust the adults around them and begin to make progress.

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Families, schools and SENCOs value Fiona’s clear communication, honesty and genuine care. She notices the small details that matter, both in the young people and in the wider support around them, and works hard to make sure each pupil is seen as an individual. Her focus is on helping young people rebuild confidence, feel valued, and take manageable steps forward at a pace that feels right for them.

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Steve O’Connell 

Steve is a qualified teacher with more than 30 years’ experience in education, including senior leadership roles in mainstream and specialist settings. He has worked as a Deputy Headteacher, SENDCo, Behaviour Lead and Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Steve brings a calm, steady and reassuring presence to Beacon. His relaxed and approachable style helps young people feel at ease, particularly those who may be anxious, guarded, reluctant to engage, or difficult to reach. He has a natural ability to build trust without pressure, using humour, patience and warmth to help pupils feel accepted and understood.

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Steve is skilled at noticing what a young person needs in the moment and gently guiding them towards learning, routine and positive relationships. Schools, SENCOs and families value his experience, professional judgement and ability to connect with pupils who may previously have struggled to trust adults in education.

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Why We Started Beacon

Beacon began with a simple belief: that education should not stop working for a young person just because they do not fit easily into a traditional school setting.

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We had both seen pupils with huge potential become defined by attendance, behaviour, anxiety, or unmet need. Too often, the conversation became about what a young person was not managing, rather than what they could achieve with the right support, environment and expectations.

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We wanted to create something different: a provision where learning could be flexible, meaningful and realistic, without losing ambition. A place where academic progress, emotional development, confidence, life skills and future pathways could all matter equally.

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Beacon was built to give young people a fresh opportunity to experience education in a way that feels possible again. For some, that may mean rebuilding basic routines. For others, it may mean preparing for qualifications, returning to school, moving towards college, or simply beginning to believe that they are capable.

Our aim is to help each young person take their next step — whatever that looks like — with greater confidence, self-belief and hope for the future.

Every young person deserves a place to shine. At Beacon, that belief shapes everything we do.