At Helm Academy, we provide a trauma-informed, therapeutic education for children aged 11 to 16 with special educational needs. Our approach is grounded in empathy, stability, and evidence-based practice, creating an environment where every child feels safe, understood, and supported. We recognise the impact of early trauma, attachment difficulties, and neurodiversity — and respond with compassion, consistency, and tailored teaching designed to meet each pupil’s unique developmental needs.
Our dedicated team delivers a carefully adapted curriculum using a nurture model, allowing pupils to remain with one trusted teacher and class throughout the day. This structure reduces anxiety, builds strong relationships, and supports emotional security. With a nurture class available for pupils needing more intensive therapeutic input, we empower every child to grow in confidence, build core skills, and develop a stronger sense of self-worth.
Let me introduce myself. I am Anita Cameron, and I am proud to serve as the Headteacher of Helm Academy.
I am delighted to be part of the creation, growth and ongoing journey of Helm Academy. It is privilege to play my role in shaping the lives of our children, supporting their families and building a thriving school community.
At Helm Academy, we believe that for the children and young people to grow and thrive, our staff must also be supported to do the same. We as staff demonstrate that learning is a lifelong experience, that we are all always learning. That’s why we invest in career development pathways and wellbeing programmes for our team. We model that learning is a lifelong journey, one that includes challenges and opportunities to grow. Here, we embrace the idea that to "FAIL" simply means our First Attempt In Learning. Learning is what school is for, and believing in this and in ourselves encourages us all to stretch beyond our comfort zones.
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I started my adult learning pathway when I had children. I started as a classroom volunteer, which led to becoming Teaching Assistant, Special Needs Assistant, Teacher, Head of department, Assistant Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher, Executive Headteacher, Education specialist consultant UK. I have taught and lead in; EYFS, Primary, Secondary, Mainstream, Special, Pupil Referral Units, Independent Special Schools, 6th Form, Further Education and Higher Education. This has afforded me the insight and knowledge of each age and stage of development and how best to support our children and young people to become lifelong adult learners.
Helm Academy works with whole systems to create bright personalised learning journeys and brighter futures. As the new leader in SEND, we are proud to be a forward thinking, transparent, and an innovative school. We challenge the status quo, break cycles, and rewrite negative narratives, ensuring positive outcomes not just for our children, but also for their families, communities, and the wider school environment.
Helm Academy provides holistic, wrap around support with a clear ethos of No Judgement, No Blame, No Shame. Our goal is to create impact not only in school, but also in the home, extending the care and support where it is most needed. With our dedicated, committed and highly trained staff, we will go above and beyond. Because at Helm Academy, we are all in for every child.
It gives me great pleasure to introduce myself as the Director of Education for Helm Academy. It is a privilege to have been appointed and welcomed into the Helm family, and to be entrusted with the job of creating and leading an amazing cohort of schools.
I have worked in education for over 30 years and have been a senior leader within this sector for the past 20 years, both in specialist and mainstream settings, ranging from primary through to post-16. My Ethos and that of Helm Academy, is that the needs of the children are always paramount in the life and decision making within an education and care setting. I strongly believe in providing the children and young people with exciting, creative, and meaningful learning experiences, which build their enthusiasm for learning and help them to grow and develop positively in a variety of ways.
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I am committed to the continued success of the schools, ensuring that all of the pupils and young people receive the outstanding education they deserve. I am determined that the schools will continue to build on their excellent reputations, to flourish and maintain a position at the heart of our community. I will ensure that our high expectations and standards are maintained, and with the dedication and commitment of the staff, we will provide an outstanding education to help every young person achieve their fullest potential and ambitions.
I am also keen on building a whole school community which thrives on mutual respect and values positive relationships. My aim is to discover the unique voice within each young person. This is the voice that each young person will spend their lifetime honing and developing so that they make their contribution to the world around them. To do this, we need to value our staff and give them the opportunities to be their best so that they can work in partnership with parents and carers to give each one of our Helm young people the very best platform of education to take them forward so that they can live their best lives.
I began my formal teaching career, gaining qualified teacher status (QTS) from Birmingham University in 1996. This has been followed by master’s degree in Educational Leadership – NPQSL - and also one in Educational Coaching and Mentoring – A.C.E. I have been honoured to receive a Fellowship of the Chartered College of Teaching - FCCT. A Fellowship of the Chartered Management Institute – FCMI and a Fellowship of the Society for Education and Training - FSET. I have been privileged to sit on the Advisory Board for UCAS as well as the National Panel for the Testing Standards Agency. I have also worked as a School Improvement Partner, working closely with a variety of Multi Academy Trusts, Local Authorities and Independent Organisations to set up Specialist Alternative provisions to meet the needs of their individual cohorts, as well as support quality assurance and improvement in education. As part of my experience in education I have also acted as an Independent Investigating officer, supporting several Local authorities and Local Safeguarding Boards to ensure the continued safety and wellbeing of staff, pupils and young people.
I believe strongly in the power of diversity and the innate potential of every young person. I value inclusion and actively seek to discover the unique voice of each young person as they develop through education, to offer the gift of inspiring love of learning; creativity and the courage to make positive choices to build the future. We need to shape our teaching and support to bring out the best and most productive learning in the young people. We need clear and consistent systems and measures so that we can report the progress and achieve strong outcomes through feedback and purposeful planning.
As with all human endeavours, schools are places of constant renewal and development and I look forward to being a part of the wonderful and crucial adventure of education with Helm Academy.
Every day is a new day, and together we can make it an amazing one.
Our Mission
Our Ethos
Proprietor: Fitri Brock
Director of Education: Eve Bartlet
Finance Officer: Zahra Hadith
Helm Academy,
Suite 103 Group First House,
12A Meadway,
Padiham
BB12 7NG
info@helmacademy.co.uk
www.helmacademy.co.uk
+44 (0) 3333 584 485
