Kirsten brings years of experience leading online schools, and she knows what actually makes them work. She has built and run DfE-accredited provision from the ground up, so she understands both the big picture and the day-to-day reality of digital education.

Her background is in special educational needs, and she has spent her career making inclusion something real rather than something that just looks good on paper. She is particularly attuned to learners who have been let down by mainstream settings, and to the quieter students who can get lost when schools reward volume over depth. Girls, non-binary young people, and those who simply do not thrive in traditional environments are at the centre of how she thinks about curriculum and community.

At The Haven, Kirsten’s focus is simple: belonging first, learning second. Not because learning matters less, but because it rarely happens without the first part being in place. She works to build systems that feel safe and genuinely welcoming, where staff are supported to teach well and pupils are seen as individuals.