Introducing Liz Allum 

We are thrilled to welcome Liz Allum as CHEXS’ first Chief Operations Officer (COO). With over 20 years of experience in education, pastoral leadership, and safeguarding, Liz brings a wealth of expertise that will ensure CHEXS continues to be a vital resource for our stakeholder schools and the families we support.

Liz has held key leadership roles across mainstream and specialist education settings, with a strong focus on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), safeguarding, and pastoral care. Her most recent role as SENCo and Designated Teacher at White Trees School, a specialist SEMH provision, has given her first-hand experience in supporting some of the most vulnerable young people. She has successfully overseen SEND frameworks, Personal Education Plans (PEPs) for looked-after children, and complex multi-agency collaboration to ensure children receive the best possible outcomes.

She has also served as Safeguarding Lead and Designated Teacher at Marriotts School, where she managed daily safeguarding concerns, developed early intervention strategies, and provided essential family support to address challenges beyond the classroom. Her experience extends to staff training, ensuring that school teams are well-equipped to support students facing barriers to learning.

Liz’s extensive background in SEND leadership and school governance will be instrumental in further developing CHEXS’ work with stakeholder schools. She has a deep understanding of school structures, funding challenges, and intervention strategies that make a real difference in children’s lives. Her leadership in governance and strategic planning will be invaluable in ensuring that CHEXS’ services remain impactful, well-resourced, and responsive to the needs of schools and families.

Liz’s ability to build strong partnerships with external agencies aligns perfectly with CHEXS’ commitment to providing whole family support. Her approach to resilience-building, empowerment, and family stability is directly in line with our mission. During the recruitment process, Liz delivered a powerful vision for integrating the Family Support and GROWTH Programmes, ensuring that they continue to develop, expand, and remain sustainable long-term.

Liz’s expertise in SEN, safeguarding, and family support ensures that CHEXS is in the best possible position to continue supporting schools, staff, and families. She understands the pressures schools face and is passionate about collaborative working to improve outcomes for children and young people. Under her leadership, CHEXS will strengthen its whole-family approach, delivering targeted interventions that reduce barriers to learning, improve well-being, and promote resilience among young people.

We are excited for Liz to join CHEXS in the Spring Term, and we know that our schools, families, and community partners will benefit greatly from her knowledge, leadership, and commitment to making a real difference.