At North Hill House School, we believe that great outcomes start with great people. Our school is led by a skilled and compassionate team who are dedicated to helping every young person shine, grow, and reach their full potential. From senior leaders to classroom colleagues, our team brings together a wealth of experience in specialist education, care, and therapeutic support, so every child gets the support they deserve, exactly when they need it.
Leadership at North Hill House School
Our team is small, consistent and deeply committed to supporting the individual needs of every pupil. We understand that trust takes time and we work hard to build it from the first day. If you have any queries regarding our school then please feel free to contact us.
Michael Pearce – Headteacher
This is my third year as Headteacher of North Hill House and I am working hard with the whole school community to develop our provision, ensuring that the child is at the heart of everything we do. I am excited to continue my journey at North Hill House School and to build on the strong foundations we have already established.
Prior to joining North Hill House School, I was Deputy Headteacher at Newbury Manor School in Mells. My primary responsibilities there included developing the curriculum and supporting the Headteacher. I implemented a creative and supportive curriculum to ensure that every pupil at Newbury Manor made at least good progress, accessing an exciting and engaging learning experience. As Deputy Safeguarding Lead, I also ensured that all pupils were safe and able to benefit from a wide range of opportunities through trips and visits.
Before my time at Newbury Manor, I spent four years as Assistant Headteacher at a special school in Chippenham, Wiltshire, where I was responsible for overseeing curriculum development. I have also worked in mainstream education as Head of PE and Performing Arts in Bath, and over my 20-year career in education, I have taught PE and been heavily involved with the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.
Outside of school, I am passionate about animal rescue and have been involved in voluntary work rescuing dogs from Romania for five years. I currently have many pets, including chickens, ducks, and four dogs—two of which are rescues from Romania. I am also an enthusiastic cyclist, love walking, and enjoy spending time outdoors. This passion for the outdoors extends to my professional life, where I strongly advocate for outdoor learning opportunities as an integral part of our curriculum at North Hill House School.
Carly Brown – Designated Safeguarding Lead, Pastoral Manager & Mental Health Lead
My career in specialist education started over 20 years ago in a residential college working with young people 16-25yrs where I started as a learning support worker and worked my way to senior leadership level. In that time, I have run residential homes linked with our FE provision, then moving up to Care Coordinator and Safeguarding Lead overseeing multiple residencies within the community and supporting our students to access education effectively whilst developing their independence and social communication skills to become confident and independent members of the community.
I was excited to come to North Hill House and develop my role further. I am passionate about ensuring our students feel happy and safe and that they receive a high level of support in all aspects of their journey with us whilst feeling confident to access school and the wider community.
Lisa Conley, Deputy Headteacher – Quality of Education
I am delighted to be part of the Senior Leadership Team at North Hill House School. My background has been in a mixture of mainstream science teaching and hospital education in Bath and Birmingham. In my most recent role, I had responsibilities for data and reporting, and have developed and implemented new systems for both.
I have a life-long passion for science, my interest of which was sparked during a visit to a Victorian apothecary when I was seven years old. I remember wondering to myself how did the Apothecary know the potions would work? How were they discovered!? This has stayed with me and led to me completing a degree in Pharmacology at University. I still visit the apothecary most years to this day!
Outside of school I love being outdoors. I am very fond of walking, especially around the Mendip Hills and coastal paths, often accompanied by my family and our beagle. I like to read lots of books as well as being a (sadly rather competitive) Scrabble player!
Leigh Murray – Assistant Headteacher
With over 15 years’ experience in specialist education, I am passionate about supporting young people with additional needs as they prepare for adulthood. My career has spanned a variety of roles, most recently as Deputy Headteacher at a Further Education college, where I worked closely with learners aged 14–24 to help them transition successfully into adult life.
Before moving into education, I gained valuable experience across a range of industries—including care, hospitality, trades, retail, and policing. This diverse background enriches my teaching and enables me to offer practical careers advice and real-world guidance, supporting our learners as they explore employment opportunities and develop essential life skills.