Neil joined Stepping Stones in May 2007 after spending 32 years in education, in both mainstream and special schools. An historian and linguist  by background and training, he latterly spent 17 years as head of Treloar School, a large specialist school for disabled children. He has built up considerable expertise and experience in the philosophy of education and is well versed in the arcane bureaucracy of special needs.

He believes passionately in the  value of the special school sector, whilst fully acknowledging that mainstream schools should continue to include those for whom they can make good provision. At the heart of his beliefs, is the right of parents to be able to make genuine choices about their child's education; too often, choice for children with SEN is a take it or leave it option. Neil relishes his role at Stepping Stones; he loves the day to day involvement with the students and truly believes that the existence of more and more schools, some big and some small, all of them distinctive, offers a real vision for the future.

Neil was, in his now distant youth, a footballer of some distinction; he remains keen on most sports and enjoys walking long distance footpaths, good food and good company and looking after his grandchildren.