Our Team
We pride ourselves on the positive relationships we build with our young people. We support every young person to ensure we meet their needs and enable them to thrive at Corfe Valley. Our team includes qualified teachers and learning mentors all trained in PACE and able to successfully use a trauma informed approach.
Tom Smith
Director
Qualified Teacher
Designated Deputy Safeguarding Lead
Tom co-founded Corfe Valley with Kirstie in 2020 and brings over 18 years of experience in education. He developed his practice in an outstanding National Teaching Academy before progressing into a Senior Leadership role. During his career, Tom has led whole-school curriculum development and worked alongside other educational settings to support school improvement. His experience and insight play a key role in shaping the vision and direction of Corfe Valley. Tom brings a thoughtful, practical approach to his work, underpinned by a strong commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for young people to succeed and thrive. Outside of Corfe Valley, Tom enjoys running in the Purbeck Hills, taking on various building projects and spending time exploring the local area with his family.
Kirstie Smith
Director
Qualified Teacher
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Diploma in Psychology
Diploma in PDA
Kirstie co-founded Corfe Valley with Tom in 2020 and has over 15 years of experience in education. She began her career in an outstanding primary school, where she developed her practice before progressing into a Senior Leadership role. During this time, Kirstie led whole-school curriculum development across core subjects and supported a number of new teachers as they began their careers, demonstrating her commitment to both high-quality education and professional development. Kirstie has also completed a diploma in Psychology and continues to stay up to date with current research in mental health, psychology, and neuroscience. This knowledge underpins her thoughtful, informed approach and helps shape the nurturing, relational ethos at the heart of Corfe Valley. Outside of her work, Kirstie enjoys reading, spending time with animals and exploring the local area with her family.
Jen Holloway
Manager
Qualified Teacher & Designated Deputy Safeguarding Lead
Level 3 Forest School leader
Level 2 Counselling
Jen is our wonderful manager and a highly skilled, experienced teacher, with over 15 years of working across a wide range of educational settings. She brings a wealth of knowledge, dedication and care to her role, helping to shape a nurturing and supportive environment for both staff and young people. Jen has an impressive and diverse skill set. She is a qualified Level 3 Forest School Leader and holds a Level 2 Award in Counselling, which enriches the holistic support we offer. Her work is deeply rooted in a trauma-informed and relational approach and she has a natural ability to build strong, trusting, and meaningful connections with the young people she supports. Her warmth, understanding and insight make a lasting difference helping our young people to feel safe, valued and able to thrive. Jen’s leadership and compassion are at the heart of our provision and her impact is felt across the entire Corfe Valley community.
Claire Pinder
Qualified Secondary Teacher
STEM Lead
Science ASDAN Lead
Claire is a highly skilled, qualified secondary-trained teacher and a valued member of our team. She brings a calm, gentle presence that helps our young people feel safe, supported and ready to learn. With a strong background in STEM, Claire has a wonderful ability to spark curiosity and inspire a real sense of awe and wonder. She creates engaging learning experiences through play and exploration, an approach that encourages confidence, creativity and a genuine love of learning. Claire has recently taken the lead on our Science ASDAN courses, where our young people are not only making excellent progress but are also thoroughly enjoying their learning. Alongside her teaching expertise, Claire brings a rich background in pastoral care and a genuine passion for continued learning. She is always seeking new ideas and sharing her knowledge with both our young people and colleagues, making her an invaluable part of the Corfe Valley community.
Marielle Smith
Qualified Teacher
Design Lead
Youth Mental Health First Aider
Marielle is one of our highly skilled and experienced teachers, with over 13 years of expertise across a wide range of educational settings. She has taught students from Early Years through to A-Level, bringing a depth of knowledge and adaptability to her work. A native French speaker, Marielle is both talented and creative, with a particular passion for design. She shares this enthusiasm with our students, helping them develop exciting new skills that often integrate elements of ICT and business. Marielle’s calm and supportive manner is a real asset to Corfe Valley. Our young people thrive in her care and gain significant confidence and progress through working with her on a one-to-one basis.
Emma-Louise Tideswell
Learning Mentor
Emma joined our team as a Learning Mentor, bringing with her a wealth of experience working outdoors and alongside animals. She has a genuine passion for nature and a deep appreciation of the positive impact it can have on young people’s wellbeing and development. Emma has a natural ability to connect with the young people she supports. She takes the time to understand their interests, gently guiding and encouraging them while building strong, trusting relationships. Emma has also been leading a small group of young people in volunteering at a local animal sanctuary, an opportunity that has been both meaningful and rewarding, helping to build confidence, responsibility and a sense of purpose. We are delighted to have Emma as part of the Corfe Valley team, and it is wonderful to see the positive difference she is already making.
Manuel Laurijssen
Qualified FA Coach with UEFA B license
Qualified endurance and fitness coach
Degree in Psychology
Mental Health trained
Manu brings a unique and exciting range of skills and experience to Corfe Valley and we feel incredibly fortunate to have him as part of our team. With over 30 years of experience across grassroots, academy and men’s football, he has coached both nationally and internationally, including time in Germany with Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund. Alongside his extensive coaching background, Manu holds a UEFA B Licence and a degree in Psychology, giving him a well-rounded understanding of both physical performance and mental wellbeing. Manu is passionate about supporting young people to grow in confidence, resilience and self-belief. He brings valuable knowledge in fitness and mental health, helping students to develop not only physically, but emotionally too. His positive energy, experience and commitment make a real difference to the young people at Corfe Valley.
Mike Gould
Qualified Teacher
Licensed Bird Ringer
Bushcraft & Therapeutic Thinking trained
Mike joins our team as a qualified teacher with over 20 years of experience across schools and outdoor education, including his work within Dorset Council. He has taught and led groups from primary through to A-Level, bringing a depth of knowledge and a flexible, hands-on approach to learning. Mike has a strong understanding of Alternative Provision and the diverse SEMH needs that young people may present with. He is particularly skilled at building positive relationships and creating opportunities for students to engage, succeed and feel valued. With a passion for the natural world, Mike brings a wealth of outdoor expertise to Corfe Valley. His interests include wildlife, river studies, birds and orienteering, all of which enrich the experiences we offer our young people. He has a particular love for birds of prey and is a licensed bird ringer having even built and installed over 40 nest boxes in nearby woodland. Above all, Mike is known for his great sense of humour and his genuine enthusiasm for sharing his knowledge. His warmth, energy and commitment make him a fantastic addition to the Corfe Valley community.
Alison Orgill
We are delighted to welcome Alison to our Corfe Valley team. Alison joins us with a wealth of experience, having worked as a Teaching Assistant in a local Dorset primary school as a Pastoral and Nurture Lead. Throughout her role, Alison supported young people of all ages, both individually and in small groups, supporting their emotional well-being, self esteem and sense of belonging. She has extensive experience leading ELSA interventions and planning and delivering nurture provision, with particular expertise in supporting young people experiencing EBSA (Emotionally Based School Avoidance). Outside of her professional role, Alison enjoys spending time outdoors, walking, photography, cooking and a wide range of creative activities. These interests make her a wonderful addition to our team and align with many of our young people! We are thrilled to have Alison join us and are proud to welcome another dedicated professional who truly understands the importance of creating a nurturing, trauma-informed environment where every young person feels safe, valued and supported to succeed.
