Olivia de Groot

Olivia is Deputy Headteacher at a comprehensive school near London. She leads on pastoral, behaviour and attendance. She is also the senior designated safeguarding lead, overseeing the safeguarding and child protection of all students in the school, as well as staff training and reporting in this area. For 7 years Olivia has been a governor for her local primary school where she is the chair of the Teaching and Learning Committee.

Olivia’s previous career was as a Pensions and Employment lawyer at Linklaters, London. Over 15 years ago she turned her back on the corporate world and retrained as a Maths teacher, going on to become a faculty, and now school, leader.

I am part of UWS because:

Every day I see the impact that education has on children’s self-esteem, mental health and outcomes. I believe all children deserve a safe environment in which to learn, develop and prepare for their future. The sustainable nature of UWS’s model means that change can be embedded, and improved educational opportunities and spaces can be secured for both this generation and those that follow.