Gavin Hepherd-Hall

Gavin is the Co‑Founder and Chair of Trustees at Rare4Schools and an experienced senior leader with over 20 years in education. His career spans teaching, curriculum leadership, Alternative Provision, and national consultancy, with a strong focus on inclusion and removing barriers to learning. After leaving the classroom post‑pandemic, Gavin built a successful tutoring and consultancy practice, developing evidence‑based resources and training used across the UK and internationally. His work in Alternative Provision over the last four years, alongside extensive collaboration with SEND teams, has shaped his expertise in supporting learners with complex and often misunderstood needs.

A Mathematics Mastery specialist and former Academic Director at an online school supporting children affected by the conflict in Ukraine, Gavin brings deep knowledge of trauma‑informed practice, cross‑sector collaboration and creative curriculum design. He has led national projects, authored guidance for schools and supported organisations in developing inclusive, research‑driven approaches that improve outcomes for vulnerable learners. His leadership is grounded in compassion, creativity and a commitment to empowering both families and professionals.

Gavin co‑founded Rare4Schools with his wife Joanne, driven by their lived experience as parents to a child with the rare disease Hyperinsulinism. Together, they recognised the urgent need for greater awareness, understanding, and practical support for rare conditions in education. Their combined four decades of teaching and leadership underpin the charity’s mission to ensure no child’s condition becomes a barrier to learning. As Chair, Gavin brings strategic vision, advocacy and a passion for storytelling and resource design, championing a future where every child with a rare disease is understood, included and able to thrive.

Co-Founder and Chair

Joanne Hepherd-Hall

Joanne is the Co‑Founder and Deputy Chair of Rare4Schools and an experienced English specialist with 18 years in education. Her career spans primary, secondary, college and university settings, where she has taught, led, and supported students with a wide range of needs. As a qualified Dyslexia Specialist and former assessor, Joanne has a deep understanding of how to break down barriers to learning, enabling students who previously struggled to achieve the grades they need to succeed. Her leadership across English and SEND departments has consistently raised standards, improved outcomes and strengthened inclusive practice.

Alongside her teaching career, Joanne founded Chapelford Tuition, where she has helped students build confidence, secure strong GCSE results, and rediscover their belief in their own potential. She has marked for multiple exam boards, giving her a detailed understanding of assessment requirements and has supported teachers in developing subject knowledge and pedagogy. Known for her calm, relational approach, Joanne has trained new teachers, coached colleagues and created learning environments where students feel understood, supported and able to thrive.

As a parent to a child with the rare disease Hyperinsulinism, Joanne co‑founded Rare4Schools with her husband Gavin to address the lack of awareness, understanding, and support for rare conditions in education. Their lived experience, combined with more than four decades of collective teaching and leadership, drives their mission to ensure no child’s condition becomes a barrier to learning. Joanne brings compassion, specialist expertise and a powerful advocacy voice to the charity, championing a future where children with rare diseases are fully understood, included and able to flourish in school.

Co-Founder and Deputy Chair

Amy Owen-Wyatt

Amy is a mental health nurse, researcher, and rare disease advocate whose commitment to supporting families is shaped by both her professional expertise and her own lived experience. Having navigated the complexities of rare disease within her own family, Amy understands the emotional weight, uncertainty and practical challenges that parents face as well as the pressure schools feel when trying to support a child with needs they may never have encountered before. This insight fuels her determination to make education a safer, more informed and more compassionate place for every child affected by rarity.

Across her nursing career, Amy has worked in perinatal mental health, children’s eating disorders and acute care, always championing holistic, evidence‑based, person‑centred support. Her work is grounded in the belief that families deserve to be heard, understood and empowered. Through her research role at EquiPath Analytics, she amplifies the voices of families affected by rare and bleeding disorders, ensuring their experiences shape policy, training and service improvement at national level.

As a trustee of Rare4Schools, Amy brings warmth, empathy and a deep commitment to inclusion. She believes no child should feel “different”, unsafe, or misunderstood because of their health, and no educator should be left without the knowledge or confidence to support them. Amy is dedicated to strengthening the bridge between health and education, helping schools, teachers and families feel equipped, connected and genuinely supported so that every child has the chance to thrive.

Head of Governance

Stephen Caldwell

Stephen Caldwell is an experienced educator, leader and co‑founder of Impress Education, with more than two decades of teaching and leadership across inner‑city schools in Islington and Brixton. Trained at the Institute of Education, University College London, he taught for 22 years, leading two thriving English departments, supervising the hospital school at The Whittington Hospital and overseeing Assessment for Learning at a flagship Islington academy. His work has always been rooted in high expectations, relational leadership and a deep belief in the potential of every young person.

Stephen stepped away from mainstream teaching to care for his daughter Eva, who was diagnosed with Late‑infantile Batten’s Disease. During this time, he and his wife, Tamara Budhan Caldwell, founded Impress the Examiner Ltd, the foundation of what later became Impress Education. Eva brought joy, courage and light to everyone who knew her, and after her passing in 2021, her legacy became the driving force behind Impress. Her story continues to inspire a movement of educators who have now supported more than 900,000 students, strengthening curriculum understanding and improving outcomes across hundreds of schools.

Alongside his leadership at Impress Education, Stephen serves as a Parent Governor at Draper’s Maylands Primary School, volunteers with Christians Against Poverty, and is a Trustee of both Christian Hope International and Rare4Schools. His work across education, faith, and community reflects a life shaped by service, compassion, and purpose. At Rare4Schools, Stephen brings strategic insight, sector expertise and a powerful personal story, helping to ensure that children with rare diseases are fully understood, supported and able to thrive in education.

Head of Fundraising

Andrew Bull

Treasurer

Andrew Bull is an experienced educational leader with nearly 30 years in the sector, including eight years as a headteacher and the last two as an Education Officer and consultant. His career spans school leadership, teacher development, safeguarding and whole‑school wellbeing, with a consistent focus on creating environments where every pupil feels safe, supported and able to succeed. Through his work with Stier Support, which he founded to strengthen leadership capacity and staff wellbeing, Andrew has helped schools build cultures rooted in clarity, compassion and high expectations.

Across his career, Andrew has worked closely with senior leaders, teachers and pastoral teams to improve inclusion, strengthen professional practice and embed sustainable systems that support both staff and students. His leadership is characterised by calm, relational guidance and a deep understanding of the pressures schools face. Whether coaching leaders, supporting school improvement or advising on wellbeing strategy, he brings a steady, values‑driven approach that prioritises the needs of children and the adults who care for them.

As a Trustee of Rare4Schools, Andrew uses his extensive experience to strengthen the charity’s understanding of how rare conditions impact school life. He is committed to improving awareness, equipping educators with practical strategies and bridging the perspectives of education, healthcare and families. Andrew is passionate about ensuring that children with rare diseases are understood, valued and able to flourish in school, contributing his insight to help build a more inclusive and compassionate education system.

Loraine Midda

Loraine is an accomplished leader honoured with an MBE in 2017 for Parliamentary Services and her charitable work with Haven House Children’s Hospice. With a career spanning public service, entrepreneurship and organisational leadership, she brings a rare blend of strategic insight and human‑centred practice to every role. Her professional journey reflects a deep commitment to service, innovation and supporting people through change.

Across her diverse career, Loraine has worked as a mindfulness ambassador, teacher and coach, championing wellbeing, focus and resilience in both individuals and teams. Drawing on strong IT expertise and commercial acumen, she founded a successful IT training company serving Blue Chip clients, using her analytical strengths to challenge established ways of working and improve organisational performance. As an ILM‑qualified coach, she has supported staff development, guided leaders through transition and helped teams thrive within fast‑paced digital environments.

In her trustee role, Loraine works with key stakeholders across Parliament to shape strategic direction for the Member community. Her mindfulness practice and coaching expertise underpin her commitment to clarity, compassion and purposeful leadership. Supported by a Master’s degree in Customer Service Management, she brings a strong foundation in customer engagement, service excellence and relationship‑driven leadership to Rare4Schools, helping strengthen the charity’s mission to ensure every child with a rare disease is understood, supported and able to flourish.

Head of Impact

Our Trustees