Anna, our Founder, is a senior mental health education consultant and creates preventative solutions to systemic problems.
Her expertise in guiding schools towards more sustainable and effective approaches to mental health for everyone is extensive and proven. Anna often works at scale across multiple schools, designing and developing programs, implementation or assessment tools, and approaches that directly impact children and their families.
Systems leadership is not about telling others what to do; it is about setting the direction so that the team knows what to concentrate on and then consistently moving towards that direction.
Effective systems leadership requires a deep understanding of both the internal dynamics of an organisation and the external forces that impact on it. Systems leaders are adept at scanning the environment for trends, disruptions, and opportunities, and they use this information to guide their organisations strategically.
They are also skilled at building and maintaining networks of relationships that provide valuable insights and support.
If you are looking for an tenacious, experienced leader who will quickly and easily provide insights and solutions based on your school or Trust then contact Anna below.
Expertise in:
- strategic mental health and service design
- rapid and sustainable change across multiple schools
- Contextual understanding of community and school, using an asset focused approach
- proven leadership in educational mental health transformation, as well as deep operational know-how
Latest Project for Leigh Trust
Leigh Flourish Framework
Designed, created and implementing a bespoke 3 year Family services and wellbeing Framework for a multi-academy trust based on current internal assets and resources and external data.
Each strand and section contains guidance for the schools' development plans and evidence of impact.
Current impact :
- Each school has a young carers programme and support. Data shows mean average of 36 sessions improvements in school attendance as a result of identification and support.
- Average 15 point improvements in wellbeing pre and post Emotional literacy wellbeing group (Yr 5/6). Stirling Scale
- Every Early Years Foundation Stage teaches Startwell Curriculum, a local curriculum designed to teach oral health, wellbeing, healthy eating and exercise
- Every school has an established stay and play programme designed to meet local need, including links with local organisation to help parents with pupils who have Special Education Needs.
- Established First Aid programme and workshops for parents
- Partnered with local college to provide ESOL (English as a Second Language) classes for all parents across trust - 12 sessions run weekly and counting.
- Drumba, Walk and Talk and coffee mornings established 
Training
Anna has written and delivered several Department for Education quality assured courses, both on demand and in person; ranked within the top 3 nationally for quality.
Online Training, Visit The National College. Senior Mental health Specialist.
DFE approved/quality assured programmes
“You are super supportive and have such an amazing wealth of knowledge – we just wanted to say how much we appreciate it.”
— DHT, secondary school
Who We Engage With
Key Collaborators and Thought Leaders
At Halycyon, we pride ourselves on forging meaningful partnerships with some of the most respected figures across education, mental health, and public advocacy. Under the guidance of Anna, our organisation has had the privilege to collaborate with leading professionals who bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and innovation to the work we do.
Our Collaborators Include:
These individuals, each renowned in their respective fields, have helped shape and enhance our mission, making a lasting impact on the communities we serve.
Baroness Estelle Morris
Former Secretary of State for Education, her distinguished career in government and education policy has been instrumental in shaping progressive educational reforms. Her insights and leadership have been invaluable to our efforts in developing impactful learning programs.
Professor Peter Fonagy
As a previous CEO of the Anna Freud Centre and a prominent figure in child and adolescent mental health, Professor Fonagy's contributions to psychological research and therapeutic practice have deeply influenced our approach to mental health and well-being, particularly in the area of early intervention.
Matthew Syed
A celebrated journalist and author, Matthew Syed is known for his work on high performance and mindset. His perspectives on growth, learning, and the psychology of success have inspired and informed our programs, helping individuals and organisations reach their full potential.
The National College
Through our collaboration with The National College, Anna has written and developed courses designed to empower educators with the skills and strategies needed to support student well-being and mental health in school settings. These courses provide critical resources for teachers, helping them create nurturing learning environments.
Myleene Klass
A passionate advocate for children's mental health, Myleene Klass brings her unique perspective as a parent, presenter, and musician. Her work with us emphasizes the importance of family engagement in promoting mental health awareness and supporting children’s emotional development.
Get in touch
Develop your skills to lead mental health initiatives in schools and create a positive impact!
