Martin Capewell – Headteacher
On behalf of our school community, I would like to welcome you to Ryecroft School.
I’m proud to be the headteacher of such a wonderful school where our dedicated and hard-working team of staff put the needs of our amazing pupils first in absolutely everything we do.
I have worked within special education schools for the past 16 years and have had a variety of leadership roles in special schools across the Midlands. I joined Outcomes First Group in 2022 and previously worked at Trent Acres school before coming over to support Ryecroft School in September 2025.
I am extremely passionate and have spent my career providing opportunities for young people with special educational needs, so they feel valued, successful, safe and included. We believe in supporting our pupils to gain the independence, confidence and skills they will need to thrive in modern society.
I look forward to meeting you.
Sophie Spencer – Assistant Headteacher (Curriculum)
My name is Sophie and I am Assistant Headteacher at Ryecroft. I love spending time outdoors, especially going on long walks and runs with my husband and our dog. I also enjoy baking, travelling and watching Formula 1. Before joining the school, I worked as a mainstream infant teacher for eight years before deciding it was time for a new challenge. I started here as a Class Lead when the school first opened and later moved into the Assistant Head role. One of the best parts of my job is seeing the small steps of progress our pupils make every day in their learning, communication, and independence.
Demetrizia Westcarr – Assistant Headteacher (Behaviour, Attendance and Inclusion)
My name is Demetrizia, though most people know me as Mitz, and I’m proud to be part of the Senior Leadership Team as Assistant Head Teacher at Ryecroft School. I began my teaching career in a mainstream secondary school as an English teacher before joining Ryecroft as a class teacher, working closely with Hawthorn Class. From there, I took on the role of Curriculum Lead for the Secondary function, before being appointed Assistant Head Teacher.
I have always been passionate about education and the difference it can make in young people’s lives. One of the best parts of my role is being able to witness students finding comfort, happiness and a sense of belonging within the school community. Supporting positive behaviour, inclusion and attendance is a key part of my remit, and I feel privileged to help create an environment where every student feels valued, safe and supported to succeed.
Outside of school, I love spending time with my family and being a mum to my energetic two-year-old son. I start most days with CrossFit (which I absolutely love!), and I’m a big lover of food and travel, always enjoying the chance to try new cuisines and explore new places.
Alexia Kyriakidou – SENCO
My name is Alexia Kyriakidou, and I am the SENCo at Ryecroft. I moved to the UK from Greece in 2018 and have been working in special education ever since. Before joining the school, I taught students with a range of special educational needs. I joined Ryecroft School in April 2025 and feel very lucky to do a job I truly love. I am passionate about supporting every child to feel understood, included, and confident, and I enjoy working closely with families and staff to help each student reach their full potential. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time outdoors with my daughter and husband, and watching football and basketball
Melanie Callaghan-Lewis – Chair of Governors
Melanie has worked across Primary, Secondary, FE and SEND settings for over twenty years, 18 of which have been at a senior level. Prior to taking on this role, Melanie was employed by the Outcomes First Group in the capacity of Headteacher at Options Trent Acres School for 9 years. During this time, Melanie has taken great pleasure in developing and supporting staff teams to ensure they are highly successful, placing pupils and young people at the heart of everything that we do.
Melanie is an experienced inspector, maintaining a sharp focus on quality outcomes and school improvement.