Louise Yarnell - Regional Director
Louise is Regional Director at LEO Academy Trust, supporting school leaders and working across a cluster of schools to drive sustainable improvement and ensure the highest expectations for all pupils. She is passionate about LEO’s commitment to Learning, Excellence and Opportunity and its belief that every child should have the opportunity to thrive.
Louise has over 20 years’ experience in senior educational leadership and school improvement, including Headship and system leadership across Surrey. Before joining LEO, she was Director of School Improvement at Schools Alliance for Excellence (SAfE), where she provided strategic leadership across a partnership supporting around 150 maintained schools and worked with schools, local authorities, trusts and national partners to strengthen educational outcomes and leadership capacity.
She has a proven track record of raising standards and leading sustainable improvement. As a Headteacher, Louise led schools through significant improvement, including an Outstanding Ofsted judgements, and developed innovative approaches to curriculum, teaching and learning, inclusion and digital strategy. She has extensive experience of supporting and coaching headteachers, school improvement, quality assurance, Ofsted inspection, leadership development and targeted intervention in schools facing challenge.
Louise is particularly passionate about inclusive education, ensuring that high expectations, strong outcomes, wellbeing and belonging go hand in hand. She has led system-wide work focused on inclusion, attendance, SEND and equity, and is committed to developing confident leaders and strong professional communities.
Her leadership approach is relational, evidence-informed and values-driven. She believes that sustainable improvement is built through trust, collaboration, intelligent challenge and a shared commitment to excellence for every child.
