Meet the Staff 2024/2025

After graduating High School in Hungary hidden behind the ‘Iron Curtain’ I was branded too rebellious to be given a passport. As many 18-year olds do, i set off to prove them wrong. I escaped the Socialist Regime by swimming the sea to a refugee camp in Italy and eventually found my way to Canada. Here I followed a traditional route in getting married, having two children and gaining my nursing qualifications followed by a Psych Degree. 

I accidentally fell in to teaching where I was asked to be an emergency stand in for a teacher. This led me to change careers and study to be a teacher. 

I moved to the UK 18 years ago and taught at a range of schools from Casterton to various EBD schools teaching year 6 through to year 11. In my spare time I was a personal tutor teaching English, maths and science to those that required it. That led me to buying the tutoring franchise. 

Throughout my teaching experience I have often seen those young people who are left at the wayside, and become disaffected by school, I realised that In Kendal there was no provision for them, so following my passion for helping those that need it I set of on the journey to open South Lakes Academy.

Since I was a child and trying to teach my newborn baby brother to read it was a given that I would be a teacher – though my route here was unconventional. I finished school and went to college to do a Diploma in Child Care and Education. This was followed by a period of time spent working for Butlins Holiday Camps where I worked in the entertainment sector. As fun as it was, it couldn’t last forever, so I decided to move back home. After having a small tribe of children – five in total, I returned to education to work on realising my dream of being a teacher. 

After completing my BA (hons) Degree in Children Schools and Families, I approached Tunde to ask for some tutoring hours to see me over whilst I planned my next move – this was back in 2016. I have been privileged to be a part of helping to set up South Lakes Academy to what it is today.

Appointing Tamas has brought a different dimension into South Lakes Academy. His passion for performing arts, paired with his determination to improve the lives and mental health of young people, brought in fresh energy and enthusiasm. 

Tamas has a degree in Performing Arts and a Level 5 qualification in teaching. He is also working towards his bachelors in psychology. He joined us in 2020 with a few years of experience in SEN. His positive outlook to life in general makes him an invaluable addition to our school.

Tamas is currently enjoying a sabbatical, whilst continuing to support us online and some supply work

I was schooled and university educated in the North-west of England. My love of food, travel, debate and an unashamed passion for science have made for an enthusiastic tutor since 2014. If being raised by two teachers wasn’t enough, a degree in Sport Physiotherapy and Foundation Degrees in Maths and Geography have given me a strong foundation for the instruction of a range of subjects. I was finally compelled to join the family business after three years of working with groups of adults and children promoting a healthy lifestyle and treating those suffering after injury. 

Believing truly in the future potential of all individuals, it was only natural that I moved out of sport fields and patient rooms into the classroom. Here, I have become an eccentric but, none the less, effective member of our teacher staff – who loves a good game of badminton!

After a year long sabbatical, we cannot wait to welcome Michelle back in September

I have been teaching secondary science for over 35 years in both the UK and Canada – including 10 years as Head of Science In Casterton School. This has given me a wide range of experience in teaching to all age and ability levels ranging from year-7 to A-Level. 

At South Lakes Academy I am currently teaching Food Technology and Science. I enjoy working with small groups and on an individual basis. My particular specialty is using real life situations to explain new concepts and I strive to make complicated ideas sound easy. 

In the past I have volunteered with the Duke of Edinburgh award as a trainer / supervisor at the Gold Expedition Level. I enjoy walking, music and cycling which I share with my wife, we also enjoy visiting our children – both of whom are teachers too.

My love for Art and Design came at a young age and I have always had a creative imagination and an enthusiasm to try new practical skills. This drove me to study at Leeds Beckett university and graduated with BA Hons in Fine Art. While at university I was given the opportunity to exhibit my own work in institutions such as Leeds Art Gallery, Henry Moore Institute and Wentworth Woodhouse. I also began to get involved with community projects and art groups in my local area and this is really where my interest in teaching and educating came. I volunteered at Creative Arts in Kendal working with adults who had mental and physical disabilities. I was given the opportunity to run art workshops in painting, collage, sculpture and photography. I worked at RagTag Arts and Community Scrapstore in Kendal and a charity called Unique Kidz in Morecambe, running art workshops to local people and young adults with additional needs. Doing these additional voluntary activities made me realise that teaching has the ability to shape a person’s self-esteem and confidence, as well as inspiring aspirations and attitudes towards learning.

Since teaching Art at South Lakes Academy, I have gained a range of skills in working with children who have complex needs and using Art as a release. I approached Tunde after finishing teaching placements and have now been at SLA for over a year. I also run a range of afterschool tutoring 1-1 sessions in Maths and English at different years at KS3 level.

In my spare time I really enjoy photography, exploring new places, running, music and movies!

I graduated University of Cumbria back in 2015, with a degree in Primary Education with specialism in SEND. After finishing my degree, I spent a very long 2 years working as a retail manager for the company I had worked for, part time, since I was 16. During this time, I had my little boy, Max, who is now 7.

After my maternity leave, I decided I wanted to go back into working with children so worked at various Children’s residential schools around Cumbria, mostly working with children with SEMH, ASD and ADHD. As much as I loved supporting these young people, I knew I wanted to get back into teaching.

My role first came up at SLA in 2018 in which I taught a range of children with varying needs. After around 18 months, I chose to take a role as a HLTA at a large primary school in Kendal. Where I covered PPA lessons, supported small group lessons as well as being 1-1 with children with EHCP’s. When my contract came to an end I returned to SLA in September 2023, bringing my skills back to help our students progress further. The best part of my job is spending such quality time with our students, helping them grow not only academically but also socially as well as making the school setting seem ‘less scary’ to those who have been out of education for a while.

After finishing school, with a passion for hands on, creative work, I became an apprentice joiner. Once qualified, and working in the trade for 5 years, it was time for me to try something new and to embrace my creative endeavours. I attended college studying Theatre and Events technology, working on musicals, with bands and live sound in the process. I continued my studies and moved to Liverpool to attend university. At university, I studied music and Audio production. While in Liverpool, I worked as a technician at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. This occupation allowed me to have an opening into working with children, working and touring with the youth orchestra and guest college bands. My position here at SLA has been monumental in the development of my skills of helping young people.

I enjoy all things tech and computers, with a passion for Science and Mathematics as well as a love for making music and working with live sound. In my spare time I enjoy the outdoors, camping, cycling and spending time with my two cats!

I am a mum of 2 boys and have lived in Kendal all my life. I have worked since the age of 14 in the care industry – caring for the elderly with dementia. After 25 years of this and following the birth of my 2nd child, I decided to have a career change. To fit in with child care I took on a few part time jobs whilst caring for my youngest child. when it was time for him to go to school, I decided that the time was right for me to pursue my career. After raising my son who has ADHD, I decided that I had a lot to offer other young people with similar needs. 

Since starting at SLA, I have not only been supporting our young people, but I have also been improving and developing my knowledge and skills around other SEN

Agi Joined the team in September after working in a residential home for over 9 years. Originally from Hungary, Agi is a qualified nurse who spent years working with young adults with a variety of developmental disabilities in a clinical setting. 

In her spare time, she makes the most wonderful birthday cakes (and any other occasion, or non-occasion cakes) for all of us to enjoy. 

After spending years in the building industry as a joiner living in Yorkshire where my family still live, I moved up to Kendal in 2011. After marrying my wife Tunde and seeing her ambition to set this school up, she convinced me to take a career change from manual work to training as a support worker for the school. 

In my spare time, I enjoy travelling, visiting my children and grandchildren. I also enjoy sports and activities for example, hiking and climbing – which I tend to share my enthusiasm for this with the young people I support.