Leadership Team

Mr Tirrell holds a BSc (Hons) in Medical Microbiology, an MA in International Business Management, and a PGCE with QTS. He is an experienced and successful Head Teacher and has completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH); he is currently enrolled on the National Professional Qualification for Executive Leadership (NPQEL), which is due to be completed in September 2024.

As well as leading La Fontaine Academy, Mr Tirrell supports other schools and school leaders with improving provision in different settings. Mr Tirrell now leads the NPQH programme for new and aspiring head teachers, and he coaches Head Teachers that are new to their role.

Over his career, Mr Tirrell has worked in a number of roles in schools across several London boroughs: Southwark, Lewisham, Croydon and Bromley. The schools that he has worked at have all had very different cohorts of children with a wide variety of backgrounds and needs. Each of his roles has focused on improving the life chances of all children, irrespective of their start in life: this equity of access to a high-quality education is a particular professional passion of his.

Outside of education, Mr Tirrell has many years of experience of leadership within the public relations and communications industry, in both the commercial and not-for-profit sectors. He led campaigns that promoted research outcomes as well as policy initiatives. He was the senior counsel for crisis communications and supported the work of the teams that were spread across Asia, Africa, Europe and North America.

Mr Tirrell is active in the local community and is currently the Vice Chair of Governors at a primary school in Lewisham.