About Catherine

Confidence is the foundation of learning.

Hello, I'm Catherine, founder of House of Orkney Education.

I have spent nearly two decades working in primary education as a teacher, senior leader and Head of School. During that time I worked with hundreds of children, families and teachers, and one belief became clearer every year.

When children feel safe, understood and confident, learning begins to make sense.

Yet I also saw many bright, capable children slowly lose confidence in themselves. Sometimes the pace of the classroom felt overwhelming. Sometimes anxiety or additional needs made learning feel difficult. Sometimes children simply needed a different environment in order to thrive.

After 19 fulfilling years in schools, I felt a growing pull to create something more personal. A space where children could learn without pressure, at their own pace, and where families felt genuinely supported and understood.

That vision became House of Orkney Education.

A calm, nurturing learning environment where children are seen, valued and supported to rebuild confidence in learning, one small step at a time.

My approach

Across my career I have taught throughout the primary phase, but my specialist areas include:

• Early Years and early reading

• Phonics and language development

• Supporting children with SEND

• Helping children experiencing school related anxiety rebuild confidence

At House of Orkney Education, learning is personalised, practical and relational. Sessions are designed around each child's strengths, interests and emotional readiness so that learning feels achievable and engaging again.

The aim is not only to support academic progress, but to help children rediscover curiosity, independence and belief in themselves.

Professional background

My journey in education began in 2006 after completing a BA (Hons) in Early Primary Education, followed by a Master’s in Education.

I later gained the National Professional Qualification for Headship and spent over a decade in senior leadership roles, including Head of School.

A significant part of my leadership work involved improving teaching and learning across schools. I led professional development, instructional coaching and curriculum development, supporting teachers to strengthen their practice and create environments where children could thrive.

Alongside this, I have undertaken extensive professional development including:

• Paediatric First Aid

• DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead) training

• Training in Specific Learning Difficulties including ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyscalculia and dyspraxia

I have also delivered training and workshops for teachers and school leaders, sharing practical approaches to early literacy, inclusion and high quality teaching.

House of Orkney Education today

Today, House of Orkney Education supports children and families through:

• Personalised 1:1 tuition

• Small group Learning Hubs

• Support for home educated learners

• Collaboration with schools and professionals when children benefit from a smaller learning environment

Everything we do is guided by one simple idea.

When children feel calm, capable and understood, learning begins to make sense again.

A little about me

Outside of teaching, I love spending time by the coast with my family, reading, going to the gym and dreaming about my next travel destination.

Thank you for being here. If you are looking for calm, thoughtful support for your child's learning, you are in the right place.

Book a discovery call to talk about how House of Orkney Education might support you.