Principals - Avanti Schools Trust

Abby Atkins

Principal, Avanti Park School

Abby Atkins is Principal at Avanti Park in Frome. Abby started her teaching career in 1995 as a secondary science teacher and since then has had the priviledge of working in a wide range of educational settings in the south west. Abby has gained leadership experience as a head of science and assistant headteacher in a secondary school, deputy head of centre in an Autism base and as deputy head of a pupil referral unit before being appointed as Principal at Avanti Park School in April 2020.

Bijal Pandya

Principal, Krishna Avanti Primary School, Croydon

Description coming soon

Sally Allan

Executive Principal, Avanti Meadows Primary School & Avanti Brook Primary School

Bio coming soon

Vanessa Bardsley

Principal, Avanti Fields School

Vanessa trained as a teacher in Australia and has been teaching since 2008 as a Mathematics teacher. Since moving to London, she has had the privilege of working with the Avanti Schools Trust, at Avanti House Secondary School since it opened in 2012. Vanessa is excited to begin her first Headship at Avanti Fields School in Leicester from September 2022.

Since beginning her career, Vanessa is passionate about narrowing the gap between different groups of learners, particularly the most disadvantaged. She believes that technology is one way in which this can be done, and has worked to develop online teaching and learning pedagogy of teachers across the Trust.

Dravit Koorichh

Principal, Avanti Court Primary School, Redbridge

Dravit is the newly appointed Principal of Krishna Avanti Primary School Leicester, starting in August 2022. After serving in the NHS for 6 years as a commissioning manager, he trained to become a teacher following the opening of Avanti Court Primary in Barkingside where he was pivotal to the school’s inception. In 2013 he qualified as a teacher and is currently completing his National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH).

Dravit is keen to create educational opportunities for all learners that enables them to realise their own potential and thrive in becoming the best versions of themselves. This includes both children and adults. He is inspired by the interweaving of spiritual insight, educational excellence and character formation within the curriculum and the impact this has on all members of the community.

Lalita Joshi

Principal, Avanti House Primary School

Lalita is the Principal at Avanti House Primary School. Being born and raised in a close-knit spiritual community, Lalita was fortunate to grow up around role models that taught her the importance of good character, a strong value system and service to others. Seeing her parents serve the community with dedication and conviction left her with deep impressions and gave her strong foundations rooted in love and respect. These meaningful experiences inspired her desire to make a difference to the world by helping to provide opportunities for the kind of intellectual, moral and spiritual growth that had been made available to her in her youth.

Lalita completed her BA (Honours) in Theology and Religion, a Masters in Religious Education at Warwick University and has recently been awarded the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH). The Avanti Way enabled her professional goals to be aligned with her personal aims, thus instilling within her the real passion and drive to lead a faith school and “serve a higher purpose by living a meaningful and satisfying life of contribution”.

Devika Bridgmohun

Principal, KAPS Leicester

Bio to come

Rhys Jones

Principal, Avanti Grange Secondary School

Rhys began his career in 2006, as a Geography Teacher and since then has worked in a variety of different schools across Middlesex and more recently Hertfordshire. From very early in his career, he always hoped and planned to become a Headteacher. For the last six years, he have worked as a Senior Leader in two very different but equally successful schools. He is now starting his first Headship at Avanti Grange. “Under my leadership Avanti Grange will be a school where children are taught to be courageous, curious and resilient in everything they do.”

Shriti Bellare

Principal, Krishna Avanti Primary School, Harrow

I have worked in education for 20 years, across two boroughs. I started my career as an Teaching Assistant, supporting two children with very specific learning needs, my passion grew as I began to research how best to meet their needs, fast forward to present day, I have developed my leadership skills through middle leadership and now in my fifth year as a principal and use a coaching approach to develop a highly effective team at all levels.
The community I serve brings me the most joy, knowing that the support I have provided has made a difference to the lives of our young children.

Simon Arnell

Principal, Avanti House Secondary School

Description coming soon.

Harry Penny

Principal, Avanti Gardens

Harry is the Principal at Avanti Gardens. Having worked as a youth music tutor, Harry completed a Music Degree at the University of Plymouth, specialising in Music Psychology and Performance. His passion for education led him to complete his PGCE and this has enabled him to work in a number of primary schools across the Southwest.

As a Deputy Headteacher and SENDCo, Harry completed his post graduate certificate in SEND and has more recently begun his National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH). Harry has a passion for inclusive education and how by creating opportunities for all learners in enables them to flourish and reach their full potential.