Senior Leadership Team

We pride ourselves on our staff, who are all highly qualified, experienced and talented.

Read the biographies of our Senior Leadership Team and get to know our staff better.

Simon Gunton

Director

Simon Gunton is In Toto Ed’s Director. He started the provisions – based in London, Cambridge and Peterborough – after an illustrious career of nearly 30 years in music. He started his journey on a scholarship place at the Royal College of Music, where he studied trombone and piano. We guarantee you’ll have heard Simon play before as, along with having performed with all of the UK’s major symphony, chamber, and opera orchestras, he has played on the soundtracks of the James Bond, Harry Potter, and Mission Impossible films, and been fortunate enough to play with artists such as Paul McCartney, Elton John, Westlife, and Mariah Carey.

Simon’s interest in education began with leading workshops and for organisations such as the Royal Opera House, Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, Royal College of Music, Royal Academy of Music, Spitalfields Festival, British Council and Arts and Business. He was the Music Director of Escape Artists and subsequently the Director of Squeaky Gate, working with adults with mental health issues inside hospitals and the community, using music as a tool to increase wellbeing. He was also an animateur with primary and secondary school children, university students, hospice patients, autistic children, prisoners, young offenders, the probation service, homeless and mental health communities, enlivening their experiences through music.

When asked why he started In Toto Ed, Simon replied; “I had a really fantastic and fortunate career as a trombone playing musician and achieved many of my dreams, so I felt it was the right time to help others believe that they could the same.”

Emily Gunton

Director of Learning & Development, Head of In Toto London and DSL (London)

Emily Gunton is our Director of Learning and Development, and also oversees and is the DDSL for In Toto London. Emily has an extensive and impressive background in music, with a BMus (hons), Dip ABRSM, and QTS from the Royal College of Music. She worked as a freelance percussionist with clients including the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, and also led workshops for Wigmore Hall school, Britten Sinfonia, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. These workshops kickstarted Emily’s passion for teaching, and led to her role as Director of Music, Head of Co-Curricular & Outreach, and School Consultant Teacher at an independent girls’ school for ten years.

Alongside her core teaching roles, Emily is an examiner for Pearson Edexcel, an assessor for Arts Award, and guest lectures for Key Note Education. She is a strong advocate for gender equality within the curriculum, and writes around this topic articles for Music Teacher Magazine, The Guardian, and a regular column for Times Educational Supplement. She also composed a selection of pieces for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music’s new Drum Kit syllabus.

Emily’s passion has always been working with young people, helping them discover their talents and explore their interests – whether they lies within Music, Drama, Maths, or any other subject! Her favourite part of working at an alternative provision is watching young people engage in education and find the learning path that piques their interest, and ultimate allows them to progress to higher education, employment, or an apprenticeship. In her role as Director of Learning and Development, she oversees the curriculum and ensures that In Toto Ed is offering the right courses and qualifications to suit the needs of our students. While based at HQ in London, Emily works across the curriculum of all three provisions, and is the Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) for a number of our vocational qualifications, oversees student progress and supports with teaching and learning.

Stacey Green

Interim Head of In Toto Peterborough, Director of HR, Compliance & Safeguarding, and DSL (Peterborough)

Stacey Green is our Director of HR, Compliance & Safeguarding, and has also taken on the role of Interim Head of In Toto Peterborough. She has over 16 years of experience in SEND management roles, including working with both adults and children at one of the largest residential special schools in the south.

Stacey’s favourite part of her job lies within the recruitment process, ensuring that our students have access to the best possible professionals for the job. She supports both our young people and her colleagues in achieving their true potential, making sure that every individual’s needs are met and they feel happy and safe in their daily activities. An inspiring and motivated person, Stacey has dedicated her life to improving the lives of others.

Charlie Blackman-Doyle

Head of In Toto Cambridge and SENCO, & DSL (Cambridge)

Charlie Blackman-Doyle is the Head of In Toto Cambridge. He got his Qualified Teacher Status with a PGCSE from the University of Cambridge, and began his career in education with a teaching post in a mainstream school. It was here that he found his passion for supporting students with SEND, and decided to move to a role working with students with social-emotional education needs.

Alongside his teaching and management roles within educational establishments, Charlie has also held the role of Advanced Team Teach Tutor – and subsequently Cambridgeshire Therapeutic Thinking Tutor – and worked as an outreach specialist. These roles have enabled him to offer advice and ensure training is provided to staff in order to support all students – particularly those who are finding their placements challenging.

Charlie has made a big impact in his first year as Head of School, overseeing the move to the new site in Fordham. Before joining In Toto Ed, he was the Assistant Principal at a special school. His passion for working in SEND comes from a drive to enable different learning styles in a way that isn’t possible in mainstream schools. “Working at In Toto Ed is a fantastic opportunity to teach in a truly bespoke way. We are able to truly meet students’ needs, and create an education offer that they are not only part of, but enjoy.”

Mark Venters

Head of Quality & Outreach and DDSL (Peterborough)

Mark is our Head of Quality and Outreach and DDSL, Peterborough. He has been working in education in and around Peterborough for nearly 30 years, starting out as a student support worker at Peterborough College before obtaining his Level 5 Certificate in Education and Training. He was promoted to teaching within the Inclusive Learning Department, predominantly working with learners who were in danger of becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training).

Mark’s career next took him to a post within the Senior Leadership Team at a specialist autism and behaviour college, where he was Assistant Head of Curriculum. He is now holds qualifications in first aid, mental health, and TAQA 3&4. He joined us at In Toto Peterborough in 2022 where he aims to create a positive, safe, and inspiring environment where both students and staff and succeed in their goals. His favourite part of the job is helping students achieve the best possible outcomes that they deserve, and watching them grow into young adults.

Read the full staff list