The People behind
The team at AS2Educate brings together professionals from education, mentoring, sport and residential care, all working toward the same goal: helping young people rebuild confidence and move forward.
Many students have experienced disruption or challenges that have affected their wellbeing, which is why the team prioritises patience, consistency and strong relationships.
Safeguarding sits at the centre of the provision, with staff trained in safeguarding and trauma-informed approaches to ensure every young person feels safe, supported and respected.
Senior Leadership Team
The Senior Leadership Team at AS2Educate works together to ensure the provision remains safe, supportive and well-structured for young people.
Alongside overseeing day-to-day operations, the team supports staff, strengthens practice and ensures every student receives the guidance and opportunities they need to move forward. Their combined experience across education and youth services helps create a provision built on strong relationships, consistency and high expectations.
Richard Fihosy
Richard leads the overall strategic direction of AS2Educate. As Provision Manager, he ensures high standards across the provision while supporting staff and overseeing services to remain safe, effective and responsive.
He founded AS2Educate after seeing too many young people struggle to find the right environment for learning, with a focus on creating a provision where wellbeing is prioritised and young people can rebuild confidence and move forward.
Richard’s approach is shaped by his own educational journey. After early challenges in education, he went on to achieve a Diploma in Law and a degree in Psychology, experiences that continue to inform the empathy and belief he brings to his work.
Claire Ames
Claire supports the day-to-day leadership of AS2Educate and leads on safeguarding across the provision. As Designated Safeguarding Lead, she ensures strong safeguarding practices are in place while overseeing the curriculum and exam processes to support students in achieving their goals.
Claire has worked in Alternative Provision since 2015 and has experience within Children’s Services in Family Safeguarding. Currently completing her BA (Hons) in Childhood and Youth Studies, she is passionate about advocating for young people and ensuring every student feels safe, supported and able to move forward.
Karen Croft
Karen leads on pastoral support and the development of teaching and learning across AS2Educate. She works closely with staff to strengthen classroom practice and ensure students receive the right balance of academic guidance and personal support.
Alongside her leadership responsibilities, Karen continues to teach within the provision, allowing her to remain closely connected to students and the day-to-day learning environment.
Vishalie Yadav
Vishalie leads on staff wellbeing, recruitment and professional development, helping ensure AS2Educate remains a supportive and positive place for both students and staff.
Her role focuses on building a strong team culture where staff feel supported in their work with young people. Vishalie also continues to teach within the provision, bringing her experience directly into the classroom as well as the wider organisation.
Tutors
Our tutors support students to rebuild confidence while developing academic skills and independence. Through personalised lessons, they deliver programmes including King’s Trust, Duke of Edinburgh, NCFE Employability Skills and Occupational Studies, alongside life skills such as catering and AQA units.
Working in small groups and one-to-one, tutors use a person-centred, trauma-informed approach to remove barriers to learning and support progression into college, training and employment.
Learning Support Mentors
Learning Support Mentors provide essential support to students both academically and emotionally. Working alongside tutors, they offer one-to-one and small group support to help students access learning, build confidence and develop important life skills.Mentors also support enrichment and sporting activities, helping students remain engaged, feel included and develop positive relationships.
Sports & Enrichment Lead
Our Sports and Enrichment Lead delivers a programme designed to support students’ physical wellbeing, confidence and teamwork. Through activities such as fitness, sports and outdoor learning, students develop resilience and discover strengths beyond the classroom.
Our Patron -
Ayesha Fihosy
Ayesha Fihosy brings inspiration and leadership to her role as Patron of AS2Educate.
She has represented Great Britain at five World and European Championships in fencing and won a silver medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Fencing Championships in the women’s foil event.
In 2020 she was elected as a Director on the England Fencing Board, where she advocates for diversity and inclusion in sport. Alongside her sporting achievements, Ayesha has extensive experience working with young people and encouraging positive lifestyles.
As Patron, she is proud to support the work AS2Educate is doing to help young people build confidence and pursue their goals.
Join Our Team
Working at AS2Educate means being part of a team committed to supporting young people through patience, structure and belief in their potential.
We welcome applications from professionals in education, mentoring, youth work, sport or safeguarding who are passionate about making a difference and supporting young people to move forward.
For Young People
If you are a student at AS2Educate and something is worrying you, you are not expected to deal with it alone.
You can speak to any member of staff you trust, or talk directly to Claire, the Designated Safeguarding Lead, who is there to make sure you feel safe and supported.
You can speak to any member of staff you trust, or talk directly to Claire, the Designated Safeguarding Lead, who is there to make sure you feel safe and supported.
