Working for a better future

Allen has over 35 years experience of working as a teacher, adviser, local authority officer, OfSTED inspector and an education consultant. Allen was a manager of the Inclusion Support Services in the highly successful Telford and Wrekin authority and undertook a lead role in developing the provision for looked-after children. After working as an external consultant to the Every Child Matters and the subsequent Change for Children programmes, Allen has taken on the role as a Core Team Member of the Narrowing the Gap Project. Allen is now an accredited sector specialist for C4EO and sits on the National Themed Advisory Group for vulnerable children and young people. In January 2009, Allen in conjunction with Chris Brannan and Mike Searle developed Bridge4Learning, an independent school for children and young people with significant social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. Allen is also a trustee on New Start’s management board.