Meet The Team

Ben Kirk – Founder & Director (non-teaching)

Ben founded Renew Education with a clear mission: to give young people another chance to succeed when mainstream education isn’t working for them. A qualified teacher and entrepreneur, Ben has spent over a decade working with schools across Somerset and beyond.

Alongside Renew, Ben also leads Inspired Schools, a successful organisation dedicated to getting more children active every day. His experience working directly with schools, staff, and families has given him a deep understanding of the challenges many young people face — and a passion for creating solutions that make a difference.

As a father to two daughters, Ben brings both a professional and personal commitment to his work. He believes every child should feel valued, supported, and capable of achieving their potential, no matter their background or circumstances.

“Our vision is simple: no young person should feel like education has given up on them.”

Peter Ford - Head of Centre & Designated Safeguarding Lead

Pete is proud to serve as Head of Centre and Designated Safeguarding Lead at Renew Education. With over 23 years of experience in the education sector and a prior background in industry, he brings a wealth of knowledge, leadership, and practical insight to his role.

Originally from the Midlands, Pete relocated to Somerset nearly a decade ago to take on a senior leadership position in secondary education. Reflecting on his journey, Pete says:

“I have a huge amount of affection for my time working in Bridgwater and am committed to leading a team that provides young people with the best possible care, support, and nurturing. I don’t believe that alternative provision is the end of the road for children — rather, it’s a new and valuable opportunity to help each young person thrive and succeed.”

Laurelle Herft – Teacher and Mentor

I have experience in working as a Sports Coach in different and challenging settings, including in a pupil referral unit. I enjoy supporting children with a range of needs and behaviours as this role requires me to be highly adaptive and responsive — where no two days are ever the same. I often have to adjust sessions based on how the children are feeling or behaving on that particular day, which has helped me develop strong flexibility, patience and understanding.

I also work in an alternative provision setting with children who have been bereaved or who display challenging behaviours for a variety of reasons.

I really enjoy the work I do, particularly the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with the children and share in the sense of humour and banter they bring.

To support my work, I have completed a Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) Facilitation Practitioner course, an anxiety workshop, bereavement support training, and anticipatory grief support training.

Laura Gatford – Senior Teacher & Mentor

Laura is an experienced teacher with over 15 years working in mainstream education, specialising in supporting children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Social, Emotional & Mental Health (SEMH) needs. Her deep understanding of the challenges faced by young people has been further enriched by her recent two years working within CAMHS, where she developed a strong foundation in child and adolescent mental health.

At Renew Education, Laura leads as Senior Teacher and Mentor, working closely with students who find traditional educational settings difficult to access. She is passionate about re-engaging children in learning by creating safe, nurturing environments where they feel heard, valued, and capable of achieving their dreams.

Laura holds high aspirations for every child she works with, combining her strong teaching expertise with a deeply empathetic approach. As a parent herself, she brings warmth and insight to her role, always striving to support the whole child—academically, emotionally, and socially.

Her work is grounded in Renew Education’s ethos: Reset, Rebuild, Renew. These aren’t just words—they are the foundation of everything she does. Whether it’s a new week, a new day, or a new moment, Laura believes every child deserves the opportunity to reset, rebuild, and renew their journey toward success.

Louise Murphy – Teacher & Mentor

Louise understands the difficulties and challenges faced by young people. Louise is a mother to four children, including two who experience having SEN.

Louise is experienced within education and has worked supporting teaching and as an active behavioural specialist. Her previous settings have provided expertise in supporting young people with SEN and SEMH who face barriers in mainstream education. At Renew Education, she combines her teaching expertise with a friendly and supportive approach to create engaging learning environments. 

Louise's empathetic and compassionate approach helps students feel safe, understood, heard, and motivated to make positive choices. Louise is passionate about helping every young person recognise their strengths and build the confidence they need to develop move forward.