Andy Holder

Group Operations Director

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Andy Holder is the Group Operations Director of Cavendish Education.

Andy has over eighteen years of experience within specialist education and children’s services. Working in and leading schools within both the local authority and independent sectors, Andy has developed a broad understanding of what best supports children with unique learning profiles to thrive and has a strong track record of driving quality improvement in schools.

Before joining Cavendish, Andy led a portfolio of five specialist schools, two specialist colleges and thirteen residential homes in the South West of England. Initially a Principal, leading a school to an Outstanding Ofsted judgement, Andy soon took on a role where he supported neighbouring schools to reach the same standards.

Earlier in his career, Andy worked with a large rural local authority, contributing towards their autism strategy, opening several new autism specialist schools and ensuring that children and young people who needed support were able to access it as easily as possible. During this time, Andy also sat on the local authority complex cases panel and so has experience of the process that leads to placements being made in specialist provision.

As an experienced and qualified practitioner and a former Responsible Individual with Ofsted, Andy oversees the safeguarding function at Cavendish Education.