Vanessa Danz is an accomplished education leader with over 17 years’ experience in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), school leadership, and educational strategy. As Director of Specialist Education at Cavendish Education, she drives the strategic development and implementation of SEND provision across multiple schools, ensuring high quality, research-informed practice that transforms outcomes for learners.
Her career spans senior leadership roles in both mainstream and specialist settings, including SENDCo, Assistant Headteacher, and Strategic Advisor where she has worked across the state and independent sectors, developing a strong command of inclusion, policy development, safeguarding, governance, and stakeholder engagement.
Her academic grounding, a BSc in Psychology, PGCE, and the NASENCO Award, underpins her ability to bridge research and practice, bringing both rigour and practical leadership to her work. She is also an active member of BPS, NASEN, Patoss, and BERA, connecting her practice with the wider professional community. She sits on the UCL Institute of Education Advisory Board, advising on national SEND research priorities, and is a recognised contributor to panel discussions shaping inclusive education. She also serves as a Trustee for a specialist Multi Academy Trust.
Through her expertise and collaborative leadership, Vanessa drives innovation in SEND provision at Cavendish Education, ensuring that neurodiverse learners are placed at the heart of its ethos and practice.
