Our Team

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  Mary Lonsdale Founder

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  Mary is a Chartered Accountant who spent ten years working in the City before seeing the light and moving into the world of tutoring. Her vision is to help children improve their confidence, ignite a life-long love of learning and cope better with stressful situations like exams. Mary loves Bikram yoga and can often be found at the weekend beside a freezing hockey pitch in South London.

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  Rachel Arbuckle Project Manager

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  Following a degree in Graphic Design, Rachel worked as a photographer’s agent for 10 years. Now, as the mother of two teenage sons, she has an in-depth knowledge of tutoring from 11+ through to A levels. At Mentor, she focuses on research and development, educational workshops and courses, and online learning. Outside work, she’s a magpie with a love of anything mid-century.

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  Clare Rees Tutor Recruitment Manager

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  Following a degree in Business & Technology Management, Clare worked at IBM for 13 years before spending 10 years living in Singapore, Tokyo and New York. Having navigated NYC kindergartens and now the London school system with her two children, Clare is well versed in this area. At Mentor, she focuses on tutor recruitment across all subjects. Outside work, Clare is a spin enthusiast.

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  Edward Cooper Client Manager

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  Edward has a passion for providing an exceptional service and works with both clients and tutors to help them get the best possible results. Before joining Mentor, Edward worked as a recruitment consultant where he focused exclusively on the education and teaching sector. In his spare time, he enjoys classical music, writing, acting and competing in charity runs.

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  Yasmin Orchard Client Manager, Additional Needs Provision

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  After a double honours degree at UEA and Masters at SOAS, Yasmin worked as a producer at Channel 4 News. She has three children, two with special educational needs, and has helped them navigate 7+, 11+, GCSEs and A levels in both the state and independent sectors. At Mentor, Yasmin draws on her experience to help others find the right support for their children.

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  Alida Casey Schools Consultant

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  Educated at Cambridge University, Alida has over 20 years' teaching experience in the UK education system. A former Year 6 Head and 11+ co-ordinator at Fulham Preparatory School, she has extensive knowledge of the UK's independent schools, enabling her to help families identify the schools where their children will flourish, and help children prepare for entrance examinations and interviews.

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  Dr Anna Smith SENs Consultant

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  Anna has many years’ experience conducting assessments of learning difficulties in children between the ages of 7 and 18 years. She is a highly qualified specialist Assessor of Dyslexia, Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). She has published extensively as part of a neurological research team at Kings College Hospital. She is a senior member of the Dyslexia Action charity responsible for assessment standards and also a member of the SpLD Assessments Standards Committee. Anna has helped many children and families to identify and overcome specific learning difficulties.