Meet Our Team

Simone Payne
CEO
Simone co-founded 4myschools in 2008 quickly making a difference to recruitment into schools across Essex, Suffolk, Hertfordshire and Norfolk. Simone is passionate about quality of service and making a social impact to people’s lives across the UK and those less fortunate around the world. Simone enjoys climbing mountains and has conquered Base Camp Everest and Mount Kilimanjaro, each time raising money for causes which impact education in the UK and overseas.
On her last trip to Tanzania Simone was able to experience the impact 4myschools makes to children there and one day hopes to visit the Well we built in Ethiopia.
Simone is the elected Vice Chair of the Education Sector Group at The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) who set the standards for the industry across the UK.
Simone has four children, four grandchildren and a Weimaraner dog called Monty who takes her on long walks across Hertfordshire where she lives.

Ian Walker
Head of Operational Improvement
Ian joined 4myschools in Aug 2018 and has over 20 years’ experience of working in the recruitment industry. His key focus is on ensuring that through our processes and procedures colleagues, candidates and clients enjoy a great experience of 4myschools. Ian is passionate about getting things right first time! In his spare time Ian is a keen baker, a subscriber to BBC Good Food and an avid cat lover!

Helen Darling
Head of SEND and Essex Primary School Recruitment
Helen joined 4myschools in March 2020. She joined 4myschools to work for an Education specialist and has over 20 years’ experience recruiting for the education sector. Helen has a real passion for SEND and believes in finding the right person to work with each individual pupil or student ensuring the needs of the child are met.
Helen covers teacher recruitment to Suffolk and Essex, finding teachers jobs in Chelmsford, Basildon, Brentwood, Ipswich and Wickford to name but a few.
Helen has 3 children of her own who keep her busy, and a two-year-old Red Fox Labrador who loves swimming in the sea and yukky ditches.

Syvonne Wilson
Senior Recruitment Consultant
Syvonne joined 4myschools in November 2013 having come from a retail management background. Syvonne was able to develop her career within 4myschools by completing a level 3 REC Certificate in Recruitment Practise and is currently working towards a Level 4 REC Diploma in Recruitment Management. In her spare time Syvonne is a CrossFit athlete and is very creative when it comes to baking cakes. Syvonne lives on the Essex/ Suffolk/Cambridge borders so is well placed to meet candidates in Ipswich, Stowmarket, Saffron Walden and Cambridge to name but a few.

Alan Mansfield
Specialist Recruitment Consultant
Alan first started working in Education recruitment in 2013 and joined 4myschools in February 2015. He enjoys building relationships with both candidates and clients and loves finding candidates their perfect role. Alan works with Secondary schools in Suffolk and Essex working in Chelmsford, Ipswich, Harlow and Braintree and many of the other towns across the region. Previously he worked in the Health and Fitness industry for 10 years as a Personal Trainer and Sales Manager. Alan still enjoys spending time at the gym and out walking his dog Maisie, who is a lovable little Schnoodle!

Paul Matthews
Candidate and School Support Consultant
Paul has been with the 4myschools team since 2012 following a long-term role working in HR and recruiting within the private healthcare sector. He likes the fast-paced environment and enjoys helping clients with their permanent recruitment needs and candidates in their career pathways. In his spare time Paul is a keen fitness enthusiast and frequents the gym on a regular basis!

Bryony Lopez
Specialist Primary and SEN Recruitment Consultant
Bryony was always destined to work in the education sector in some capacity. Initially she thought it was as a teacher but then, in 2006, she started a position as a trainee Education Recruitment Consultant and has loved it ever since. Bryony takes her responsibility of finding quality, specialist staff for SEND and vulnerable students seriously and is passionate about finding the right person for the right job. Her job satisfaction comes from hearing that a young person with identified needs feels encouraged and supported enough to meet their individual goal(s). Also, when she speaks to her candidates and they say that she has helped find them their perfect job Bryony feels hugely satisfied and content she has made a difference to someone’s life.
Bryony covers teacher recruitment in Essex, finding teachers jobs in primary schools in Colchester, Harlow and Great Dunmow to name but a few.

Katie Joyce
Norfolk Candidate and School Support Consultant
Katie first joined 4myschools in 2009 within the compliance team and progressed quickly to recruitment consultant for Hertfordshire. After a change of career and a relocation to Norfolk, Katie re-joined 4myschools in 2018 as a support consultant within our Norfolk Branch. Katie enjoys nothing more than personally visiting our schools and building relationships across the county. Katie is a busy mum to 3 so spends her time supporting their activities such as football where she helps with tea, coffee and cakes. She is also the chairperson for the PTA at an Infants school.

Daniela Robinson
Recruitment Consultant Hertfordshire and Essex
Dannii joined 4myschools in August 2020 after relocating from Lincolnshire to Essex/Hertfordshire border. With 5 years of Recruitment experience, Dannii has vast knowledge in quality recruitment and holds the REC Level 3 Certificate in Recruitment Practice. Dannii really loves having a positive impact on peoples’ lives and finds an enormous satisfaction from helping others and building relationships. In her spare time Dannii enjoys nothing better than putting her ‘bushcraft skills’ to use which involves survival and wild camping – our very own Ray Mears!

Jasmine Purcell
Compliance and candidate support
Jasmine joined 4myschools in 2016 as a school leaver at an apprenticeship level, and then went on to complete this and gained the title of compliance team member. She enjoys being able to help candidates and loves supporting the rest of the team. She has always had a keen interest in making a difference to people’s lives, so being able to help candidates gain work and enjoy what they do is a huge success for her. Outside of work Jasmine has an interest in fashion and make up and the latest trends.

Isata Sangarie
Specialist Recruitment Consultant
Isata joined 4myschools in November 2020 and has over 10 years’ experience working within the Education Recruitment sector. Before joining 4myschools she ran a successful secondary desk within London where she supported her schools with both teaching and classroom support roles. Isata enjoys building close working relationships with both her schools and candidates to ensure that she meets their specific needs every time. Isata is a busy mum of 2 who enjoys keeping fit and regularly attends the gym.

Alison McGregor
Compliance and Safeguarding Officer
Alison joined 4myschools in October 2020 and holds a Level 5 CIPD Diploma in Human Resource Management. Formerly an Early Years’ professional and Further Education Lecturer she is passionate about the training and provision of quality professionals for the safeguarding of children and young people. Alongside her weekend passion for growing her own vegetables and salad crops Alison is a keen Formula 1 fan and likes nothing better than watching a race on a Sunday afternoon, she’s even rubbed shoulders with some of motor sports key figures!