Meet our team

Janie Richardson, Founder

Janie Richardson is one of the most reliable school search consultants in London offering trusted, expert and confidential advice. Janie is the founder of Janie Richardson School Search and co-founder of Yellowbird Education.

Janie’s career spans teaching experience across the world and more recently working in some highly sought after London schools. With first hand experience of relocation, school entry, admissions procedures, interview practice and exam taking, Janie and her team can support families fully.

In her role as Head Teacher in central London prep schools, she regularly witnessed the stress and pressure placed on families relocating to the UK and the need for experienced school search consultants who truly care about the needs and interests of their clients.

“My role as a Head Teacher in Central London has provided me with invaluable knowledge and experience about schools. This insight – combined with being a parent myself – has enabled me to place children in a wide range of schools.” 

Charlotte Faber, School Search Consultant

Charlotte was educated at Heathfield School, Ascot, and then gained a BA in Modern History from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. She then achieved her PGCE from London South Bank University in 2008. Charlotte was Headmistress of the prestigious Garden House Girls’ School in London since 2013, where she worked since 2006.  During her time as Head, her priority was helping each and every girl on their journey towards reaching her potential, achieving excellent academic results to both London Day and boarding schools, with a focus along the way on happiness and kindness.  Charlotte is familiar with the early stages of education, and with the prep school world, especially the important transfer to secondary education at 11/13+ or, for some children, to a preparatory school at 7 or 8+.  

Charlotte is a Governor at Heathfield School, Ascot, a girl’s 11-18 boarding and day school and at Conifers, Midhurst, a co-ed 3-13 prep school. She remains closely affiliated with IAPS through their mentoring for new heads scheme. She is an education and regulatory advisor for other educational agencies.

Sabine Hook, School Search Consultant

Sabine was educated at Queen’s Gate School in London before reading English Literature at the University of Durham. After graduating from Durham in 2005 she gained a PGCE qualification in Early Years and Primary School teaching from UCL Institute of Education – University College London.

Sabine gained first-hand experience in the British state school system, initially as a Class Teacher and then as Head of Early Years. On top of this, she also has experience of the independent school sector, having taught in a British international school as well as a prestigious inner-London nursery school.

Sabine left full-time teaching in 2012. Recognising the complexities and increasing competition for nursery school places in London, she was one of the early pioneers of nursery consultancy. Sabine has been working as a nursery and school consultant for the last 7 years and has developed strong relationships with the most popular London nurseries and schools. This, coupled with her knowledge of how young children learn and the 3, 4 and 5+ assessments used in many London schools, allows Sabine to offer parents the highest quality advice and support in finding places at the best nurseries and schools.

Jimmy Beale, Boarding School Consultant

Jimmy Beale worked in the UK independent education sector for twenty years, having gained his teaching qualification at Bristol University. He worked in both single-sex and co-educational day and boarding schools; his last two roles were as Deputy Headmaster of a large co-educational senior school, and then as Headmaster of a leading co-educational prep school, Taunton Prep School, where he was a Founding Member of the Prep School Baccalaureate curriculum and an Independent Schools’ Inspectorate (ISI) Inspector.

Jimmy offers advice and support to families as they seek to match their child to the right school here in the UK. Over the past few years he has worked with families from all over the world and is proud to have secured places for boys and girls at schools which prove to be a superb fit for the individual. As a highly trusted and respected consultant, Jimmy works closely with families to meet their aims and ambitions.

Nicky Lawler, Administrator

Nicky graduated from University of Wollongong (Australia) in 2003 with a Bachelor of Teaching (Primary). Her working experience, however, comes from various office administration roles including: primary school and secondary school office assistant, small business office manager and also legal secretary. She has two school-aged daughters and, having recently moved from Australia, understands the challenges of finding the right school when moving to London from overseas.