Aion Consultancy

Strategic & Operational Leadership in ALN, FE and HE Education

With over thirty years of experience, Paul Garnault provides visionary consultancy for educational institutions — fostering inclusive environments and driving impactful organisational change, aligning strategic initiatives with the profound needs of learners and stakeholders.

About Paul

Paul has been a Head of Academy for Birmingham Metropolitan College, and has held leadership roles at Coleg Gwent, Merthyr Tydfil College and Gloucester College. His focus is engagement first: without engagement there is no retention and no achievement. He spent eleven years in Additional Learning Needs (ALN/SEN) as a Principal and teacher, which gives him a real understanding of the challenges the modern learner actually faces.

This is the Trauma-Informed approach.

• Principal — Ruskin Mill College, Stroud
• Principal — Coleg Plas Dwbl, Pembrokeshire
• Head of Academy — Birmingham Metropolitan College
• Head of Creative Industries — Kidderminster College
• Senior Lecturer — Merthyr Tydfil College
• Lecturer in Post-Graduate Theatre Studies — Cardiff University
• NEETs — Not in Education, Employment or Training — European Commission · The Artisan Project for young people
• Artistic Director — Wales' Actors Company

Approach

Paul is passionate about individuation and the psychology of learning. He uses narrative and engagement to help students rewrite their own story and grow into their potential.

• Engagement — discovering “the element”: helping young people engage through passion, not pressure.
• Inclusion — building effective, cost-efficient environments, with deep expertise in EHCP processes.
• Individualisation — attending to the unique narrative of every learner, so that advancement is genuine rather than statistical.

Key competencies

• Strategic leadership — proven ability to execute comprehensive strategies that enhance education delivery and drive quality improvement.
• Inclusive education — expertise in ALN and Therapeutic Education (PSTE).
• Quality assurance — robust frameworks for achieving outstanding outcomes in Estyn and Ofsted inspections.
• Governance & finance — experienced in multimillion-pound budget management and resource optimisation.

Professional milestones

• Principal & Development Director, Ruskin Mill Trust (2014–2024) — led strategic development across Welsh provisions, achieving a 42% increase in enrolments.
• Director of Practical Skills Therapeutic Education — oversaw education implementation, aligning government priorities with learner needs in Wales.
• Curriculum innovation — directed the creation of bespoke land-based and performing arts curriculums, integrating therapeutic and sustainable practices.
• Foodbank Project Lead (2025–present) — applying strategic management to community-focused initiatives.