Gaia Learning Press Coverage

23 July 2024

Gaia Learning appoints new COO as growth continues

Online learning provider Gaia Learning ends its most successful academic year to date with the appointment of Kelly Davis as its Fractional Chief Operating Officer, as demand continues to increase.

Davis brings with her a wealth of experience from education and EdTechs, with a background of teaching English across the globe and being one of the leading pioneers within online schooling. She was the Co-Founder of the successful American online school Kubrio and has since been an educational technology consultant working with various EdTechs globally enhancing their growth.

“We are really excited to welcome Kelly to Gaia Learning as our Fractional COO at this key time of growth for our pioneering EdTech organisation, as we look ahead to the next academic year. With our international and UK enquiries reaching record heights, we are continuing to invest in our expanding team to meet demand, working together to keep helping neurodivergent children love learning with personalised education online. We know that now, more than ever, schools need flexible, digital solutions that can scale within budget supporting each neurodivergent child’s needs,” says Kate Longworth, CEO of Gaia Learning.

Gaia Learning was set up in 2019 and delivers live, online learning for neurodivergent children aged 8-16 with ADHD and Autism. It is a Cambridge Registered International School Online and the first online learning provider to be awarded the ADHD Friendly School award from the ADHD Foundation in 2023.

“Gaia Learning has been on my radar for a while, and I’m really pleased to now be a part of the team at this key point of growth. I am particularly impressed with the relationships the Gaia Learning educators have with their pupils – from onboarding to creating personalised learning plans. They really lift them up and elevate their achievements and embrace the power of communities, which is so vital to online education success.

“I am looking forward to adding my experience to the team looking at how we continue to enhance and develop to accommodate the growing number of pupils, families and partners wanting to be part of our Gaia Learning community,” says Kelly Davis, Fractional COO of Gaia Learning.

Last month Gaia Learning was crowned as the second-best online school in the UK, being shortlisted alongside just four others in the ‘Online School of the Year’ category of the National Tutoring Awards for their “unique approach to designing and delivering their curriculum whilst working in partnership with schools and MATs to support teachers, SENCO’s and those who care about the future of education and young people as passionately as they do”.

To find out more contact Isabel Johnston on isabel@gaialearning.co.uk or 07818345936.

Alternatively, contact CEO Kate Longworth on kate@gaialearning.co.uk or 07717203763.

Praetura Ventures has shortlisted 12 companies for a new initiative designed to identify the most promising start-ups in the North of England and support them with equity funding.

This exciting news comes at a time of significant growth for Gaia Learning as the team support more schools families across the UK and worldwide.

Announced in March, the PraeSeed programme (pronounced ‘pre-seed’) received more than 200 applications from start-ups in a wide range of sectors, including AI, healthcare, hospitality, leisure, manufacturing, robotics and SaaS.

Gaia Learning are amongst a shortlisted list of 12 businesses who will attend a series of workshops from later stage founders and experts in their field.

The sessions will focus on helping the founders across Praetura’s ‘6Ms’ model, helping them develop their future plans, fundraising roadmap, financial model and go to market strategy, alongside specialist sessions in marketing, leadership, sales and HR.

Gaia Learning is a pioneering online learning provider for learners aged 8-16 dedicated to neurodivergent children and committed to providing learning experiences that challenge, inspire and empower students.

Founded in 2019 by tech obsessed Geography teacher Kirstin Coughtrie, due to the inadequacies she faced in mainstream school for her neurodivergent son who, like herself, has ADHD. In 2021, education & marketing entrepreneur CEO Kate Longworth joined Gaia Learning, after finding Kirstin on LinkedIn, when facing challenges with her own daughter’s suspected PDA.

In less than five years, they’ve taken Gaia Learning from a small, specialist tuition business to an award-winning Cambridge Registered national alternative education provider, partnering with schools, local authorities and families across the UK and beyond.

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For press enquiries or partnerships please contact isabel@gaialearning.co.uk.