Mary Lawson is Principal of the Krishna Avanti Primary School in Leicester. She has a passionate belief in the value and contribution of Faith Schools on children, and even wider society. Her previous experience include 2 successful spells as a Headteacher; one being a rural school in Lincolnshire and the other in a deprived part of Leicestershire. In the final OFSTED reports before leaving the school, the Leadership and Management of both schools was graded as outstanding. Most recently, Mary served as the Diocesan Director of Education for the Leicester Diocese, where she had oversight of 97 schools and academies. This involved working with directors and senior civil servants with the Department for Education, to influence the strategic direction of national education policy and processes.