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Founder & Director.

Lorena Zurbano is a qualified primary teacher (QTS) and holds a Master’s degree in Education. She founded Meta for Learning independently, building the organisation from the ground up without external funding, and continues to work with a team of collaborators.

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As Director, she leads research-informed programmes focused on dialogue, recognising that conflict is a natural and necessary part of any healthy organisation. She equips educators and institutions with the tools to turn conflict into opportunities for growth and positive change. Her work also emphasises cultural awareness and decolonising practices, and she collaborates closely with educators and clinical psychotherapists on wellbeing initiatives.

 

She recently served as Trustee and Secretary of the Self Managed Learning College, gaining direct experience of the operational and strategic challenges in higher education.

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Lorena has received a scholarship for postgraduate studies in Conflict Resolution and Transformative Approaches to Conflict.

 

Her research looks at how conflicts in educational settings can be turned into opportunities for learning and professional growth. She also mentors academic writing, making academic rigor a key area of expertise.

 

Previous Collaborators

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Andrew Tidmarsh is an accomplished director of theatre and short films, winning a Shortcutz London award for The Babysitter. He is the author of An Attitude for Acting: How to Survive and Thrive as an Actor (co-written with Dr Tara Swart) and Genre: Guide to Writing for Stage and Screen.

With extensive teaching experience, Andrew has served as Course Director for RADA’s Foundation Course and Drama Centre London’s MA in European Classical Acting. He has also been an Associate Tutor on the MA in Playwriting at Goldsmiths, University of London, and has taught acting for dancers at the English National Ballet, text and voice at Shakespeare’s Globe, and rehearsal techniques for TV and film at Wimbledon Theatre.

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At Meta for Learning, Andrew brought his expertise to workshops in drama, public speaking, creative writing, online safety and resilience workshops and more, offering invaluable guidance at a time when the pandemic challenged us all. Drawing on the principles of Self Managed Learning, he helped participants explore the groups' creativity while building confidence, resilience, and collaborative skills—benefits he witnessed firsthand as mentor.

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Andrew holds a BA (Hons) in English and German and an MA in Text and Performance Studies (with distinction) from King’s College London and RADA.

 

Since January 2023, he has been dedicating his time to a doctorate in Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy, combining his creative, educational, and psychological expertise to support young people in holistic learning and personal growth.​

 

Previous Collaborators

Tim Baynes has been painting and printmaking for over thirty years. Based in Wiltshire and married to a gardener, Tim draws inspiration from both landscapes and urban life. His early work was influenced by his travels while working for Microsoft and the BBC, and today the landscapes of Wiltshire and West Wales continue to inform his practice.

All images on this website were taken during one of his wonderful open studios at our base in RADA Studios, giving a true sense of his working environment and process.

Tim quickly understood our approach and developed bespoke tools and resources tailored for young learners, demonstrating what is possible when creativity and expertise come together.

He has collaborated with architect-photographer Trevor Clapp on Curious Coast, a project celebrating the seaside and exploring the coastal marvels of Kent and Essex, providing a rich source of material for his painting.

His work is held in private collections in the UK, France, Australia, and the USA, and he has exhibited at the Circus and Oakley Galleries in London. His work can be seen online at http://www.timbaynesart.co.uk, where visitors are welcome to download mini books showcasing some of his work.

To follow his ongoing projects, you can subscribe to Tim Baynes Art on Substack.

To follow Tim's substack please subscribe to Tim Baynes Art​​

Previous collaborators

Sarah Fearnely is our Design and Technology blended learning mentor. Based in Liverpool, she delivers all sessions remotely, bringing a wealth of experience as a secondary school teacher. Sarah supports Art and Design as well as any other projects that spark curiosity and creativity in young learners. She excels at tailoring her teaching to individual interests, helping students develop confidence and explore new ideas.

Sarah has extensive experience guiding students through a wide range of achievements, including the Duke of Edinburgh Award, Arts Awards, and GCSEs. Her innovative approach to blended learning ensures that every learner feels supported, challenged, and inspired, whether they are pursuing structured qualifications or independent creative projects.

Her dedication, adaptability, and creative insight make her an exceptional mentor and a trusted collaborator, empowering young learners to realise their potential and achieve their goals.

Sarah is the co-founder of Wildlings Forest & Beach School.

​Supporters

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Ceri Jones, Food Officer at the Garden Museum, supported our community led project by offering a bespoke series of cooking workshops. In these sessions, participants didn’t just learn recipes—they learned about seasonal food, and where it comes from. The hands-on workshops invited curiosity, experimentation, and conversation, helping everyone connect more deeply with the food they grow and share with their families.

 

In addition, our Facebook group, Home Grown, is mostly run by families and for families flexi-schooling or educating at home, but it also warmly welcomes families with children in mainstream schools who want to join after-school gardening and food-growing activities.

 

With over 100 families sharing their allotments and kitchens, the group is a living classroom: exchanging seeds, swapping recipes, exploring seasonal produce, and discovering the stories behind their home grown food and family history.