About Ohana
Ohana is a modern school for an evolving world.
Designed for all children, Ohana reimagines school through belonging, flexibility, human connection and future readiness. It combines high-quality teaching, personalised pathways, emotionally intelligent design and innovative digital experiences to create a learning environment that is ambitious, deeply relational and built for modern life.
The world children are growing up in has changed. Connection now exists across communities, cultures and digital spaces, and education must evolve with it. Learning should not be limited by one building, one pace, one timetable or one traditional way of participating.
Ohana is more than school delivered online. It is a new model of education that recognises every child learns, connects and grows differently, with the flexibility to adapt while maintaining high expectations.
At Ohana, every child is known as an individual. Learners are supported to build knowledge, confidence, independence, creativity and belonging. Whether they need greater flexibility, a different pace, a personalised pathway or a school experience designed for today’s world, Ohana provides a place where they can learn, grow and thrive.
Ohana means family, and family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.
Our
Mission
Our mission is to create a future focused school experience that helps all children thrive academically, socially and personally.
We do this through relational teaching, flexible learning pathways, a high quality curriculum, emotionally intelligent design and safe, purposeful technology. Ohana helps each learner discover how they learn best, build confidence in who they are, and develop the knowledge, skills and character they need beyond school.
We believe education should evolve beyond traditional ideas of where learning happens, how relationships are formed and what meaningful participation looks like. At Ohana, connection is intentional, learning is flexible and every child has a pathway to success.
Our
Vision
To create a modern school for a changing world where every child can learn differently, belong fully, and feel seen, valued and understood.
Our
Promise
Ohana promises a school experience where children feel known, learning feels meaningful, progress feels possible and belonging is built into every part of the journey.
We are here to help every child grow with confidence, not by asking them to fit an old model of school, but by building a better one around them.
Meet some of our team
Ohana is led by an experienced team spanning education, therapeutic practice, operations, partnerships and specialist provision. Together, they are building a modern school where every learner is known, supported and given a meaningful pathway forward.
Charu Kashyap
CEO & Co-Founder
A qualified headteacher with an MA in Clinical Psychology, Charu has almost 20 years’ experience in senior leadership across children’s education and care services. She has a particular interest in neuroscience, attachment, child development and the effects of trauma on learning.
Shilpa Walia
Business Director & Co-Founder
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Shilpa studied Psychology and has held senior management roles within large residential special schools. She helped establish Odyssey Education and has played an instrumental role in shaping its development, operations and child-centred approach.
David Robinson
Director of Growth and Partnerships
David leads growth and partnership development across The O Education Group. He works with families, schools, professionals and partner organisations to strengthen awareness of Ohana and develop pathways through which more learners can access the right support.
David Coulter
Clinical and Operations Director
David brings extensive experience in clinical, therapeutic and operational leadership within specialist education. His work focuses on integrating education and therapy, supporting multidisciplinary practice and creating environments that respond to the needs of children who have found conventional settings difficult to access.
Michala Shannon
Director of Admissions and Family Relationships
As part of The O Education Group’s executive team, Michala oversees the entire admissions journey, building strong, positive relationships with families before, during and after a child joins the school.
The O Education Group
The O Education Group brings together specialist schools, online learning and academic support services for children whose needs are not always met by traditional education.
Through Odyssey House Schools, Ohana and Orion Academics, the group creates flexible, personalised pathways built around safety, connection and meaningful progress.
Odyssey House Schools
Odyssey House School Wokingham supports neurodiverse pupils aged 7–18 who have found mainstream education challenging. Opened in 2023, it provides a bespoke, therapeutic and trauma-aware approach for academically able children, many with autism, anxiety or emotionally based school avoidance. Set in 1.5 acres of grounds, its modern low-arousal sensory environment offers specialist facilities and a calm, nurturing place to learn and thrive.
Get to know Ohana
Whether you are a family, school or professional, our team is here to answer your questions and help you understand whether Ohana could be the right fit.