I am delighted to serve as a Director of the Learning Academies Trust. As a former leader in the domain of education and children’s services, my career to date has been driven by a moral and professional aspiration to facilitate and support collaborative professional practice. This is not new, nor is it revolutionary, but I hope that my experience and skills can support The Learning Academies Trust achieve its key goals.

The formal partnership of schools and services under one accountable body needs careful crafting, aligned strategy and ambitious governance. Furthermore, it will need to ensure that accountability and engagement with its local communities remains secure. Shared resource and expertise should be used to ensure collaborative advantage and, as schools embark upon this change, strong but caring leadership will be required. As a Director and currently the Chair of the Trust Board, I will want to witness such practice and support and challenge the Trust to ensure that outcomes for the children and staff in its care are maximised.

I have been a head teacher of two primary schools, led the design and opening of a £37 million multi agency campus under Private Finance funding and held responsibility for a nursery, children’s centre and children’s home for children with disabilities. In addition, I have been a governor of Woodfield Primary School since 2012 and I have a master’s degree in education. For the past seven years I have been lecturing for The Learning Institute, under Worcester University, on a BA degree in Professional Practice, supervising students undertaking Initial Teacher Training and delivering level 7 leadership apprenticeships.

The new demands of a changing education system provide many challenges and opportunities and I look forward to playing my part in the governance of an ambitious and growing Learning Academies Trust.