With just under 30 years experience of primary education in the South West of England, Simon was until very recently the Executive Headteacher of 2 large Plymouth primary schools, Prince Rock and Salisbury Road.

For the last 4 years Simon has also been leading the newly formed ‘Learning Academies Trust’ MAT (Multi Academy Trust) as its first Chief Executive Officer. This 8 school MAT is responsible for educating just under 3000 pupils across Plymouth, where Simon leads on all aspects of school improvement. Simon is also an experienced NLE (National Leader of Education) and the joint lead Headteacher of the Plymouth Teaching School Alliance, one of the first 200 in the UK. As an active NLE, Simon has undertaken a number of successful deployments supporting schools, including periods of substantive acting headship.

Simon is one of the founding directors of ‘Leading Schools South West’ which runs National College leadership programmes across the South West peninsula. Simon has also represented Plymouth on Ofsted’s ‘South West Regional Headteacher Reference Group’ and has represented the South West on the Education Development Trust’s (EDT’s) ‘National Advisory Group’ for the Schools Partnership Programme. Simon has also undertaken work for the DFE as a ‘Primary Expert’ supporting the Regional Schools Commissioners Office in the South West. Simon has trained historically as an Ofsted inspector in the UK and has recently undertaken some team inspection and accreditation work for EDT in Dubai and Thailand, while continuing to lead his 8 school Multi Academy Trust in the UK.