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As a Headteacher I have led my schools through successive outstanding Ofsted inspections. I took Oakwood High School through academy conversion in 2012, then opened a 6th Form College and Primary Department. Oakwood Academy became a National Teaching School and I was the National Leader of Education for several years. We have supported schools across our region and helped bring through the next generation of SEND teachers. I was also an Ofsted Inspector between 2018-2019 until I became the CEO of Kings Academy Trust.
Kassia Academy in Warrington joined our Trust in 2020. We opened a 19-25 provision for young adults with disabilities called the Excel Hub at Media City Salford. We were successful in a Free School application, and Acer Academy will open in September 2025. Arbour Academy and Moss Valley Primary joined us in 2023. And we are awaiting The Deans Primary to join us in 2025. Our growth plan shows that we should have 10 schools by 2030.
I have worked in education for nearly 30 years and have worked in a wide variety of settings, across all ages and all abilities. I am committed to ensuring that all young people get the best education possible and we give children the start in life they deserve. I was privileged to be named in the Queens new year’s honours list in 2021 for services to education and received my OBE in November 2022. It is an honour to serve the most vulnerable children, often in areas of significant economic deprivation.
I have worked in special education for over 20 years. Although I have had many different roles within schools, my specialism is in the pastoral care of children and young people and working teachers to support and engage with pupils with complex learning difficulties and disabilities.
Over this time, I have developed and maintained provision within schools to support pupils’ social, emotional, behavioural and mental health needs and put in place, facilities and alternative education programmes for children with complex needs which has enabled these pupils to fully engage in learning and school life.
My current role as COO, involves with closely with the head teachers of the schools within Trust on all operational matters, including, HR, Health & Safety, Project Management, Site Management and ICT.
I joined Kings Academy Trust as CFO in the summer of 2021, bringing with me a wealth of experience in education finance garnered over a twenty-five year career.
There are several highlights in my background that I believe it is useful to share. I spent the first part of my career providing financial support services to the Grant-Maintained sector (in many ways a precursor to Academies and Multi-Academy Trusts), and I later went on to manage the support services division of this company.
I was then appointed as the Business Manager, and later Finance Director, of a prestigious north-west school (a state sector grammar consistently ranked in the top 10 schools nationally) before being a key part of the team that led the process to convert to Academy status, create a Multi-Academy Trust, and manage the incorporation of a further eight schools into the Trust.
A highlight in the later part of my career has been an 18-month period working as a freelance consultant to open a new school in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The school had a particular remit for improving the quality of Saudi girls’ education, which has historically lagged behind boys’ education, and I was proud that the school opened on time, within budget and effected positive social change.
I am delighted to have joined Kings’ Academy Trust, and I believe the ethos of the Trust echoes my own. I hope that my role in the organisation can help in some small way to improve the outcomes of the young people we serve.
I have worked for Oakwood Academy since 2010 and held many positions within this time. I started as a 1.1 worker progressing to Teaching assistant, learning mentor, lead learning mentor and inclusion manager/ Deputy safeguarding lead. I am also the staff governor, representing both staff and pupil voice to all governing bodies.
More recently, alongside my role as Inclusion Manager I have taken up the position of the Director of Trust Safeguarding, working for Kings Academy Trust, overseeing the safeguarding practices and procedures for all trust schools working in collaboration with them to ensure outstanding practice throughout.
From the moment I began my career at Oakwood, I realised my passion for supporting the most vulnerable young people in the community, being an advocate for them and their families to ensure their safety and inclusion, not just within an education environment but for their future lives.
I have dedicated the past 21 years of my career to working in SEND education. I began my journey as a Teaching Assistant in a mainstream high school, where I developed a passion for supporting students with diverse learning needs.
After qualifying as a teacher, I transitioned into special education, a field I have now been immersed in for 18 years. My roles have spanned both pastoral care and quality of education, allowing me to develop a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted needs of SEND students.
For six years, I served as Deputy Head, where I honed my leadership skills and contributed to strategic planning and the overall improvement of educational outcomes for our students. Additionally, I have worked as a Specialist Leader of Education (SLE), providing school-to-school support specifically focused on SEND. This role has allowed me to collaborate with various educational settings, sharing best practices and driving improvements in SEND provision.
I am also a trained NASEN SEND Reviewer, which qualifies me to conduct thorough SEND reviews across different educational institutions. I have completed these reviews in multiple settings, helping schools enhance their SEND support.
Furthermore, I have delivered SEND support CPD sessions to mainstream schools, equipping colleagues with the knowledge and skills needed to support SEND students in their classrooms effectively.
In my current role, I serve as the Director of Education for Kings Academy Trust, responsible for the quality of education across all our schools. Our Trust is blended, encompassing special, alternative provisions, and mainstream schools. This position allows me to oversee and enhance the educational experiences and outcomes for a diverse range of students.
Lindsay graduated from Salford University with a degree in Visual Arts before qualifying as a Teacher of Art from MMU in 2006. Lindsay enjoyed 10 years of teaching Art as an Assistant Headteacher in a Secondary Mainstream School in Rochdale before relocating and joining the team at Kassia in 2016. Lindsay is passionate about working with the most vulnerable children and strives to improve their life chances through therapeutic care and inclusive education.
I graduated from the University of Wales Aberystwyth with a BSc (Hons), followed by a PGCE. I have gained over fourteen years of experience in education and teaching as a class teacher and team leader with various age groups and different types of schools, both in the UK and abroad.
I joined The Kings Academy Trust family officially in 2021.
I joined Kings Academy Trust in December 2022 as Trust Finance Assistant following the completion of my Masters in International Business. My journey in Finance and Administration began in 2018, concurrently pursuing a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. Additionally, I’ve achieved milestones in the ACCA with the completion of a few papers. I am proud to be contributing to a team dedicated to shaping a brighter future for the next generation.
I have dedicated my career to education for over two decades, beginning in 2001 after qualifying as a teacher. My journey started in a Mainstream Primary School in Salford, where I taught within KS2 for the first three years of my teaching career.
In 2004, I joined Oakwood Academy as a Year 7 teacher and quickly discovered my passion for SEND. This passion led me to the role of Head of Year, where I focused on building strong relationships with students and guiding their academic and personal growth.
In 2014, I became part of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to the strategic vision and development of the school. In 2020, I was honoured to be appointed as Headteacher at Oakwood Academy, where I am committed to fostering a positive and inclusive environment for both students and staff.
Most notably, in January 2024, Oakwood Academy was rated Outstanding by Ofsted. This is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our entire school community. Leading Oakwood Academy continues to be a deeply rewarding experience, and I remain dedicated to ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive.
From January 2025 I will be taking on the role of Executive Headteacher for Oakwood Academy and the new Free School, Acer Academy, which is set to open in September 2025. This new venture represents an exciting chapter in my career, and I look forward to bringing my experience and passion to creating an exceptional educational environment for future students.