THE DE FERRERS TRUST - Key Persons

Alison Bickle

Job Titles:

Principal
Principal of the De Ferrers Academy

I'm the eldest of four daughters, born and raised in Derbyshire. My dad is a builder and he always said that, for him, going to work each day was like getting up and doing his hobby with his advice for me being ‘do something you love, Amy'. I'm not ashamed to say that I always loved Maths! And so, having studied Maths to degree level I started a graduate scheme with BDO Stoy Hayward (later taken over by RSM) in September 2001 to study for my ACA qualification.

Brenda Parker

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Trust Leader for Initial and Early Career Teacher Training

Chris Allen

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Trust Performance and Assessment Lead

Claire Shaw

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Executive Principal of Lansdowne Infant and Eton Park Junior

Clare Hodson-Walker

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Trust Governance Manager

"Working with Directors and Governors across The de Ferrers Trust enables me to work with each of our academies; supporting, questioning and challenging to make sure that we provide all of our students with the best educational opportunities that we can." I have lived in Burton-on-Trent all my life, and I attended The de Ferrers School over 30 years ago, so it feels very appropriate to now be working as part of The de Ferrers Trust. After graduating from university, I started my teaching career in Burton. I have worked in education for nearly 24 years, including as a Primary School Headteacher in South Derbyshire. I have also worked as a School Improvement Adviser for the Local Authority, and supported young people who are Electively Home Educated. I deliver Governor Training and am a Governor at a local Primary School - so I have lots of different experiences of the education sector. I joined the Trust in April 2023, and support a diverse and committed group of Directors and Local Governors. I believe that Governors have a unique role, and that being a Governor is a real privilege; it allows you to support the growth and development of the next generation of young people without being directly involved in their education.

Emily Holmes

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Trust HR Assistant

Greg Hughes

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Trust Leader for Digital Strategy

Hannah Mason

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Trust Finance Manager

Jamie Hawkins

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Trust Lettings Manager

"I am a people person and love forging relationships with colleagues, school staff, members of the wider community and customers alike. My role rewards me with the opportunity to engage with a wide range of people and this is something that I thoroughly enjoy." Raised in Burntwood, Staffordshire, at 16, following work experience, I joined the Walsall FC Community Programme on a voluntary basis, helping them on Saturdays with coaching sessions and supervising children to attend Walsall FC home games. After school, I attended Stafford College where I studied Leisure and Tourism. After college, I spent the summer of 2001 working at a summer camp in America. This was followed by travelling from the East coast of America to the West coast in the back of a pick up truck! The journey took us to Niagara Falls, The Grand Canyon and Las Vegas to name but a few and was an incredible experience. Upon returning from the USA, I began an apprenticeship in coaching at Walsall FC. My first wage was £40 per week! I worked at Walsall FC for almost 10 years in total and left in 2007. Despite Liverpool FC being my boyhood club, I still follow Walsall closely to this day. My introduction to Community Development came about in 2010 when I secured the role of Assistant Community Development Manager at Willenhall E-Act Academy. I supported an established programme for two years until I became Community Development Manager at The de Ferrers Academy. The Trust did not exist at that time and I developed a thriving community programme for the Academy until 2017, when I left to work for a commercial lettings company. I rejoined the Trust as Trust Lettings Manager in September 2020 with the remit of centralising the Lettings function, developing community engagement with all schools in the Trust and returning a ‘profit' for our schools to reinvest in facilities. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with more schools and developing a successful Lettings function. Personally, I have three children whom I am incredibly proud of and enjoy spending time with them and my partner. I am also the Assistant Manager at semi-professional side Chasetown FC and believe that many of the qualities required to be a successful football manager are similar to those required in the workplace.

Jamie Livingston

Job Titles:

Trust Compliance and Sustainability Manager

"I have a passion for improving sustainability and really enjoy working with students across the Trust. The children within our Trust are the future, and in my role, I help enable them to live sustainable lives, by listening to their thoughts and ideas and giving them an opportunity to implement change. " I have worked for The de Ferrers Trust since October 2016 having relocated from Dorset where I grew up. Before I started working for the Trust I spent a year in Perth, Western Australia on a working holiday visa. While in Australia I worked in a winery as well as labouring on building sites My first job in the Trust was as a Caretaker on the Dove Campus at The de Ferrers Academy and I was then promoted to Site Supervisor on the Trent Campus. In 2021 I moved to the Trust Central Team as the Estate's Officer. I commenced my current role of Trust Compliance & Sustainability Manager in July 2022. Since covid I have taken up golf and can often be found enjoying the peace and quiet of the local countryside. I am involved in the local rugby club as a coach of my son's rugby group and the fixture secretary for the mini-junior section.