ODST - Key Persons
Abbe is a CIMA qualified accountant and previously worked in the finance team of a local NHS Trust for 10 years, before joining ODST as a Management Accountant.
Alison supports schools in the Southern hub. She has many years' experience in HR within the public sector, including within Local Government and the NHS, and has ten years' experience supporting schools in the Education Service and Schools team at West Berkshire Council.
Andrew is an FCA qualified accountant with school finance experience having previously worked for another Oxfordshire-based multi-academy trust. His experience also includes over 10 years working in private practice specialising in the education and charity sector and has worked with, and advised, a diverse range of educational organisations. Andrew has gained governance experience by supporting several Trusts and Charities in Trustee and governance roles.
Angela worked in a school environment for 2 years before joining ODST, and holds a CIPD qualification in HR. Previously Angela worked for Thames Valley Police for over 5 years, and in Social Housing. She also trained pupils as an Approved Driving Instructor for 9 years.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Member of the Leadership Team
Expertise: Education, Governance and Finance
Anne has been ODST CEO since it was founded in 2012. She was previously Diocesan Director of Education for the Diocese of Oxford, from 2011-2018.
An experienced teacher and school leader, she was Deputy Diocesan Director of Education for Salisbury Diocese after being Head of Bristol Cathedral School (11-18) until 2007. A Cambridge Theology graduate who originally trained as a teacher in Edinburgh, she had a career in retail management prior to teaching. Anne has been a senior examiner for GCSE Religious Studies, as well as examining at A level and setting questions for the Cambridge Pre-U examinations. She has been a trustee of another national Multi-Academy trust and is currently a trustee of the Oxford Diocesan Council for the Deaf.
Anne has led ODST since its inception in 2012, growing the trust from one school to becoming one of the largest and most successful MATs in the region. She is a passionate believer in putting children at the heart of education, and supporting empowerment of school leaders.
Anne was previously Diocesan Director of Education for the Oxford Diocese, and has held roles in school improvement as well as being Head of Bristol Cathedral School from 2004 to 2007.
A Theology graduate from Murray-Edwards College, Cambridge, Anne's first career was in retail management, before training as a teacher at Moray House in Edinburgh.
Job Titles:
- Member of the School Improvement & Governance Team
- Schools Adviser
Bob was a successful primary school head for nearly 27 years in five schools, ranging from a small rural village school in Wiltshire through to a large primary in Oxfordshire which included responsibility for two Children's Centres. He has also held two Executive Headteacher posts, was seconded to the National College as a Regional Leader, and was a member of the Gloucester Diocesan Board of Education.
Bob has a keen interest in developing the future school leaders and as a music graduate is a strong advocate for the arts in primary schools.
Chloe has worked for ODST in finance for several years, seeing the organisation grow from four schools to 32. Previously she worked within the finance team for a construction company.
Expertise: Finance
Chris is a financial analyst working for a bank in London and brings significant financial, reporting and risk management experience to the Board. He has been a school governor since 2013 and has also been Chair of the LGB at The Hendreds school, one of the first schools to join ODST.
He is also Honorary Treasurer of The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, the UK's oldest building conservation charity. Particular areas of interest for him in his role as Trustee of ODST are tackling educational inequality and attacking poverty of opportunity and poverty of ambition.
Job Titles:
- Principal of Berkhamsted School
Expertise: Education and Governance
Previously Head of Bishop Ramsey School and later Principal of Berkhamsted School, Priscilla was elected as the first female Chair of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC), and now serves on a number of state and independent school governing bodies.
A Woodard trustee, she is a published author with a particular interest in church schools and religious education; she chaired the Church of England Report The Church School of the Future and the Dioceses Commission and was the first Chair of Governors of Wren Academy in the London Diocese. Priscilla is now Chair of Whitelands College, the Anglican college of the University of Roehampton.
Job Titles:
- Member of the School Improvement & Governance Team
- Schools Adviser & Governance Lead
Prior to joining the ODST school improvement team, Frances has been headteacher in two schools, a diocesan schools' adviser and Deputy Director with ODBE, and most recently an interim headteacher in Oxfordshire. She has also worked as an Ofsted Inspector in the past. Frances has experience working with a number of multi academy trusts as an adviser, trustee and member and has supported school leaders, governors and communities across all areas of school improvement.
Job Titles:
- Member of the School Improvement & Governance Team
- Schools Adviser
Frances has many years' experience as headteacher in an ODST school, before moving into school improvement to support other schools, as well as supporting aspiring leaders as a facilitator and coach for the Trust's NPQ courses.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Director of Education at the Oxford Diocesan Board of Education
Expertise: Education, Governance, Property, Finance
Gordon is Deputy Director of Education at the Oxford Diocesan Board of Education (ODBE), and works closely with ODST in this role as well as in his Trustee role.
At ODBE he currently oversees capital projects (including new schools), school organisation issues, land & legal matters, finance matters, school admissions and appeals. Previously a chair of governors of a single school academy trust and other governor experience as a member of academy trusts and as a trustee. Has worked with Oxfordshire schools since 1985.
Job Titles:
- Member of the School Improvement & Governance Team
- Inclusion & Safeguarding Adviser
Grace started her career as a Teaching Assistant in London working with students with hearing impairments and Autism, and since then has worked in a range of educational settings with a focus on SEN. Within ODST, she worked at the John Henry Newman Academy and Wheatley Primary School before becoming part of the central team working to develop provision for our most vulnerable pupils.
Helen supports ODST's senior leadership team. She has extensive administration experience and, prior to working for ODST, worked for the Oxford Diocesan Board of Education.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Chief Executive
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Senior Leader
Ian has been a senior leader in schools for 20 years and a headteacher for a decade, with experience of securing improvement in a range of contexts. He has worked in schools facing challenging contexts, with high proportions of disadvantaged and SEND children.
He has had significant experience of working in a Trust supporting primary and secondary phases and has a particular interest in improving pedagogy, curriculum and behaviour. As an ILM Level 7 Coach, Ian also works closely with headteachers to support their own professional development.
Jennifer has worked in marketing, communications and events for ten years, much of it within the education sector. Prior to joining ODST she worked in educational publishing and qualifications, and has previously worked for the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust as well as in healthcare.
Expertise: Education
Jo was Principal RE Adviser and former Assistant Director of ODBE and until 2019 was a member of the national team training SIAMS (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools) inspectors and a member of the SIAMS Quality Assurance team for the CEEO (Church of England Education Office). Prior to that, she spent eight years as Adviser for RE in Berkshire's education team after a variety of posts of responsibility in a number of secondary schools in Wiltshire, Hampshire and Berkshire.
Expertise: HR Management and Governance
Joanna works in recruitment in the third sector, focused on senior executive, board and chair appointments; and formerly was in senior leadership at Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK) - a publisher within the charitable sector. She has experience as a National Leader of Governance, and as Chair of Governors of Kidmore End Primary School; previously an elected member of the Oxford Diocesan Board of Education and sits on the board of two other charities.
Joanna has worked in finance for nearly 15 years. Prior to joining ODST she worked for an organisation providing care and support for people with learning disabilities, autism & mental health, and for two day nurseries.
Karen joined ODST in September 2022 and has over 30 years financial experience. Prior to joining ODST, she has worked for the University of Oxford for 8 years as the Divisional Finance Manager for the Gardens, Libraries and Museums and previously within University Estates as their Management Accountant. Prior to working at the University of Oxford Karen has worked for various charities including Anchor Trust and Spurgeons. Karen holds the ACCA Advanced Diploma in Accounting and Business, BSc (Hons) in Applied Accountancy and the full AAT qualification.
Job Titles:
- Schools Finance Support Officer
Kate joined the ODST central team from working at Dr South's Primary School and brings valuable knowledge of in-school finance work to the central finance team, now supporting other schools.
Kate has a BA in Primary Teacher Education. After graduating she taught in an infants' school before moving to an early years setting. Before moving to ODST she spent eight years as a Nursery Manager, as well as supporting other nurseries within the company with auditing, training and development.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of the Trust
Expertise: School Improvement and Governance
Over 50 years' experience including headteacher at an outstanding secondary school in Bracknell Forest; former National Leader in Education; former Lead Inspector-Adviser on School Leadership in Hampshire; Kathy has been a registered Ofsted Inspector and held regional and national positions in education.
Formerly also the Accounting Officer of an Academy Trust; for the last six years a member of the Church of England General & Diocesan Synods; and currently a member of Bishop's Council. She is currently a trustee in a number of other organisations. In 2021, Kathy was awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list for her services to education; and the Order of St Frideswide in 2021 by the Diocese for services to both the church and education.
Katy has over 20 years HR experience within the public and private sector. Prior to joining ODST, Katy worked within a local authority HR team for 16 years, a significant proportion of her work involving providing HR advice to schools.
Job Titles:
- Member of the School Improvement & Governance Team
- Principal Schools Adviser
Lisa has a passion for rapid school improvement and for embedding effective leadership and management through the development of people.
She is an experienced leader who has worked in a number of primary school settings of differing size and context. Lisa has 14 years of Headship experience, 7 of which were as Executive Headteacher of two schools. Lisa has a keen interest in developing new models of leadership.
Prior to her role leading school improvement across the trust, Lisa has held leadership roles in three ODST schools. She also coaches senior leaders in ODST and other schools as part of the NPQ programme.
Lisa has significant experience of supporting schools identified as requiring extra support, and as a headteacher she has provided school to school support and has been commissioned by Local Authorities to conduct school improvement reviews.
Job Titles:
- Member of the School Improvement & Governance Team
- Schools Adviser
Lisa has worked in Oxfordshire in Education for over 30 years as a teacher, Headteacher, Executive Headteacher and School Improvement Advisor. She has experience in a wide range of schools and Early Years settings. She is a trained Early Years Ofsted Inspector and has supported schools with all aspects of School Improvement, but especially with supporting vulnerable learners. She is passionate about making a difference for children and families and working alongside school staff to ensure all our schools are providing the best education possible for all children.
Marianna is an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Before acquiring her CIPD qualification in HR, she worked for 5 years in Children's Social Care as a specialist administrator. Prior to moving to the UK from Greece, she worked at the Thessaloniki Opera House as a professional choir singer and taught English language to young children. She holds a bachelor's degree in Marketing and Agricultural products quality control.
Mark is a chartered member of the CIPD and began his professional career in retail management. After a period of voluntary work in Bosnia, he returned to the UK and gained experience in HR across several sectors including higher education, logistics and SMEs before joining ODST at a time when there were only 5 member schools.
Prior to joining the ODST central team, Nicky was Clerk to the Governors at Deddington Primary School and chair of the management committee for two Early Years settings, during which time she was part of two Ofsted inspections. She remains a trustee for both and a clerk, while supporting ODST schools in her role as Governance Adviser.
Niki is an ACCA qualified accountant, qualifying whilst working at Zurich Insurance Company for almost 20 years, covering a wide variety of roles, including the management accountant role for the charity arm of the business. Niki was keen to move into education, a sector she feels passionate about, and worked in two smaller companies to gain relevant experience, before moving to work in another MAT in 2019 and ODST in 2022.
Nilofer is an experienced school leader, school improvement adviser and committee member, and was headteacher of an ODST junior school before joining the board of trustees in 2024.
Expertise: Education
Paul has been headteacher at the independent Bloxham School since 2013. He has previously taught at Lancaster Royal Grammar, Oundle and Carr Hill High, and was a Deputy Head and Director of Curriculum at Gordonstoun.
In addition to his responsibilities at Bloxham School, Paul has served as an ISI inspector since 2013 and has been elected onto the governing board of Beachborough School. He has also been Head of Woodard Schools Headmaster's Association and represents the Midlands and West England on the Schools Universities Committee. He has led curricular and pastoral change in a number of settings and acted as a consultant to a number of schools.
Academy trusts are set up as charitable companies, with Trust Members, who ensure effective governance of the trust by the board of trustees.
Sam works on procurement for the Trust, ensuring value for money and quality for schools. She is also an experienced ODST school business manager working for a large city primary school.
Sian has worked in accounts and finance in many different environments from PLC to small charities. Prior to joining ODST she spent 10 years working within Early Years settings.
Expertise: Finance, HR and Governance
Sir Clive is a former senior civil servant and HMI; former vice-chancellor and chief executive of Oxford Brookes University; vice president of an environmental charity, vice president of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and President Emeritus of Oxford Civic Society; and published author on education policy and charity governance.
Previous governor experience within 2 schools; chair of the Teacher Training Agency (from 1997-2003); chair of the Nurse's Pay Review Body (1997-2004); he conducted major reviews for the Department for Education on the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in 2001 and for the Home Office on Police Pay Negotiations in 2007; and he served as an editorial review board member of the Oxford Review of Education between 1996 and 2016.
Job Titles:
- Schools Finance Support Officer
Stacey is an AAT L4 qualified accountant. She has previously worked as a School Business Manager at a primary school, an Office Manager at a Foundation Stage School and a private Nursery, as well as experience in running her own Bookkeeping business.