Meet Our People

Executive Team

• Christine Stansfield

  Chief Executive Officer

  Christine Stansfield is the CEO of Mowbray Education Trust.

• Ashraf Sidat

  Interim Chief Finance Officer

• Steph Cooke

  Chief Financial Officer

• Matt Parrott

  Executive Lead for Stakeholders & Partnerships

  Matt graduated from the University of York with a First Class degree in Politics. After a brief career as an Estate Agent, he saw the light and completed his PGCE at The University of Manchester.

• Anna Butler

  Executive Lead for People and Development

  Anna studied at Liverpool University before completing her teacher training in 2002.

• Carl Elder

  Executive Lead for Secondaries

  Following a brief career in banking, Carl has been involved in teaching and school leadership for almost 20 years.

• Ian Toon

  Executive Lead for Primaries

  Ian is a graduate of Nottingham Trent University and has spent 29 years in the education sector currently holding the National Professional Qualification for Headship.

• Susan Beasley

  Executive Lead for Governance and Compliance

  Following 25 years of running her own service led business Susan changed career path to pursue a governance professional role.

Senior Leadership Team

• Helena Blumfield

  Head of School at Sherard Primary School

• Andrea Brown

  Head of School at Ab Kettleby and Somerby Primary Schools

• Hayley Cheeseman

  Head of School at The Grove Primary School

• Judith Johnson

  Head of School at Iveshead

• Vicky Sellars

  Head of School at Brownlow Primary School

• Terry Claridge

  Head of School at John Ferneley College

• Maria Twittey

  Centre Manager at Oasis Pre-school & Retreat

• Ella Burnell

  Operations Manager at Iveshead School

• Deborah Cornes

  Director of Learning Environment at Iveshead School

• Alistair Hallifax

  Assistant Headteacher: Timetable, Data and Exams at John Ferneley College

• Nathan James

  Assistant Head at Iveshead School

• Melissa Kettle

  SENDCo at John Ferneley College

• Matt King

  Assistant Headteacher: Progress and Outcomes at John Ferneley College

• Kat Russell

  Assistant Headteacher: Behaviour and Attitudes; Safeguarding at John Ferneley College

• Sophie McNally

  Assistant Head at Iveshead School

• Elizabeth Strickland

  Assistant Head: Personal Development and Futures at John Ferneley College

• Luke Twitchin

  Assistant Head at Iveshead School

School Improvement Team

• Emma Charlton

  Trauma Informed and Therapeutic Wellbeing Practitioner

• Chris Chisholm

  School Improvement Lead: Data, timetables and exams

• Claire Gladwell

  Trust Lead for Safeguarding

• Cassie Grimes

  MFL Curriculum Leader

• Sandie Hart

  SEND & Behaviour Advisor.

• Lucy Neath

  Trust Lead for Reading

• Jess Watson

  Trust SENDCo

Central Team

• Charity Hornbuckle

  Trust HR Advisor

• Ellena Crowe

  Apprentice HR Officer

• Bobby Wallace

  Trust IT Services Manager

• Sarah Lovett

  Senior IT Technician

• Alex Wainman

  IT Services Technician

• Katie James

  Assistant Management Accountant

• Melissa Hackett

  Finance Officer

• Laura Gordon

  Finance Officer

• Lois Hughes

  Finance Apprentice

• Daniella Kozak

  Trust Operations Officer

• Mike Walker

  Trust Estates Lead

• Leslie Russell

  Community & Facilities Officer

Members

• Elaine Welsh

  Founding Member

  Elaine Welsh is a founding Member of the Trust.

• Siobhan Connelly

  Member

• Conroy Godber

  Member

  Conroy is a Retired Aerospace Engineering and IT Manager.

• Dawn O'Higgins

  Member

  Dawn O'Higgins was appointed a Member of the Trust in May 2017.

• Denise Reed

  Member

  Initially a teacher in the primary sector, Denise’s career evolved via educational publishing and public relations (including The Budgerigar Information Bureau) to the coordinator of Pedigree Masterfoods Education Centre.

Trustees

• Anne Frost

  Chair

  Anne began her working life in retail management before becoming an officer in the Royal Air Force serving in the UK and Hong Kong.

• Linda Arnold

  Trustee

• Ian Connerton

  Ian Connerton was appointed a Trustee in May 2020.

• Wayne Hickling

  Wayne Hickling was appointed a Trustee in 2019.

• Tendai Mutambirwa

  Tendai is a graduate in Aerospace Engineering with up to 20 years working experience in aviation and aerospace.

• Drew Richardson-Walsh

  Deputy Chair & Senior Independent Director

  Drew Richardson-Walsh is a Partner of Peridot Partners Ltd, a London-based executive, and board-level search firm, where he leads the education practice.

• Alison Riggall

  Alison was appointed as a trustee in February 2023, and values this opportunity to continue to support local education.

• Jo Unwin

  Formerly the Chair Of Governors at Iveshead School, Jo was appointed as a trustee in February 2023 and is keen to contribute to the local community by being part of the Mowbray Education Trust.

• Kcarrie Valentine

  Kcarrie grew up in the east end of Glasgow and attended Glasgow University, studying theology.