Academy Councillors (ID 1308)

• Suzanne Ashely
  Chair of Academy Council - Co-Opted Academy Councillor
  Suzanne Ashely

• Claire Lowe
  Chief Executive Officer of Inspire Learning Partnership
  Claire Lowe

  With experience as Headteacher and Executive Headteacher of school federation and partnership models and now as CEO of a successful MAT, Claire Lowe offers both experience of excellence and empathy for the many changes and challenges facing school and system leaders today.

  Claire has a reputation for embedding a culture of deep reflection within and across schools and trusts and she is known for growing senior leaders across the region - extending far beyond her direct work supporting school and system improvement.

  Through extensive partnership work, Claire has been a pioneering force in championing women in leadership (including through WomenEd), research informed practice, evidence led decision making, mentoring new CEOs, demonstrating ethical leadership, innovating regional and national professional development networks and as a leadership coach and advisor. She also holds an MA(Ed) in Education Leadership and was recognised for her significant contribution to education through appointment as a Founding Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching. Claire has a deeply held passion for ensuring that every child is immersed in excellent education, and an infectious positive warmth that energises all those that she works with.

  Claire adores being a mum to two teenagers and has a sense of adventure and a passion for fitness, food and nutrition. She loves travelling in the UK and beyond, her favourite places being the Lake District and the Middle East after time spent living and teaching in Riyadh in the late 90s.

• Hayley Clark
  Principal of St Monica Primary School
  Hayley Clark

• Amanda Johnston
  Director of Primary Edcuation & Trust DSL, Principal of Kanes Hill Primary School
  Amanda Johnston

  With extensive school leadership experience as a Headteacher, Executive Headteacher, Director of Education and as the CEO of a small MAT, Amanda joined the Trust team in June 2022. She has worked across a range of primary and secondary schools in Hampshire, Surrey, Dorset and on the Isle of Wight. This has included planning and opening a brand-new primary school and leading it to its first successful Ofsted inspection, as well as transforming schools in challenging circumstances.

  Amanda is committed to ensuring that all pupils feel safe and secure to enable them to flourish in every respect. She has a passion for safeguarding and has delivered safeguarding training and undertaken safeguarding reviews and investigations in multiple schools, in addition to a national children's charity. She is a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching and a member of the National Association of Academy Safeguarding Advisors (NAASA) group.

  Amanda's leadership style is grounded in walking alongside others to mentor and develop them. She warmly encourages the selfless sharing of best practice and creating improvements that are outward facing and truly sustainable. Amanda is a coach on the National Professional Qualification for Executive Leadership (NPQEL) programme, where her role is to develop participants to be able to lead change and improvement across a group of schools or within a multi-academy trust.

  In her free time, you might find Amanda walking through a forest or along a beach, whilst listening to 90's music or a podcast. She is also a keen swimmer and likes spending time playing board games with her family or sharing experiences with friends.

• Yolanda Bull
  Co-Opted Academy Councillor
  Yolanda Bull

• Lorraine Instrell
  Parent Academy Councillor
  Lorraine Instrell

• Lisa Bowerman
  Parent Academy Councillor
  Lisa Bowerman

• Megan Wilkinson
  Staff Academy Councillor
  Megan Wilkinson

• Karen Ralston
  Staff Academy Councillor
  Karen Ralston

• Victora Franks
  Support Staff Academy Councillor
  Victora Franks

• Nicola Symons
  Support Staff Academy Councillor
  Nicola Symons

• Amy Humby
  Clerk to Academy Council
  Amy Humby