The Executive Team
The Executive Team is responsible for the strategic development and leadership of Vision Academy Learning Trust.
They promote a culture of excellence in everything the Trust does.
Mr Simon White
Mr Simon White was appointed as CEO and Accounting Officer of Vision Academy Learning Trust on 1 August 2016. He is an experienced educationalist with over 35 years within education and 20 in Headship. He was appointed as an NLE in 2015 and has been pivotal in the expansion of the Trust.
Headteachers / Heads of School
Mrs L Lidgard – Headteacher (Chandlers Ridge Academy)
Mrs L Oyston – Executive Headteacher (Egglescliffe School and Sixth Form College)
Mr N Gittins – Head Of School (Egglescliffe School and Sixth Form College)
Miss L Wilkinson – Head of School (Huntcliff Secondary School)
She has worked in education for 22 years; 18 of those within Redcar and Cleveland. Senior Leadership roles during that time have included teaching and learning, curriculum, and pupil progress. In 2015 she completed the Future Leaders Programme prior to commencing the role of Head of School.
Mrs L Daly – Headteacher (Junction Farm Primary School)
Appointed as Headteacher of Junction Farm in 2008 and Primary Executive Headteacher for the Trust in 2016. She was appointed as NLE in 2015 and is also School Improvement Advisor for local primary Schools.
Mrs C Juckes – Headteacher (Laurence Jackson School)
Mrs C Chadwick – Headteacher (Saltburn Primary School)
She holds the NPQH qualification and has over 20 years’ experience within education; 12 of those holding Senior Leadership roles. From 2016-2018 she was also seconded two days a week to lead and coordinate meetings, networks, initiatives and CPD across 11 primary schools within the East Cleveland Cooperative Learning Trust.
Miss C Briston – Head of School (The Links Primary School)
Mr M Poppitt – Headteacher (Whinstone Primary School)
The Central Service
Directors are responsible for the strategic development, data, IT infrastructure, compliance, HR, Finance, Capital, Health and safety, Risk Management across the Trust.
Director of ICT, Infrastructure and Data
Information coming soon.
Capital, Facilities and Health and Safety Director
Information coming soon.
Human Resources
Information coming soon.
Compliance Officer
Information coming soon.
The Education Improvement Team
The Education Improvement Team comprises of experienced education leaders, all of whom have an outstanding track record in school leadership, education management and improvement.
Director of School Improvement
Mr Danny Yates was appointed as Director of School Improvement on 1 January 2019 as the secondary branch of the Trust began to expand. He holds the NPQH qualification and has over 25 years experience within education including 15 in Senior Leadership and Headship.
Director of SEN/D
Dr Caroline Lear holds both NPQH and NASENCO qualifications and has many years’ experience of leading succesful SEND provisions at school and Trust level – she is an expert in this field. She also has a PhD in Chemistry and has had significant experience of teaching Chemistry/Science across the age and ability range.
Secondary Sector
Director of English
Miss Zarah Ahmed has over 10 years’ experience in education. Prior to her appointment to the School Improvement Team at VALT, she held position of Lead Practitioner for English in a local Multi-Academy-Trust and is an examiner for AQA. She has particular strength in research – informed curriculum planning and development.
Director of Maths
Mrs Sue Down has lead Maths departments in a range of schools in both the North East and Essex for over 20 years. She has significant experience of transforming underperforming departments and is an examiner for GCSE Maths.
Lead Practitioner for Literacy
Mrs Jo Parnell is an experienced English teacher and SLE. Prior to her appointment to the School Improvement team at VALT, she was Literacy Coordinator in a large Multi-Academy-Trust and Chair of a Regional Literacy Working Group.
Lead Practitioner for History
Mrs Helen Ward
Director Primary Maths
Ms Amber Lawrence was appointed as Mathematics Lead (September 2015) and UKS2 Lead (September 2017) at Junction Farm Primary. Mathematics SLE for Stockton schools. Completed NPQSL June 2020. Appointed as Director of Primary Maths in September, with specific responsibility for school improvement..
