Our Central Team

I have been Headteacher of Dene Magna School since 2010. In this time, I have led the school through an Outstanding Ofsted inspection (Dec 2012) and formed the Forest Teaching School Alliance (which is led by Dene Magna as a Teaching School). The TSA had a track record of successfully supporting schools and specifically targets primary and secondary school collaborative support. In 2020 I began my role as CEO of the Forest of Dean Trust and we are delighted to have welcomed two schools into the Trust.

During my time at Dene Magna and the Trust, I have led training and supported staff and students to reach their potential. I am an experienced coach and skilled at strategic planning.

I have been a Director of the Gloucestershire Association of Secondary Headteachers and Chair of the Local Organising Committee of the Gloucestershire School Games.

Prior to working at Dene Magna I led a school in very challenging circumstances. Under my leadership, the school came out of special measures. I have also worked as a Foundation Subjects Consultant for Gloucestershire LA.As a teacher, I was Head of Geography before moving into Senior Leadership.

I have a BSc (Hons) in Geography, PGCE, NPQH, PG Dip Ed and am currently completing my NPQEL.

I have worked for the Trust for several years and assisted with the transformation from a maintained school to an Academy conversion and, in recent years, various expansion projects to the growing Multi Academy trust it is today.

I am supported by our Finance Manager, Coralie Hurst.

I have worked for the Forest of Dean Trust for ten years. In 2015, I became Head of English at Dene Magna School. I relished the opportunity to develop staff, build a strong team and ensure that all students could leave us at the end of their learning journey with the core qualifications required for the next steps in their future and enjoy the process. 

A few years ago, I became Assistant Headteacher for the Forest of Dean Trust, with responsibility for Curriculum and Quality Assurance across all of our Trust schools. My role is to ensure that children in our Trust receive high-quality curriculum provision throughout their school journey from nursery to the age of 18. This all-through curriculum is a unique provision offered by the Forest of Dean Trust because it ensures a collaborative approach across primary and secondary schools.

All Trust schools collaborate on a different subject area each half-term to ensure that good practice is observed and shared. Part of this collaboration also includes a half-termly networking event, where subject leads from schools in the Forest of Dean meet to discuss their curriculum and offer new ideas that could be implemented within schools.  

As a previous Drybrook and Dene Magna student, I care deeply about education in the Forest of Dean and enjoy the opportunity to ensure that students from the area gain the very best education to succeed.

I have a BA(Hons) in English Literature, PGCE (Distinction), MEd in Educational Leadership and NPQ in Leading Teacher Development.

I joined the Trust in December 2023. I have over 25 years' experience working in ICT, primarily in the housing sector. I have managed ICT teams for 15 years, leading teams of between 4 - 16. During that time, I have managed organisational changes big and small, and enjoy championing continual improvement