A school for
Every Child

A Future FOr
Everyone

Let's introduce ourselves!

Welcome to Connect Academy Trust – it’s great to meet you.

As an established and growing Multi-Academy Trust in Devon, we prioritise the things that really matter. Everything we do is for the good of the pupils and staff at our family of amazing primary schools.

Discover the aspirations and values that unite our schools and drive us to succeed.

Why Connect?
Preston Fashion Designer
Thornbury Fashion Designer
Widey Basketball Player
Eggbuckland Vets
Trustees Wanted!
Trustees Wanted!

Calling anyone looking to share their ideas, insights and ambitions with an ambitious Academy Trust!

We're looking for Trustees to join us. This is a great way to be part of a Board as part of your development, or because you'd like to be part of our community.

Discover more
Our Ocean Conservation Curriculum!
Our Ocean Conservation Curriculum!

Empowering young people with an awareness of how and why our sealife should be protected.

Discover our unique marine learning project based in Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City.

Discover more
Our School Staff!
Our School Staff!

Creating a positive environment for our teams of school professionals.

Find out how supporting and valuing our school staff enables them to do their best for our children.

Discover more
Our Friends!
Our Friends!

Connecting with our partners to expand and enrich our pupils’ education.

See the benefits of our collaborations with organisations beyond our schools.

Discover more
OUR FAMILY OF SCHOOLS!

Each school in the Connect Academy Trust is proud to be individual – but also made stronger by our shared network of support, leadership and experience.

Explore our schools

“Our vision is for all children to receive an outstanding education, to receive the very best teaching and support to achieve our best together.”

SCHOOL NAME

"We are very proud of our inspiring curriculum, built on excellence in the craft of teaching and on purposeful and engaging learning experiences."

Cockington Primary School

"We believe that every child can do amazing things and it’s our job to help make this potential a reality."

Manadon Vale Primary School

"Our purpose is to prepare children for a future that we cannot yet envisage."

Widey Court Primary School

"The most important thing we can do is to ensure that each child is happy and feels safe and secure."

Leigham Primary School

"We greatly value the relationships between home and school as a way of promoting the very best for your child."

Eggbuckland Vale Primary School

"We believe that in working together, we can give children the best possible foundation to help them grow into happy, independent adults of the future."

Thornbury Primary School
The connect Effect!

Our achievements in numbers.

Find out more
3300+

of our pupils had the opportunity to take part in enriching activities such as swimming, forest schools or field trips

100%

of our 8 schools are values based and focussed on enabling every child to succeed.

50+

collaborations with partners throughout the South West to deliver unique experiences for our pupils

550+

staff dedicated to the growth and development of the next generation

our PEOPLE!

The Connect Academy Trust is powered by the energy and talents of our team – working together to make a positive difference across each of our schools.

Georgia Dingley

Georgia Dingley

School Operations Lead

Emma Wilkins

Emma Wilkins

School Operations Lead

Phil Taylor-Jones

Phil Taylor-Jones

Desktop Support Engineer

Hanne Knight

Hanne Knight

Trustee

Josh Hughes

Josh Hughes

IT Area Manager (Torbay)

Louise Hudd

Louise Hudd

Finance Officer

Kim Shannon

Kim Shannon

Finance Officer

Adam Hedley

Adam Hedley

IT Area Manager (Plymouth)

Nicola Bridge

Nicola Bridge

Member

Giles Freathy

Giles Freathy

Trustee

Liz Bennett

Liz Bennett

School Operations Lead

Susie Carroll

Susie Carroll

Headteacher

Stephanie Bulley

Stephanie Bulley

Executive Assistant

Claire Dixon

Claire Dixon

School Operations Lead

Jane Orchard

Jane Orchard

School Operations Lead

Claire Hardisty

Claire Hardisty

Headteacher

Adam Losonczy

Adam Losonczy

IT Technician

Sam Jones

Sam Jones

Trustee

Jon Whittam

Jon Whittam

IT Technician

Kate Reeves

Kate Reeves

Trustee

Hayley Gilbride

Hayley Gilbride

Headteacher

Lee Atkinson

Lee Atkinson

Facilities Manager

Sarah Fowler

Sarah Fowler

Member

Sammy Elbrow

Sammy Elbrow

Senior School Operation Lead

Steve Collins

Steve Collins

Maintenance Operative (Torbay)

Julie Drew

Julie Drew

HR Manager

Stuart Bellworthy

Stuart Bellworthy

CEO & Trust Leader

Sarah Goodman

Sarah Goodman

Finance Officer

Hollie Strathearn

Hollie Strathearn

Administrative Assistant

Tamsin Lamb

Tamsin Lamb

Trustee

Christian Jenkins

Christian Jenkins

Chair of Members

Melissa Oliver

Melissa Oliver

Headteacher

Anamaria Avasilcai

Anamaria Avasilcai

Management Accountant

Nikki Graham

Nikki Graham

School Operations Lead

Ian Mitchell

Ian Mitchell

Chair of Trustees

Lee LeMarquand

Lee LeMarquand

Trustee

Steve Widdecombe

Steve Widdecombe

Member

Shaun Nicholls

Shaun Nicholls

Headteacher

Jon Kestell

Jon Kestell

Trust Wellbeing Consultant

Rachel Field

Rachel Field

Chief Operating Officer

Becky Brookes

Becky Brookes

School Operations Lead

Lisa Braund

Lisa Braund

Health and Safety Manager

Paul Osborne

Paul Osborne

Vice Chair of Trustees

Sam Barker

Sam Barker

Headteacher

Sonia Blandford

Sonia Blandford

Member

Ben Wallis

Ben Wallis

Headteacher

Sarah Ryder

Sarah Ryder

School Improvement Lead

Andrew Swainson

Andrew Swainson

Headteacher

Stuart Bellworthy

"By sending your children to Connect Academy Trust school, they will receive a nurturing and truly exciting education, make great progress from their starting points and have access to an inspiring curriculum in a range of subjects, including knowing why the 7 Principles of Ocean Literacy matter so much to all of us, our future and our planet."

Stuart Bellworthy

CEO