OUR SCHOOL STAFF!

What we do for school staff

When you work in a Connect Academy Trust school, you get the support, training and direction you need – allowing your talents to shine.

Teacher helping pupils

We know that the success of any school depends on the people who show up every day to make it all happen. That’s why we nurture and invest in our schools’ staff, enabling them to be their best.

When your school is part of the Connect family, you will benefit from a carefully calibrated system of training and development. That means having access to the expertise, support and resources you need.

Plus, we’re committed to a rigorous development and training programme for staff – whether you’re a teacher, caretaker, administrative assistant or leader. This will help you advance your skills, benefit from specialist expertise, and get the input you need to enable you to perform at your best.

Benefits for our staff within schools

Expert support and guidance

Teacher and pupil sat on classroom floor
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Inclusive workplace culture

Pupils in assembly hall
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Excellent training opportunities

Teacher and pupil holding a chicken
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Investment in professional development

Teacher and pupil lighting a bonfire
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Curriculum support for teaching teams

Pupils studying ocean
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“The Trust and its schools are connected. It is a collaborative way of working whilst schools still have lots of autonomy.”

Hayley Gilbride

Headteacher

"A sense of a wider team and support network. You never feel on your own as you are surrounded by knowledge and expertise."

Miss Davies

Year 6 Teacher

“There are great opportunities for staff to develop and grow, and we have an innovative approach to appraisal that increases staff ownership.”

Claire Hardisty

Headteacher

"As a new headteacher into the trust, I value the collaborative ethos that runs through the central and leadership team. This allows me to utilise the expertise of the colleagues beyond our school."

Susie Carroll

Headteacher

"It has felt good to be part of a larger team. I know I can contact other members of the Trust to collaborate, support each other and share our knowledge."

Mrs Monk

Year 4 Teacher

The Connect Team

Our trust succeeds by combining the strengths of several talented people, each with their own area of skill and experience.

Kim Shannon

Kim Shannon

Finance Officer - part-time

Christian Jenkins

Christian Jenkins

Chair of Members

Ian Mitchell

Ian Mitchell

Chair of Trustees

Josh Hughes

Josh Hughes

IT Area Manager (Torbay)

Paul Osborne

Paul Osborne

Vice Chair of Trustees

Anamaria Avasilcai

Anamaria Avasilcai

Management Accountant

Louise Hudd

Louise Hudd

Finance Officer - part-time

Andrew Swainson

Andrew Swainson

Headteacher

Claire Dixon

Claire Dixon

School Operations Lead - part-time

April Hopkins

April Hopkins

Trustee

Jon Whittam

Jon Whittam

IT Technician

Sammy Elbrow

Sammy Elbrow

Senior School Operations Lead

Sam Barker

Sam Barker

Headteacher

Kate Reeves

Kate Reeves

Trustee

Liz Bennett

Liz Bennett

School Operations Lead and Shared Services Support

Jane Orchard

Jane Orchard

School Operations Lead - part-time

Adam Losonczy

Adam Losonczy

IT Technician

Hanne Knight

Hanne Knight

Trustee

Andrea Price

Andrea Price

Facilities Administrator

Georgia Dingley

Georgia Dingley

School Operations Lead

Nikki Graham

Nikki Graham

School Operations Lead

Giles Freathy

Giles Freathy

Trustee

Shaun Nicholls

Shaun Nicholls

Headteacher

Jon Kestell

Jon Kestell

Trust Wellbeing Consultant

Sarah Ryder

Sarah Ryder

School Improvement Lead

Steve Collins

Steve Collins

Maintenance Operative

Adam Hedley

Adam Hedley

IT Area Manager (Plymouth)

Phil Taylor-Jones

Phil Taylor-Jones

Desktop Support Engineer

Emma Mantell

Emma Mantell

Headteacher

Adele Clayton

Adele Clayton

Acting Headteacher

Tamsin Lamb

Tamsin Lamb

Trustee

Lisa Braund

Lisa Braund

Health and Safety Manager

Sam Jones

Sam Jones

Trustee

Lee Atkinson

Lee Atkinson

Facilities Manager

Sarah Fowler

Sarah Fowler

Member

Sarah Goodman

Sarah Goodman

Finance Officer - part-time

Julie Drew

Julie Drew

HR Manager

Stephanie Bulley

Stephanie Bulley

Executive Assistant - part-time

Nicola Bridge

Nicola Bridge

Member

Rachel Field

Rachel Field

Chief Operating Officer

Steve Widdecombe

Steve Widdecombe

Member

Sonia Blandford

Sonia Blandford

Member

Melissa Oliver

Melissa Oliver

Headteacher

Emma Wilkins

Emma Wilkins

School Operations Lead - part-time

Lee LeMarquand

Lee LeMarquand

Trustee

Hayley Gilbride

Hayley Gilbride

Headteacher

Becky Brookes

Becky Brookes

School Operations Lead - part-time

Susie Wilson

Susie Wilson

Headteacher

Stuart Bellworthy

Stuart Bellworthy

CEO & Trust Leader

Take a look at the positions currently available at the Connect Academy Trust.

Our vacancies
Thornbury Pupil as TeacherManadon Vale Pupil as Teacher