Central Team
Chris Moodie CEO
Chris Moodie is the Chief Executive Officer for SNMAT. In this role, Chris leads on strategic development and, in particular, how SNMAT can most effectively support partner academies to realise their full potential. Chris has taught in primary and secondary schools, has been a headteacher and spent several years working as one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors. Chris is very interested in all things zoological (especially fungi).
Sarah Perry Business Director
Sarah Perry is the Business Director for SNMAT. In this role Sarah advises the MAT Board directors and leadership teams in all financial and business operational matters. She is the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) for the MAT and as such supports the CEO in performing his role as Accounting Officer, ensuring that the MAT operates good financial governance in line with the requirements of the Academies Financial Handbook.
Prior to joining SNMAT, Sarah was the Finance Director for another MAT and has over 20 years’ experience in supporting and delivering schools' business operations and strategy. She is currently an accredited Schools Resource Management Adviser for the DFE.
Sarah has an interest in gardening, scrapbooking and collecting vintage Barbie outfits and Polly Pockets.
Jo Saville Director of Operations
Jo Saville is the Director of Operations for SNMAT. In this role, Jo provides strategic oversight and development for Governance & Admissions, HR and I.T. Jo manages the process for schools looking to academise and join the Trust and is also the Company Secretary.
Prior to joining SNMAT, Jo spent her career working for John Lewis plc.
Jo loves holidays and enjoys camping and outdoor activities with her young family.
Dave Orridge I.T. Director
Dave Orridge is the I.T. Director for SNMAT. In this role, Dave liaises with schools to implement the SNMAT IT Strategy, ensures the IT provision is relevant and up to date, and ensuring the security and integrity of all MAT schools.
Prior to this Dave was the Network Director for the Minerva Trust, has worked for the LA as an IT consultant for schools and has 21 years’ experience teaching in schools.
Dave is interested in cycling, running and sports in general and loves the opera.
Kellyanne Harkness Finance Manager
Kellyanne Harkness is the Finance Manager for SNMAT. In this role Kellyanne is responsible for developing and overseeing financial processes, ensuring compliance with financial regulation standards and supporting academies with financial procedures.
Prior to this, Kellyanne was a Finance Officer at a local homeless Charity and has over 15 years experience working in accounting across various sectors.
Kellyanne loves all things Disney, cross stitch, reading and spending quality time with her family.
Jo Smith HR & Payroll Manager
Jo Smith is the Payroll and HR Manager for SNMAT. In this role, Jo manages the MAT payroll, supporting our academies with queries relating to conditions of service, payroll and pensions. Jo provides advice and guidance on HR related issues and ensures that the MAT is compliant with statutory reporting.
Prior to this, Jo worked in HR within the education sector and has over 20 years experience.
Jo enjoys leisurely walks with her dog, trips to Norfolk, gardening and keeping chickens.
Becky Lloyd HR and Payroll Practitioner
Becky Lloyd is the HR and Payroll Practitioner for SNMAT. In her role, Becky supports the HR provision for the Trust across all the partner academies. Becky assists in running the payroll for our academies, along with supporting them with queries relating to conditions of service.
Prior to this, Becky worked for 20 years as a Senior Client Support Administrator in the Financial Services Sector.
Becky enjoys keeping fit, particularly HIT training, holidays, spa days and spending time with her family.
Lucy Howson Finance Assistant
Lucy Howson is the Finance Assistant for SNMAT. In this role, Lucy provides financial support for the Trust and its academies primarily through assisting with and maintaining the purchase ledger and processing invoices. Lucy liaises with suppliers and customers on behalf of academies, ensuring the trust is compliant with purchasing processes and procedures in order to prevent fraud or irregularity. Lucy also pays the bills!
Prior to this, Lucy worked in retail whilst studying accounting.
Lucy is a football mum, loves a designer handbag and her dog Frank.
Gill Micallef Finance Assistant
Gill Micallef is the Finance Assistant for SNMAT. In this role, Gill provides financial support for the Trust and its academies primarily through assisting with and maintaining the purchase ledger and processing invoices.
Prior to this, Gill has had various roles in finance. She has lots of experience, having worked in finance since leaving school.
Gill enjoys spending time with her family, walking the dog, baking and going to the gym.
Alison Jacobson Governance and Admissions Adviser
Alison Jacobson is the Governance and admissions advisor for SNMAT. In this role, Alison provides advice and guidance, specialist knowledge and a strategic understanding of Church governance, admissions and admissions appeals. Alison fulfils this role alongside her day job, which is to manage Governance and Admissions for all Diocesan schools.
Alison loves windmills and art.
Samantha Dennis Safeguarding Consultant
Sam Dennis is the Safeguarding Consultant for SNMAT. In this role, Sam ensures that all SNMAT partner academies are compliant with statutory safeguarding requirements, through training, annual audits and communication of updates to policy. Sam fulfils this role in addition to her job as Deputy Diocesan Director of Education for Southwell & Nottingham.
Sam loves her two dogs, has three daughters and is training to be a priest.
Rachel Watson Finance Support & Business Manager St Mary Magdalene Primary School
Rachel Watson is a mentor for Business Managers within SNMAT, and in particular supports those who are new to the role since academisation. Rachel fulfils this alongside her role as the Business Manager at St Mary Magdalene C of E Primary School. Prior to this, Rachel worked for the NatWest bank in branch banking and their main IT Helpdesk.
Rachel is an ardent Notts County fan and enjoys keeping fit and taking part in mud runs!
Chris Cawkhill I.T. Support and Computing Teacher/Tecnician Worksop Priory Academy
Chris Cawkhill assists with IT support in the Primary Academies for SNMAT as well as being the IT Technician and Computing Teacher at Worksop Priory C of E Academy. In this role, he works with the SNMAT IT Director and external providers to implement the SNMAT IT Strategy. Chris has been supporting IT in Primary Schools in Nottinghamshire for over eighteen years.
Chris enjoys a break from technology at the weekend, escaping with his family on his mountain bike or at the cinema.
Mark YatesTrust Technical Lead
Mark Yates is the Trust Technical Lead for SNMAT. In his role, Mark liaises with schools to implement the SNMAT IT Strategy, ensures the I.T. provision is relevant and up to date and the security and integrity of all MAT secondary schools. With 17 years’ experience in the I.T. sector, Mark was previously the I.T. Manager for the Wickersley Partnership Trust and had a stint as a Systems Manager for a telecommunications company in Australia.
Away from work Mark’s interests include Football, Golf and DJ’ing (beginner)!
James ClarkEstates Manager
James is the Estates Manager for SNMAT. In this role James works alongside the academies helping to deliver capital buildings projects as well as building compliance services. As part of this work James acts as the trust’s client working alongside our project partners to deliver schools building improvements across our estate. James also works with the schools who need advice on day-to-day building repairs and maintenance issues .
Prior to this James has nearly 15 years’ experience in buildings management working in the conferencing and hospitality sector and most recently overseeing the buildings budget for Nottinghamshire Libraries. One of James past jobs was working in school admissions for the local authority.
James enjoys music, sport and spending time with his family and friends.
Chloe PallisterTrust Support Administrator
Chloe Pallister is the Trust Support Administrator for SNMAT. In this role, Chloe centrally manages the administration of the governance and admissions, liaising with Governors and Business Managers from across the partner academies. In addition, Chloe supports with the payroll and general HR administration.
Prior to this, Chloe was studying for her degree, whilst working in retail.
Chloe enjoys shopping, staying active and spending time with her family and friends.
Academy Improvement Team
Jo Redfern Academy Improvement Officer
Jo Redfern is an Academy Improvement Officer for SNMAT. In this role, Jo supports academy leaders and governors to design and implement their strategic improvement plans and to monitor the impact of these.
Jo has taught in a number of primary schools in London and Nottinghamshire. More recently, she worked for the Nottinghamshire local authority as a literacy consultant before taking on her current role as Executive Head of All Saints C of E Infant and Pre-School and Selston C of E Infant and Nursery School. Jo has an interest in T20 cricket and is a keen supporter of the Falcons.
Joanna Hall Academy Improvement Director
Joanna Hall is an Academy Improvement Officer for SNMAT. In this role, Joanna supports academy leaders and governors to design and implement their strategic improvement plans and to monitor the impact of these.
Joanna has been Headteacher of a rural Church school, North Wheatley C of E Primary, for the past ten years. She is also an OFSTED inspector, a Local Leader of Education and a Local Authority improvement adviser and considers it a huge privilege to have the opportunity to work with a wide range of schools, many of whom are working in challenging circumstances. Prior to this, Joanna taught in Derbyshire for many years. Joanna enjoys spending time with her family and friends, travelling to sunny climes or walking with her dogs.
Zarina Connolly Academy Improvement Officer
Zarina Connolly is an Academy Improvement Officer for SNMAT. In this role, Zarina supports headteachers to strengthen the quality of leadership and management in schools. She helps leaders to evaluate their schools accurately. This involves meeting with leaders and observing learning on a regular basis. Prior to this, Zarina was one of Her Majesty's Inspectors. As well as highly developed inspection skills, Zarina brings to SNMAT over fifteen years’ experience of senior management in secondary schools.
Zarina is a keen tennis player in her spare time.
Directors
Canon Philip Blinston Chair of the Board
Phil Blinston is the Chair of the Board of Directors and a Member of the Company. Phil was Executive Head of the Minster School in Southwell Nottinghamshire, an 8 - 18 comprehensive school and Choir School for Southwell Minster until April 2014. Canon of Southwell Minster and a member of the Cathedral Chapter. He was a National Leader of Education, and, under his leadership over a period of twenty years, the school came to be judged Outstanding by OFSTED and under the SIAMS framework. Minster School is both a National Support School and National Teaching School. Phil has provided school improvement support to a range of schools in all phases of education.
Phil is a Lay Canon of Southwell Minster and a member of the Cathedral Chapter.
Roger PeriamChair of the Finance Committee of the Board
Roger has extensive Governor experience, having been a governor at the South Wilford C of E Primary School for over twenty years, and half of that as Chair of Governors.
Roger spent thirty-one years in industry, working for large, multi-national corporations in the technology sector, twenty-eight of these being spent as a manager of people and projects, spread across the UK, Europe and North America. His financial expertise involved setting and managing budgets both locally and globally, the largest being over £100 million, and he has extensive experience of strategic planning, marketing, internal and external communications, public relations and campaign management, as well as change management, quality improvement and diversity initiatives.
Roger has a new perspective on disability, accessibility and inclusions since the onset of his multiple sclerosis and subsequent early retirement.
Ian Griffiths
Ian Griffiths is a member of the Diocesan Board of Education and is a Director of the Southwell and Nottingham Diocesan Educational Trust. Until recently, Ian was a long-serving school governor at Linby cum Papplewick Church of England Primary School and Chair of the Finance and Property Committee for the school. He has previous experience as a Chair of Governors at a secondary school and is an experienced Admissions appeals Chair and panel member.
Angela Pae
Angela Pae works as an education consultant with schools and local authorities. Prior to this, she worked as a senior local authority officer within Education and Children's Services for over 20 years, specialising in the strategic planning of school provision across Nottinghamshire and management of the education capital programme. She has an excellent knowledge and understanding of Nottinghamshire schools and a long-standing relationship with the diocese.
Angela has extensive experience of delivering major capital projects such as school reorganisations and establishing new schools. She is experienced in all aspects of school organisation at primary and secondary levels, especially the impact of curriculum delivery on space and school environments. Throughout her career, Angela has worked closely with head teachers, governing bodies, government officials, parents and communities.
Hilary Craik
Hilary worked in Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire for over thirty years as a teacher, headteacher and school improvement adviser. During her career she was awarded an OBE for services to education.
Following on from this she worked as a consultant and led projects for the National College working with SDSA across the East Midlands. She worked with The Spencer Academy Trust to design and deliver the National Qualification for Headship and with the DfE in the Free Schools Delivery team as an adviser. She is a long-serving school governor and still has a keen interest in school improvement, leadership development and the primary curriculum.
John Hunter
John has been involved within the education section since his children first began in education. He has over 20 years’ governance experience, through the variety of roles he has undertaken during this time, from parent governor through to vice chair. John is a professionally qualified banker and has worked within the high street banking industry for over 34 years. in his current role, John is a Specialist Relationship Manager for High Growth & Entrepreneur clients within the East Midlands/Humber and East York’s.
Nigel Frith
Is the Director of Education for the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham. Previously Nigel was the Principal of Drumragh Integrated College, a secondary school in Omagh, Northern Ireland. His professional career started in 1985 as an English teacher. His interests include great music and really good coffee. His heroes include Jesus Christ above all, but also Martin Luther King and Snoopy.
Members
Canon Philip Blinston Chair of the Board
Phil Blinston is the Chair of the Board of Directors and a Member of the Company. Phil was Executive Head of the Minster School in Southwell Nottinghamshire, an 8 - 18 comprehensive school and Choir School for Southwell Minster until April 2014. Canon of Southwell Minster and a member of the Cathedral Chapter. He was a National Leader of Education, and, under his leadership over a period of twenty years, the school came to be judged Outstanding by OFSTED and under the SIAMS framework. Minster School is both a National Support School and National Teaching School. Phil has provided school improvement support to a range of schools in all phases of education.
Phil is a Lay Canon of Southwell Minster and a member of the Cathedral Chapter.
Martin CooperSouthwell & Nottingham Diocesan Board of Finance (DBF) (corporate member)
Martin is Diocesan Chief Executive and Company Secretary to the DBF. Martin is a member of the Bishop’s Core Team, providing strategic and operational leadership within the Diocese. He is a Chartered Accountant & Tax Advisor and previously worked in commercial finance before spending five years with a national charity as Finance Director.
Rev Canon Mark TannerSouthwell & Nottingham Diocesan Board of Education (DBF) (corporate member)
The Revd Canon Mark Tanner is vicar of St Mary's Radcliffe-on-Trent and St Peter & St Paul's, Shelford. He has over twenty years' experience of being a Governor in all Key Stages primarily in the Dioceses of Southwell and Nottingham and Winchester. He has also been a voluntary School Chaplain in the Minster School, Southwell, and a previous Chair of an Interim Executive Board at the Magnus School, Newark. Mark is currently the Interim Chair of the Diocesan Board of Education, and passionately committed to school improvement at every level.
Rt Rev Bishop Paul WilliamsBishop of Southwell & Nottingham
Bishop Paul was installed as the 12th Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham in June 2015, leading a diocese with 305 churches serving 1.2m people across the country. Having studied theology at Durham University, he trained for and was ordained in 1992. In 2009, Paul was ordained bishop to the See of Kensington in the Diocese of London. He was responsible for overseeing the Church's mission across a diverse and dynamic area of west London, covering six boroughs. During this time was particularly involved in planting new churches and pioneering new forms of leadership training, notably with younger leaders.