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
#

Inclusive workplace culture

Pupils in assembly hall
#

Excellent training opportunities

Teacher and pupil holding a chicken
#

Investment in professional development

Teacher and pupil lighting a bonfire
#

Curriculum support for teaching teams

Pupils studying ocean
#

"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

"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

"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

“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

"We want the best for everyone who works in Connect Academy Trust. For our children to thrive, our staff need to feel confident, valued and encouraged in their roles. To that end, the Trust is committed to developing a professional learning community, where everyone has the right to be nurtured. We also want the best people to be working in Trust, so we develop talent and strength from within, whilst also being keen to bring in outstanding people from outside the Trust."

Sarah Ryder

School Improvement Lead at Connect

The Connect Team

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

Stuart Bellworthy

Stuart Bellworthy

CEO & Trust Leader

Georgia Dingley

Georgia Dingley

School Operations Lead

Phil Taylor-Jones

Phil Taylor-Jones

Desktop Support Engineer

Jon Kestell

Jon Kestell

Trust Wellbeing Consultant

Sammy Elbrow

Sammy Elbrow

Senior School Operations Lead

Sonia Blandford

Sonia Blandford

Member

Josh Hughes

Josh Hughes

IT Area Manager (Torbay)

Andrew Swainson

Andrew Swainson

Headteacher

Kim Shannon

Kim Shannon

Finance Officer - part-time

Adam Losonczy

Adam Losonczy

IT Technician

Nikki Graham

Nikki Graham

School Operations Lead

Ian Mitchell

Ian Mitchell

Chair of Trustees

Hayley Gilbride

Hayley Gilbride

Headteacher

Claire Dixon

Claire Dixon

School Operations Lead - part-time

Becky Brookes

Becky Brookes

School Operations Lead - part-time

April Hopkins

April Hopkins

Trustee

Jane Orchard

Jane Orchard

School Operations Lead - part-time

Hanne Knight

Hanne Knight

Trustee

Emma Wilkins

Emma Wilkins

School Operations Lead - part-time

Stephanie Bulley

Stephanie Bulley

Executive Assistant - part-time

Julie Drew

Julie Drew

HR Manager

Emma Mantell

Emma Mantell

Headteacher

Sarah Ryder

Sarah Ryder

School Improvement Lead

Sam Jones

Sam Jones

Trustee

Sarah Fowler

Sarah Fowler

Member

Anamaria Avasilcai

Anamaria Avasilcai

Management Accountant

Paul Osborne

Paul Osborne

Vice Chair of Trustees

Sam Barker

Sam Barker

Headteacher

Liz Bennett

Liz Bennett

School Operations Lead and Shared Services Support

Shaun Nicholls

Shaun Nicholls

Headteacher

Lisa Braund

Lisa Braund

Health and Safety Manager

Susie Wilson

Susie Wilson

Headteacher

Steve Collins

Steve Collins

Maintenance Operative

Adele Clayton

Adele Clayton

Acting Headteacher

Melissa Oliver

Melissa Oliver

Headteacher

Christian Jenkins

Christian Jenkins

Chair of Members

Giles Freathy

Giles Freathy

Trustee

Sarah Goodman

Sarah Goodman

Finance Officer - part-time

Steve Widdecombe

Steve Widdecombe

Member

Louise Hudd

Louise Hudd

Finance Officer - part-time

Adam Hedley

Adam Hedley

IT Area Manager (Plymouth)

Rachel Field

Rachel Field

Chief Operating Officer

Kate Reeves

Kate Reeves

Trustee

Nicola Bridge

Nicola Bridge

Member

Andrea Price

Andrea Price

Facilities Administrator

Lee Atkinson

Lee Atkinson

Facilities Manager

Lee LeMarquand

Lee LeMarquand

Trustee

Jon Whittam

Jon Whittam

IT Technician

Tamsin Lamb

Tamsin Lamb

Trustee

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

Our vacancies
Thornbury Pupil as TeacherManadon Vale Pupil as Teacher