Shires MAT formed in September 2020 with three schools and currently consists of six schools.
Five of our schools are based in Worcestershire with Studley High School sitting just across the border in South Warwickshire.
Astwood Bank Primary School
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Astwood Bank Primary is an oversubscribed two form entry primary school with 420 pupils on roll. Many pupils from the school go on to either Ridgeway Secondary or Studley High as they transition from year 6 to year 7.
Feckenham CE Primary School
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Feckenham CE Primary School is situated in Worcestershire and has 100 pupils on roll. The rural school serves many families within the village as well as a significant proportion of children from Redditch.
North Bromsgrove High School
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North Bromsgrove is an oversubscribed 13-18 High school serving Bromsgrove families. The school has grown significantly in recent years to almost 1100 pupils.
Ridgeway Secondary School
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Ridgeway Secondary is an 11-16 secondary school in Astwood bank, Redditch, with 315 pupils on roll.
Studley High School
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Studley High is an oversubscribed 11-16 secondary school in Warwickshire with 850 pupils on roll.
Webheath Academy Primary School
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Webheath is an oversubscribed two form entry primary school in Redditch with 420 pupils on roll. Many pupils from the school go on to either Studley high or Ridgeway Secondary as they transition from year 6 to year 7.
The MAT operates through a collaborative approach, where schools retain significant levels of autonomy, enabling school leaders to focus on making a real difference for their pupils, staff and the wider community. This autonomy is framed by core systems and processes common to all schools which support safeguarding, finance, IT, HR, Health & Safety, SEND, Improvement planning, quality assurance and aspects of CPD and curriculum development.
Our MAT is based on the principle that collaboration between schools offers benefits to all within the Trust. We currently operate with a central model, ensuring we work with a dedicated central team with the capacity to provide a high-quality provision and grow further, whilst also maintaining excellent value for money.
Trust Central Offer
We are always developing and refining provision within the Trust to support improvements for all schools. The current Shires offer for all schools includes:
Lee Gray
NLE and CEO Shires MAT
The CEO/Principal provides strategic development of the Trust working closely with stakeholders and partners (Trustees/Governors, local authorities, Teaching School Hubs, the Regional Schools Commissioner/DfE and the Trust Leadership Team) to maintain a high quality provision, whilst also promoting growth and stability within the MAT.
The Trust leadership team (Central leadership and Headteachers) meet regularly and there is a clear focus on school development and improving outcomes and experiences for all our pupils. The CEO is also a National Leader of Education and is actively involved in supporting schools regionally.
Growing curriculum links between schools. This includes opportunities for moderation and sharing curriculum expertise. Some staff work across sites to help provide specialist teaching for pupils and pupils have regular opportunities to experience different school settings (for example, KS2 pupils experiencing learning in secondary school practical subjects). This work is driven by a collaborative approach as all schools retain autonomy of curriculum offer, but where it makes sense to align or share practice, we do so.
The CEO/Principal provides strategic development of the Trust working closely with stakeholders and partners (Trustees/Governors, local authorities, Teaching School Hubs, the Regional Schools Commissioner/DfE and the Trust Leadership Team) to maintain a high quality provision, whilst also promoting growth and stability within the MAT.
The Trust leadership team (Central leadership and Headteachers) meet regularly and there is a clear focus on school development and improving outcomes and experiences for all our pupils. The CEO is also a National Leader of Education and is actively involved in supporting schools regionally.
Growing curriculum links between schools. This includes opportunities for moderation and sharing curriculum expertise. Some staff work across sites to help provide specialist teaching for pupils and pupils have regular opportunities to experience different school settings (for example, KS2 pupils experiencing learning in secondary school practical subjects). This work is driven by a collaborative approach as all schools retain autonomy of curriculum offer, but where it makes sense to align or share practice, we do so.
Jack Worton
Safeguarding Lead
Our Trust safeguarding and attendance lead supports delivery of effective safeguarding across the Trust. This is supported through a safeguarding audit and action plan, comprehensive training for staff and governors and dedicated support and development. There are also regular DSL collaborative meetings linked to both development and training. Similarly, attendance leads meet regularly and collaborate in maintaining and further improving on already excellent attendance across the Trust.
Our Trust safeguarding and attendance lead supports delivery of effective safeguarding across the Trust. This is supported through a safeguarding audit and action plan, comprehensive training for staff and governors and dedicated support and development. There are also regular DSL collaborative meetings linked to both development and training. Similarly, attendance leads meet regularly and collaborate in maintaining and further improving on already excellent attendance across the Trust.
Tanya Howarth
SEND Lead
Tanya gained BSc (Hons) in Natural Science with Biology from The Open University, whilst raising a young family. Once completing her PGCE year she began her teaching career at a large first school in Redditch. Tanya began working at Feckenham CE Primary school in 2011 leading maths, and in 2018 became the SENDCo. Whilst completing her NPQH, in 2019, Tanya took a secondment for the year at Webheath Academy Primary as Deputy Head. Currently, Tanya is the SENDCo and Deputy Head at Feckenham, whilst also teaching year 5 and 6. She took on the role of TRUST SEND lead in 2023.
Trust SEND lead supports delivery and development of SEND practices across the Trust. This includes annual audits/training and development, as well as collaborative meetings and planning for SENDCos.
We have and external partnership with Concero to deliver IT support across our schools. We also have an IT lead who works closely with the COO and schools to ensure the right resources are in place to support staff and pupils. Strategic overview of all IT within the MAT with external IT support and further supported by a dedicated network manager.
Katharine Sanders
Chief Finance Officer
Sam Billingsley
Finance Assistant
Sam holds an AAT Level 2 qualification and has over 10 years previous experience working in a variety of finance roles within the legal, automotive and beverage industries.
Sarah Hawkes
Finance Assistant
Sarah joined Webheath Academy Primary School in 2012 as a Teaching Assistant, in which she holds a Level 3 Qualification. In 2018 she moved to a Finance Assistant role at the school, and in 2020 when the Shires Multi Academy Trust formed she became part of the Central Finance Team.
Sarah has over 20 year’s experience in finance and is a qualified bookkeeper. She holds her Level 2 AAT, and her Level 3 AAT Advanced Diploma Accounting.
A finance team consisting of a chief financial officer, finance manager and two finance assistants. The finance team supports school business leaders/administrators to produce monthly management accounts, prepare budgets and coordinate payments and transactions. This allows the teams working within schools to focus on best value, wider school provision and ensuring the day-to-day operations are a priority. This also includes contract management and securing best value through Trust procurement.
Kirsty Anthony
Chief Operations Officer
Kirsty joined Webheath Academy Primary School in 2018 as School Business Manager. Prior to this she had over 14 years of experience in business and operations working in the Steel and Hotel industries.
In early 2022 Kirsty also took over as Senior Business Manager at Ridgeway Secondary School, managing the two schools together.
Kirsty is responsible for operations across the Trust including the strategic leadership, management, and development of efficient services to the Shires MAT. Kirsty oversees all operational functions of the Trust, line managing business and HR leads across schools, and ensures compliance and consistency across the Trust is linked to all operations areas, including premises and grounds, Health and Safety, compliance, IT, Catering, Supplier Management, Procurement, Purchasing, Bids and Grants, Data Management, Risk and Compliance and Estates Development. Kirsty also has the lead on the development and implementation of Trust policy in all business management areas.
Susanna Cookes
Senior Administrator
Susanna is based in the central office in the newly appointed role of Senior Administrator. Her dynamic role overall supports the Trust Senior Leadership Team with their duties where needed including, producing reports, managing the central office site in regards to compliance, policies, maintaining records, HR duties, training and development overview and working alongside Trust lead for website management. While also supporting the Chief Operations Officer with trust contracts, staff well-being, risk registers and the business continuity plan.
Susanna has had experience in HR administrative roles previously as well as working as the Area Manager for a local estate agent for 10 years. Her transferable skills gained from prior experience in other industries brings a unique and versatile approach to the administrative support for the Trust.
Trust leadership with a dedicated Chief Operations Officer, supporting business managers and leaders across schools with IT, estates, Health & Safety, HR, sustainability, risk moderation and contracts.
Susanna Cookes
Senior Administrator
Susanna is based in the central office in the newly appointed role of Senior Administrator. Her dynamic role overall supports the Trust Senior Leadership Team with their duties where needed including, producing reports, managing the central office site in regards to compliance, policies, maintaining records, HR duties, training and development overview and working alongside Trust lead for website management. While also supporting the Chief Operations Officer with trust contracts, staff well-being, risk registers and the business continuity plan.
Susanna has had experience in HR administrative roles previously as well as working as the Area Manager for a local estate agent for 10 years. Her transferable skills gained from prior experience in other industries brings a unique and versatile approach to the administrative support for the Trust.
A senior administrator supporting schools through central roles and coordination.
Donna Hodgson
Deputy Head, North Bromsgrove High School
A Trust coordinator to ensure personal development and enrichment opportunities support pupils in flourishing.
Anna Ingram
Curriculum Secondary
Amy Page
Curriculum Secondary
Rachel McGhie
Curriculum Secondary
Jeannette Little
Curriculum Primary
Trust leads for curriculum, CPD and pedagogy development, supporting schools in collaborating to improve practice and reduce workload.
Leadership development across the Trust with our bespoke programs introducing development at various levels, supported by the national suite of NPQs for more experienced staff. Trust-wide INSET also supports the development of pedagogy and collaboration between schools.
Roxy Jordan
Marketing & Design Manager
Roxy qualified as a teacher in 1994, with a B.Ed (Hons) in Art & Design. She has worked in the education field for over 26 years, supporting the set up and running of a SCITT in Solihull and then moving on to support and manage the Shires Teaching School and ITT.
Roxy joined Studley High School in 2016 to support the Teaching School with ITT recruitment, marketing and PR as well as promoting Studley High School and managing many digital and creative aspects for the school.
After the formation of the MAT, she also now manages marketing and design, social media and online presence for schools in the Trust and oversees all website content and design across the schools.
Trust wide marketing and communications support from a dedicated staff member, including design, digital creation, branding, social media and website management.
Trust HR provision supported by an external partner. A suite of Trust policies support favourable terms and conditions for all staff.
Trust provision for each school with legal advice, HR advice and access to support on a vast array of school issues.
Health & Safety audits and oversight through our Trust contract with an external provider. This includes staff training packages linked to compliance and Health & Safety.
Trust CPD offered through an online delivery platform. CPD includes compliance, teacher, support staff and governor development.
A staff wellbeing offer with a dedicated website and interactive support. This includes counselling for all employees and their dependants and wider benefits which we are adding to regularly.
A Trust wide approach to Apprenticeships and effective use of the apprenticeship levy to support schools in developing key staff.
School improvement support with termly visits and reports at both primary and secondary level. This is based around consistent planning and evaluation processes and individual priorities linked to each school.
The Shires MAT leadership group offers wider support to schools supporting delivery of whole school priorities and the provision of further leadership capacity, where needed. This is at both Deputy and Headteacher level.
A growing suite of employee benefits ranging from a salary sacrifice car scheme to a wellbeing platform and eye tests.
