Executive Team
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.
Nicki Wright
Director of Primary
In 2009, following seven years of successful headship in inner city Birmingham, Nicki moved to Worcestershire to take up a post in the school improvement team before becoming CEO and Executive Head of a small Multi academy Trust in October 2016.
During her time in advisory work, she worked with a range of schools across the LA and has significant experience in supporting schools in challenging circumstances; including special measures, serious weaknesses and those in trauma. Nicki has also been an accredited SIP, Achievement for All coach and KS1 Moderator.
Nicki continues to work closely with the local authority improvement team, providing support for a small number of schools as an SIA. Her experience covers predominantly First and Primary schools but she has also been an Advisor for a number of Middle schools over the years.
Nicki is also experienced in governance and as well as providing training for governors for many years, has in the past been Chair of Governors at a primary school in special measures, a member of a middle school IEB and is currently the Chair of a Secondary School in Worcestershire.
Katharine Sanders
Chief Finance Officer
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.
Adam Rivett
Primary Trust Leader
Adam started teaching in 2007 at West Heath Primary School and taught from Reception to Year Six. After five years as an Assistant Head at Catshill First School and Nursery, Adam joined Endeavour Schools Trust in 2019 as the Deputy Headteacher at St. George's CE First School and Nursery. At a Trust level, Adam became a Director of English and then took on a full-time, trust-wide role as Director of School Improvement in September 2023.
During this time, he supported school improvement projects in Phonics, Reading, Writing, various areas of Curriculum development, created an IT Strategy for the Trust, deployed and worked with the other Directors of Education and provided bespoke support to a range of teaching and senior staff. Adam was also a credited KS1 Moderator for the LA.
He is also an experienced ECT Mentor and Tutor and thrives on working with new people and developing others.
Adam will be working across all First and Primary Schools to offer additional leadership capacity, drive AI projects, support ECTs and mentors and support the development of the Primary CPD offer.
Donna Hodgson
Deputy Head, North Bromsgrove High School
Rachel McGhie
Curriculum Secondary
Richard Eost
Headteacher - Studley High School
Richard has BA (Hons) in Physical Education (QTS) from University College Chichester. He started his career at Eggar's School in Alton Hampshire. He moved from Eggar's in 2012 to become an Assistant Headteacher at Studley High School. He then took on the role of Deputy Head in 2016 and became Headteacher in 2019.
Jeannette Little
Curriculum Primary
Laura Monfardini
SEND Lead
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.
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.
Michelle Dudley
IT Lead
Michelle has a BA (Hons) in Business Management with Marketing from the University of Derby. She completed her PGCE at Newman University in 2007. Prior to moving to Studley High School in 2014 she was Head of Department at St Benedict's Catholic High School and has a combined total of 15 years secondary teaching experience and over 13 years experience of subject leadership.
Headteachers
Matt Ball
Headteacher, Ridgway Secondary School
Matt joined Ridgeway Secondary School in 2019 as a Deputy Headteacher and then went on to become interim Headteacher. In July 2022, he was appointed as Headteacher, where he has driven and overseen a number of key improvements in the school. Matt brings a sharp professionalism to the school and is keen to consistently improve curriculum offering, teaching and learning and student behaviour.
Richard Eost
Headteacher - Studley High School
Richard has BA (Hons) in Physical Education (QTS) from University College Chichester. He started his career at Eggar's School in Alton Hampshire. He moved from Eggar's in 2012 to become an Assistant Headteacher at Studley High School. He then took on the role of Deputy Head in 2016 and became Headteacher in 2019.
Nick Gibson
Headteacher - North Bromsgrove High School
Nick is the proud Headteacher at North Bromgsrove High School having joined in September 2018. He studied Industrial Design and Technology at Loughborough University and went on to complete his PGCE, and later, pursued a post-graduate in Educational Leadership at Leicester University.
He started his teaching career in 1998 in London and since then has worked across a range of schools in both the independent and state sectors to gain essential leadership experience and teaching across a range of contexts. Before joining North Bromsgrove Nick was the Headteacher of an Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’ school and later he, as the CEO, launched a Multi-Academy Trust of five schools across the primary and secondary phases.
Nick is committed to ensuring North Bromsgrove enriches the Shires MAT offer, and is passionate about providing an education which, through exciting high-quality teaching and offering an exceptional level of pastoral care and enrichment, every student has the opportunity to flourish. He subscribes to the school motto ‘Studies Determine Character’ and takes pride in witnessing students work alongside staff in developing the necessary skills, knowledge and confidence to achieve their goals and aspirations as they go on to make a positive contribution to global society.
Jeannette Little
Curriculum Primary
Debbie Yarnold
Headteacher - Astwood Bank Primary School
Central Team
Claire Casey
HR Manager
Claire joined Shire MAT central team in November 2025 as Trust HR Manager based at the central office providing HR support to all academies within the trust. Claire will be responsible for building and maintaining strong relationships with both trust and academy leaders, staff, and stakeholders. Providing HR support, guidance, and advice to ensure effective and consistent management of HR across the academies including the implementation of policies, documentation, and HR admin processes. Claire will take the lead on HR training and development for leaders along with employee engagement and promote employee health and wellbeing.
Claire is an experienced HR professional with over 20 years’ experience in variety of HR roles within both small and large-scale companies. Providing guidance and support to business managers and leaders on a full range of complex HR issues, implementation of people related business strategies, processes, and projects. Claire holds a Business Studies Degree from Sheffield University along with CIPD membership.
Susanna Cookes
School Relationships Manager
Susanna is based in the central office but operates primarily across the Trust’s primary schools in her role as Schools Relationships Manager, predominantly supporting four primary schools. Since joining Shires Multi-Academy Trust in 2024, she has progressed through a range of roles, initially joining as Trust Senior Administrator where she provided high-level administrative support to the CEO and central team.
Drawing on her previous professional experience, Susanna brings a diverse and well-rounded skill set to her role. She works closely with Headteachers and school leaders to build strong, effective relationships and to ensure the delivery of high-quality operational support working in close partnership with the Chief Operations Officer, and the wider Executive Team including the CFO and CEO, contributing to the effective running of the schools.
Susanna brings a wealth of transferable experience from her previous roles, including HR administration and ten years as an Area Manager for a local estate agent. This background has equipped her with strong leadership, organisational and relationship-building skills, enabling her to take a versatile and dynamic approach to her work across the Trust.
She is extremely proud to work for Shires MAT and values the Trust’s ethos and the strong professional relationships that underpin its success.
Vicki Dawes
School Relationship Manager
I have been working for the Trust since 2022, firstly as Trust Office Manager and then as the Operations Manager, overseeing our site team and catering. Providing support and guidance to all our schools on Health and Safety, Estate and Premises Management, Contract Management, Statutory Compliance, IT and General Maintenance; and having oversight of the implementation and monitoring of Academy wide facilities strategies.
I manage the in house catering in our schools, providing an exciting and varied menu which the children helped us design. My previous career experience was in the financial sector working as a Property Broking Manager for a Commercial Property Broker, providing advice and arranging insurance cover for landlords of Property Management firms across the UK and Isle of Man. Maintaining relationships with Insurer suppliers and clients, ensuring bespoke and market exclusive products.
Becky Ford
Senior Finance Manager
Becky joined The Vaynor First School in 2012 as Trust Business Manager and progressed to the CFO role for Endeavour Schools Trust in 2018. Becky is now the Senior Finance Manager for Shires MAT following the merger of the two Trusts in 2026.
Becky has a Business Management Degree from Worcester University and a Level 7 professional qualification in School Finance and Operational Management. Becky is currently working towards her ACCA accountancy qualification. She worked in several Management Accounting roles within manufacturing, before moving to the education sector.
Lanre Ogunyinka
Finance Manager
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.
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.
Emma Povey
HR Assistant
Emma has over 10 years experience in HR and L&D, having worked in both the public and private sectors. Emma loves supporting people and ensuring smooth operations across all HR functions. She’s passionate about fostering professional development, creating a positive workplace culture and making HR processes simple and stress-free.
Franco Fiumefreddo
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