Central Team
Sarah Coote
Operations DirectorSarah’s specialist experience gained in her previous roles as Bursar and Company Secretary gives her the knowledge to fulfil the Operations Director role. Sarah is a qualified Company Secretary, was a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, and also holds a Certificate in Management through Henley College. She has worked in schools since 2009. The Operations Director role is to ensure the smooth transition of primary schools to Academy status and to assist with the overall governance and operation of each academy within Catalyst Academies Trust.
Sarah Lilley
PA and HR co-ordinatorSarah has been a valuable member of the Trust central team for over 10 years, working alongside all Trust schools bringing knowledge from her previous roles in Business Administration. She supports the CEO in the day to day running of the Trust, co-ordinating meetings, timetables and working alongside SLT to ensure quality administration is given to all schools. Sarah also currently completes administrative duties for HR, dealing with queries and offering a broad knowledge of expertise to all schools within the Trust.
Becky Doust
Governance ManagerBecky’s role as Governance Manager is to ensure excellent governance throughout the Trust and provide support to Trust schools. Becky brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from her background in Education within the public sector, which will complement her role within Catalyst Academies Trust. The Governance Manager role is to ensure that the schools within the Trust are compliant with statutory requirements, including websites and policies, and to provide clerking for all Trust schools.
Outreach Team
Tony Parfett
Tony recently assumed his role as CEO of the Trust, after 2 years as Headteacher at Quarry Hill Academy. During his time as Headteacher Quarry Hill Academy made great leaps in terms of pupil attainment and teaching quality, under his leadership the school has moved from Requires Improvement to Outstanding in just 2 years. He started his teaching career in 1999 specialising in EYFS and KS1. Tony recently focused his attention on the quality teaching in KS2, where he has over 14 years of experience to draw from. Tony gained the NPQH qualification which helped him develop knowledge around whole school leadership. He delivers courses for the National College including NPQML and NPQSL. He is currently working on the improvement of teaching through action research to raise attainment and progress. This approach was applied to rapidly improve standards in his own school and the outstanding practices developed are being shared throughout the Trust by mentoring and supporting of others to achieve the same successes. His recent appointment as a National Leader for Education further acknowledges the impact he has had not only in our Trust schools but also in schools and academies outside the partnership.
Rhys Latham
Rhys, Headteacher at Dilkes Academy, has been part of the team since 2005. In his role as a trainer for National Science Learning Centre, and Strategic Lead for our Teaching School, his passion and drive to improve Teaching and Learning, and make a difference to other schools in the delivery of the curriculum has shone through. Teaching, for Rhys, is a child-centred activity, focusing on development academically, socially and emotionally. Under his leadership, Dilkes Academy was judged to be Outstanding in all areas in April 2023, maintaining the previous 2012 judgement.
Rhys also oversees the highly successful Personalised Learning Centre which supports pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans for SEMH to develop socially and emotionally, enabling them to become resilient and self-regulate.
Rhys recognises the importance of learning as a continuous journey and has completed a Master’s in Education, exploring the impact of action research on professional development. He is currently completing the National Professional Qualification For Executive Leaders. Rhys is proud to lead an outstanding school, initiating and supporting further improvements and sharing these with others, particularly embracing outreach opportunities to other schools. Rhys plays an active role in supporting other Trust schools.
Sam Wakeling
Samantha has worked with a wealth of colleagues and coached and supported them in developing an aspirational approach to teaching and learning, ensuring that every child is offered the very best education, encouraging them to reach their full potential, regardless of background or starting point.
She is incredibly passionate about ensuring that this ethos is inherent in any school in which she is deployed in her role as Head of Teaching and Learning and believes that no leader should accept underperformance and actively endeavours to ensure that all staff adopt the key principles that every child can make outstanding progress if nurtured and taught by outstanding practitioners.
Her own drive to ensure the very best for all pupils is clearly communicated to all staff, and she always leads by example. Samantha is dedicated in her role as Headteacher at Quarry Hill Academy and believes that as a senior leader, we need to ensure that the training of all staff provides the opportunity for developing the future system leaders. In November 2022, Quarry Hill was visited by Ofsted and proudly maintained their outstanding status. Recent published data has also evidenced that outcomes for Quarry Hill are significantly above both national and the local authority outcomes for working at expected standards and for working at greater depth, clearly evidencing that all children are making exceptional progress and achieving their potential, through diligent system leadership, where everyone accepts accountability and strives to excel.
All staff and pupils have embraced the mantra that they can be the best, and with such self-belief and a limitless growth mind-set, success inevitably ensues.
Our Directors
Tony Parfett
Chief Executive OfficerTony assumed his role as CEO of the Trust, after 2 years as Headteacher at Quarry Hill Academy. During this time Quarry Hill Academy made great leaps in terms of pupil attainment and teaching quality. Under his leadership the school has moved from Requires Improvement to Outstanding in just 2 years. Tony delivers training for a number of providers and is an advocate for the improvement of teaching through action research to raise attainment and progress. This approach was applied to rapidly improve standards at Quarry Hill and the outstanding practices developed are being shared throughout the Trust assist all schools in achieving the same successes. More recently he was appointed as a National Leader for Education, further acknowledgement of the impact he has had not only in our Trust schools but also in schools and academies outside the partnership.
Lea Tyler
DirectorLea is currently Deputy Head in an Essex based school, with many years of experience in education. With a background of over 25 years’ experience as a Local Authority Governor, including Chair Governor of an outstanding school and Chair of a Shadow Governing Body. Lea is particularly interested in the development and aims of Catalyst Academies Trust.
Tim Drakes
DirectorTim has a background of over 20 years in the financial services sector, as well as experience of consulting in many different industries. He holds numerus financial qualifications as well as having read Maths, Law, and Business at University. He has a passion for voluntary work which includes over 10 years at a community centre, and being trustee and co-chair of a local opera company. Tim’s qualifications and experience bring a wealth of knowledge to Catalyst Academies Trust.
Keith Williams
DirectorKeith has been a school governor for over 25 years, serving on various committees, including Chair of Finance Committee and Vice Chair of the Governing Body of an outstanding school, dedicating his time and expertise to ensuring that staff receive the training and coaching they require. Keith brings many years of knowledge in project management and strategy planning to the Catalyst Board.
Darren Walters
DirectorDarren has extensive experience in business planning and strategy organisation and, in addition, has served as a school governor within Catalyst Academies Trust for over 15 years including the role of Chair of Governors of an outstanding school. Darren has gained a Master’s degree in Engineering, and used his experience and knowledge to assist with the creation of Multi Academy Trust. Darren has a close eye for detail, and is passionate about the role of professional development in maintaining outstanding leadership across the Trust.
Kevin Imbush
DirectorKevin has been in teaching since 1986 and has taught at a wide variety of schools in Inner London, Outer London, Essex, Southend and Thurrock. These have been a mixture of Roman Catholic, Church of England and community schools. Kevin has experience as a class teacher in all year groups from Y1 to Y6 and held responsibilities for most subjects at one time or another. Kevin was the Headteacher at Somers Heath Primary School for 10 years, which during this time the school doubled in size. Kevin is passionate about raising aspirations in Thurrock and believes that the best education is one which enriches the whole child.
Mark Pettican
DirectorMark has worked across a number of industries including IT, Technology, Agriculture and Education. He has held numerous senior HR roles covering the UK, Europe and Globally. He specialises in Strategic HR and business, across all HR areas of operational HR and specialist areas such as Learning and Development, Talent and Organisational Development. In addition, Mark has also worked across Facilities management in a number of organisations.
Dan Foxwell-Jones
DirectorDan was been a school governor for 8 years and was the Chair of Governors at Aveley Primary School for . Dan has recently joining the governing body of an outstanding school within Essex. Professionally Dan manages a successful national team of people within the retail construction industry, requiring strong communication skills, excellent time management and robust performance management - strengths he brings to the Board of Catalyst Academies Trust.
Donna Dalrymple
DirectorDonna joins us bringing her extensive HR experience in the education and health sectors. For the past three years she has held a senior HR role with a London-based Russell Group university and for 6 years held executive director posts within the further education sector. In addition, Donna has over 15 years in HR management in the NHS. Donna specialises in Employee Relations and Strategic HR Business Partnering - leading and supporting the creation and implementation of strategies for the attraction, retention, engagement and development of people. Donna is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.