Capacity for Improvement
We will always seek collaboration with external partners and agencies in our pursuit of excellence for all our children and young
people: however, we also believe that our children and families are best served by having school staff being the best they can
be, something which comes as a direct result of the value and investment we put into workforce development, enabled by a
learning culture which recognises the fundamental importance of research-led interventions to deliver continual improvement.
Our MAT Central Team (MCT) draws on the wide range of expertise we have across our Trust and reflects the extensive MAT capacity we have to drive system-wide improvement, in conjunction with the expertise we commission from external agencies and through strategic partnerships.
Our MCT operate under the guiding principles of:
Aspire – We champion the Trust’s vision with ambition and integrity, setting the tone for excellence in every interaction.
Achieve – We model professionalism and accountability, delivering high-impact support that drives improvement across all schools.
Together – We work in true partnership with our schools, fostering collaboration and sharing responsibility for collective success.
Trustwide Solutions
Collaborative: Sharing of teachers, expertise and best practices.
Quality Core Services: Access to high quality shared services, e.g. catering, premises, finance and ICT
Delivery: Rapid dissemination of best-practice across the group – sharing of policies and procedures
Development: Excellent professional development opportunities, which support the recruitment and retention of staff.
Innovation: Innovative staffing arrangements – for example, staff working across more than one Amethyst Academy and working from home.
High Calibre CPD: Training days in common, facilitating high quality CPD.
Cutting Edge: Bespoke software for pupil tracking, reporting, safeguarding, rewards and conduct management are consistent across the academies.
our central support services
Sam Whitaker
Quality of Education Lead
I am delighted to be joining Amethyst Academies Trust as Quality of Education Lead, bringing a wealth of middle and senior leadership experience across schools and communities in Shropshire and Staffordshire. Throughout my leadership journey, I have led across teaching and learning, curriculum, inclusion, literacy and numeracy, behaviour, personal development, PSHE and ECT development, always with a clear focus on improving the experiences and outcomes of young people.
I am passionate about developing leadership at every level and creating cultures where people feel trusted, valued and empowered to thrive. I believe that when we invest in our people and create the right environment for adults to flourish, we create the conditions for children to succeed. Ultimately, I am driven by a simple question: what is the day-to-day lived experience of our most vulnerable learners? I want every young person across our Trust to have the opportunity to achieve, belong and thrive.
Gemma Tilley
Inclusion Lead
I am an experienced senior leader and have worked in various schools throughout my career in a wide range of roles including Behaviour, SEND and Quality of Education. Throughout my career to date, my passion for working with young people and making a difference to their lives is what has really driven me so far, and is what will continue to do so in Amethyst Academies Trust. I am steadfast in my belief that every child, regardless of their backgrounds or any barriers they face, has the right to the very best education where inclusivity and ambition are at the heart of all of our decision making.
Jill Lines
Director of HR
Human Resources
I am an experienced HR Professional having provided a HR service in a number of organisations during my career. I started my working life at West Midlands Police before moving to the education sector where I have worked in HE, FE and a number of school establishments. My most recent experience has been working as a HR Business Partner for a larger MAT, based within theHead Office team.
I am passionate about ensuring staff are given every opportunity to be the very best, whether that be through support, wellbeing or development. I recognise that you, as a valued member of staff, have the biggest impact on the young people in our care. Therefore, my aim is to ensure Amethyst Academies Trust is providing an environment which allows you to be passionate and ambitious so you can thrive in the workplace.
Connor Rowney
Operational Assurance Officer
I have a strong background working within the education sector, with previous experience in IT systems and supporting a range of services and projects across multiple schools. I am currently undertaking a Level 5 Operations Manager Apprenticeship, further developing my knowledge and expertise in operational management, compliance, governance, and continuous improvement. I am passionate about operations, compliance, and health and safety, and I am committed to ensuring effective processes, high standards, and safe working environments across our schools at Amethyst Academies Trust
My IT background has developed my problem-solving and analytical skills, as well as experience of working across departments and supporting a variety of projects and initiatives. I am passionate about continuous improvement, effective processes, and finding practical solutions that make a positive difference. Going forward, I would like to use these skills and experiences to support Amethyst Academies Trust in maintaining high standards, identifying opportunities for improvement, and developing effective and efficient ways of working.
Ian Henry
Director of IT
Ian brings a wealth of experience to ICT support. Originally joining the ICT Support team in 2006, he covered a wide range of roles before becoming Network Manager of Aldersley High School in 2013. Leading the school’s ICT Support department, he was responsible for the IT input to the Building Schools for the Future project, which reshaped ICT for the school going forward and has been instrumental in the school’s support during the interim leadership of additional schools.
Whilst also continuing his work for Aldersley, Ian was appointed as Network Manager for the Amethyst Academies Trust, leading the other ICT Support departments in continuing to provide a great IT service throughout the Trust.
Paul martin
Director of Marketing
Paul’s background in IT and media at Moreton School since 2009 made him the ideal choice to market the trust and it’s schools. Paul is as happy behind a camera as a computer and actively supports the technical aspects of the Photography A Level course in the Amethyst Sixth Form.
Paul has been the lead designer on our websites since joining the trust and transitioned the Moreton website over to a CMS in 2015 to make it more accessible to the growing mobile market. Paul led the social media rollout at Moreton School to show off all the fantastic work that happens in school that might otherwise have gone unnoticed.
Paul is also our “Go to” designer and is skilled in all aspects of design from a simple poster all the way up to promotional videos for the trust.