Executive Leaders
Lynn Jackson: CEO
Key responsibilities: vision, values and ethos, accounting officer, governance, personnel, administration, overall standards, performance and accountability for the trust and all its schools.
Background
Lynn qualified as a maths teacher in 1989 and has worked in Chesterton since 1994, becoming Headteacher of Chesterton Community Sports College in 2004. Lynn became Executive Headteacher of Chesterton Community Sports College and Churchfields Primary School in 2012: a role which has developed into the CEO of the Academy Trust. During this time she has represented other headteachers both formally and informally across Staffordshire. She currently chairs the N4 Group of Secondary Headteachers for Newcastle and Kidsgrove District. Lynn has developed a reputation for leading standards through her passion and commitment to learning. Her clear leadership will support achievement in the schools across the academy.
Rob Swindells: Deputy CEO, Headteacher CCSC
Key responsibilities: line manages the operational teams across the trust, which includes, premises, IT and finance, Trust Curriculum Lead, Overall Trust Strategy and Development.
Background
Rob began his career at Chesterton Community Sports College in 1997 as an NQT and quickly establishing himself as a strong team member and gained promotion holding both pastoral and curriculum responsibilities. In 2006 he became Assistant Headteacher and joined the Senior Leadership Team at Chesterton Community Sports College, becoming Headteacher in 2012. He now also serves as Deputy CEO and CFO for the Trust. Rob has also worked across other schools and helped them to develop their capacity and structure in order to improve. He was also responsible for developing the highly successful ICT services that many local schools now purchase from the Trust. Rob is passionate about school improvement and has an established reputation for having a clear strategic vision and a drive to lead change in the interests of the children. He is leading the Trust’s curriculum development strategy.
Diane Beardsmore: Headteacher Churchfields Primary School
Key Responsibilities: Leading all standards at Churchfields Primary School
Background
Diane began her career at Chesterton Community Sports College as an NQT in 1998. Her talent was recognised early on as in her second year of teaching she took part in a developing Young leader’s course run by Specialist School Trust. At this time she also had her first promotion having responsibility for RE and PSCHE. She later became SENCO and school safeguarding lead. She became Assistant Head at Chesterton Community Sports College in 2006 and Headteacher at Churchfields Primary School in January 2012. During her time at Churchfields the school has gone from Special Measures to Outstanding. Diane has an impressive reputation across Staffordshire for her work in regards to SEN and Safeguarding and is widely held as one of the County’s most experienced people in this field. She has also quickly become an established authority on primary education and leadership.
Sara Stevenson: Headteacher at Crackley Bank Primary
Key Responsibilities: Leading all standards at Crackley Bank Primary School
Background
Sara qualified as a Primary Teacher in 1996 and originally taught in schools in Shropshire before moving to Staffordshire to take up the post as Deputy Headteacher at Crackley Bank in 2003. In 2005 Sara became the school’s Head Teacher and during this time she has taken a key role in working with the LA to support other schools within Staffordshire. Sara ensures that the curriculum impacts upon the quality of education whilst maintaining a strong focus upon inclusion - SEND support and behaviour managementare strengths of the school. There is a clear ethos of teamwork and positive growth mind-set within the school and this is led by Sara through her strong drive for improvement throughout the school.
Helen Swindells: Headteacher at Chesterton Primary School
Key Responsibilities: Leading all standards at Chesterton Primary School
Background
Helen qualified as a Primary Teacher in 2014 following a successful career in corporate marketing. She holds a degree in psychology and post graduate qualifications in special educational needs. Helen joined the Collective Vision Trust in 2016, she has been a SENDCo since 2019, Deputy Head since 2022 and became Head at Chesterton Primary in 2023. Helen is passionate about curriculum and inclusivity and champions the needs of children in school. Her leadership is firmly centred around team-work and honesty which are key features of the school.
Brian Wilkinson: Headteacher at Bursley Academy
Key Responsibilities: Leading all standards at Bursley Academy
Background
‘Brian qualified as a Primary Teacher in 1998 and worked in a number of schools across Cheshire East before completing his NPQH in 2007. This was the start of his journey into senior leadership with his first headship role coming in 2012 in a school with a resource provision for children with ADHD and behaviour difficulties. He moved to Bursley as headteacher in 2015 and in 2017 became the Senior Executive lead of the Praxis Trust. Brian makes sure that the Bursley motto of ‘Nurture, Inspire, Achieve’ is visible in every part of school life. The school has the highest expectations for all children, providing a learning environment which encourages engagement, celebrates challenge and helps pupils develop both academically and as well rounded individuals.’
Stella Formosa: Trust Educational Development Leader
Key Responsibilities: Support the trust’s growth strategy, aid Trust succession planning by helping to develop future leaders, understanding of national developments around education.
Background
Stella qualified as a teacher of English in 1992 and has worked in a number of secondary and middle schools across Staffordshire. In 2000 she was seconded to work for the local authority to deliver the new literacy framework across the County. She became Assistant Headteacher at Chesterton Community Sports College in 2007 and was instrumental in delivering the turnaround in the quality of teaching and learning both at CCSC and at Churchfields Primary School in its journey to becoming an outstanding School. She became headteacher at Chesterton Primary in September 2019 and successfully led the school’s transformation from Special Measures to Good. In September 2023, Stella retired from the Headteacher role in order to take up the role of ‘Trust Educational Development Leader’, as part of the Trust’s central team.
She has a reputation of providing teachers with clear direction and feedback that give immediate impact on quality of learning for the pupils. She has worked alongside numerous Ofsted inspectors and has always been praised for clarity of observation and high quality feedback
Steph Waterhouse: Deputy Headteacher at CCSC
Key Responsibilities: website, communication and marketing, relationships with our partner schools and other partner schools beyond the trust.
Background
Steph joined Chesterton Community Sports College as an NQT English teacher in 2004. She very soon established herself as an outstanding teacher and quickly gained promotion to Head of Department. She first became a member of the Senior Leadership Team in 2013 and has earned further promotion to Deputy Headteacher and as a member of the Trust Executive Leadership Team. Steph has earned her reputation from excellent teaching and enviable people management skills. She is an inspiring leader who brings out the best in all those she works with.
Operational Leads
Julia Revell – Chief Financial Officer
Responsible for: Finance, HR, Trust Administration, Company Secretary.
Garry Gribbin – Director of Premises and Estates
Responsible for: Development and management of the Trust’s premises.
David Lawton – Director of ICT Infrastructure, Development and Technical Manager
Responsible for: ICT across the Trust and across other schools buying into the service.
Yvonne Jennings – Trust
Responsible for: (alongside the CFO) academy returns and financial compliance.
