At the beginning of last week we announced the appointment of Tracey Trusler and Emma Elwin as Deputy CEOs (Education), starting in September. Towards the end of last week, we held interviews for two Academies Director positions to complete our central team ready for September.
I am delighted to announce that the successful candidates who will become Academies Directors in September are Ben Russell, currently Principal at Leigh Academy Halley in Greenwich and John Vennart, currently Headteacher of The Malling School in Kent. Both are scholars of the International Baccalaureate and are exceptionally successful school leaders. Their appointments will add considerable new capacity to the Trust to support its growth and development.
In the case of Ben, he recently led Leigh Academy Halley to five “Exceptional” grades in one of the first inspections under the new Ofsted framework, making his school one of the most successful in England according to Ofsted. Ben will work with Tracey Trusler in LAT’s western cluster. He will be running both Leigh Academy Halley and Leigh Stationers’ Academy over the course of the Summer term, before moving to the Leigh Academies Trust (LAT) central team in September.
Regarding John, for the last eight years he has been Headteacher of The Malling School in Kent. He has transformed the school from the requires improvement status he inherited to several outstanding grades awarded by Ofsted at its last inspection. As a result of John’s leadership, The Malling School is now one of the most popular non-selective schools in Kent, and is thriving. We are delighted that this appointment secures John’s return to LAT as before his appointment to The Malling School, he was a very successful and popular Head of College at Leigh Academy Mascalls. John will work with Emma Elwin in LAT’s eastern cluster.
Commenting on their appointments, Ben and John said,
“It is a real privilege to be appointed Academies Director at Leigh Academies Trust. I am excited to work alongside talented colleagues across our academies as we continue to strengthen the excellent education we provide for our students. Together, we will continue to deliver the very best opportunities and outcomes for the communities we proudly serve.”
Ben Russell
“I am absolutely delighted to be given this amazing opportunity to rejoin Leigh Academies Trust as Academies Director. I look forward to working alongside exceptionally talented teams to drive sustainable growth and continue to achieve outstanding educational success.”
John Vennart
