MAT Central Team

CEO

Matthew has undertaken leadership roles across primary schools within Sheffield, focusing on curriculum and support for pupils who are disadvantaged or speak EAL. Matthew led the school he undertook his first headship at to its first ever outstanding judgement. Matthew was also intrinsic in working with governors within this role to facilitate the school joining a multi-academy trust. Following on from this, Matthew then supported other schools within the trust. Matthew’s role developed to ‘Director of Primary Education’ where he worked across all primary schools at a trust level supporting all schools to be good or outstanding.

Matthew was designated as a National Leader of Education and worked with a teaching school to support the wider educational system. Matthew is experienced in carrying out school-to-school support through the improvement fund (SSIF) and working as a pupil premium reviewer. Matthew’s particular focus was in supporting ‘stuck schools’ and working alongside NLGs to provide sustainable improvement. Further focus in all these roles was to provide sustainable and long-term improvement, with an emphasis on curriculum, staff development and strong governance. Matthew maintains these priorities across IPMAT schools.

Matthew also has extensive experience working as HMI and specialist adviser for Ofsted. Matthew carried out a range of inspections including schools, children’s services, and teacher training providers. Matthew also advised on policy and training and oversaw the quality of written reports nationally. Matthew’s particular specialism was in safeguarding, early years practice and curriculum impact.

Chief Operations Officer

Tracey has an extensive range of comprehensive business leadership skills including financial management, comprehensive HR management and project management developed from a range of senior roles in education.  Previously Director of Business Operations for a secondary academy, Tracey has also supported a number of primary schools with all aspects of school business management.

Tracey holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration, is an associate member of CIPD and AAT and has worked in a number of key senior leadership positions in education over the last 15 years.

Tracey leads on all aspects of academy conversion and ensures new schools joining the Trust are fully supported throughout the conversion process.

Tracey manages the central business team including finance, payroll, HR management and estates management.

Chief Financial Officer

Tracy is an experienced finance professional, having worked in education finance roles since 1987. Tracy initially trained as an internal auditor, becoming a Finance and Business Manager in 1998 and then a CFO in the academies sector in 2011. She was designated as a Specialist Leader in Education (SLE) in 2012, as well as undertaking the CFO role, she coaches and mentors newly appointed CFO’s in new and growing Trusts. Tracy has been the finance lead on a number of successful free schools and has led the financial due diligence processes on behalf of prospective MAT sponsors. Tracy has also supported Trusts in financial difficulty, working with Trust Boards and CEOs on deficit recovery plans and acting as the finance liaison with the DfE.

Tracy is AAT, CSBM and DSBM qualified and is an affiliate member of CIPFA and a member of the Institute of School Business Leaders. She holds a Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Educational Leadership and is a DfE appointed School Resource Management Advisor (SRMA).

Outside of work, Tracy has served on Academy Trust Boards and Governing Bodies for schools and colleges and volunteers for the West Yorkshire Hardship Project.

Executive Headteacher and Director of Data and Inclusion

Sally moved to Yorkshire in 1998 where she completed her music degree at Huddersfield University. She then went on to complete her PGCE.

In 2006 Sally was appointed as Deputy Headteacher at Grove Lea Primary School and taught across both Key Stage One and Two. Her role at the time was to lead in developing the 'Arts', alongside leading Maths across school. She was also responsible as lead mentor for Newly Qualified Teachers and Students.

At Easter 2013 Sally was appointed as the headteacher of the school. Whilst in role she has been thrilled to lead the school to gain 'Outstanding' in their 2017 Ofsted. Sally was also successfully appointed as a Local Leader of Education for Aspire. More recently, she has completed a Masters in Research project in promoting and embedding Mental Health. This is one of Sally’s greatest passions and she enjoys working with other schools in promoting this.

Executive Headteacher and Director of Training, Curriculum, Attendance and Behaviour and Trust Safeguarding Lead

Annabel regularly supports leaders to enhance their knowledge and practice. Annabel has led reading training across the multi-academy trust, promoting a love for literature and embedding a book-rich curriculum; Annabel believes that all children should have access to a wide range of texts across varied genres and read widely with interest and enthusiasm

Executive Assistant to CEO

Michelle joined the Inspire Partnership in August 2025 bringing experience working in senior leadership business support and administration, and a background in finance and audit. Most recently Michelle has come from working for the Local Authority supporting both the Social Care and the Education directorates, and previously working for a large training skills/apprenticeship provider.

Business Operations Officer (Operational Excellence)

Claire joined Gawthorpe Community Academy as a Receptionist in 2015 after working in the banking industry for 10 years. She progressed to Office Manager in 2018 and then School Business Officer for both Gawthorpe Community Academy and Towngate Primary Academy in January 2020. During her time with the trust, Claire has completed a Level 4 Diploma in School Business Management and prides herself in having extensive knowledge and experience of school finance, HR and administration.

Business Operations Officer (Marketing, Systems and Data)

Ellie joined Inspire Partnership Multi Academy Trust in January 2021 working as an Academic Mentor, she then went on to qualify as a primary school teacher. Ellie re-joined the Trust in January 2023 as a Business Operations Assistant and progressed to a School Business Officer in September 2023. With a degree in English in Education and experience in the education sector, Ellie has extensive knowledge of school finance, HR and administration. Ellie has also completed her Level 3 qualification in Clerking of School and Academy Governing Boards.

HR Business Partner

Ruth joined the Trust as Office Manager in 2019 then became School Business Officer in January 2020. Ruth has a Foundation Degree and is a associate member of CIPD. Ruth has over 30 years experience from her previous roles in the retail industry one being Retail Operations Manager. Ruth has vast knowledge of HR/ payroll and administration and is currently studying a finance course for Education settings.

School Business Officer

Luke graduated from York St John’s University in 2021 with a BA (Hons) degree in Business Management. Before his current role with Inspire Partnership, he worked as a Payroll and Pensions Administrator for a large Multi Academy Trust, working as part of a team responsible for the processing of payments for over 4000 employees. Luke is looking forward to building upon his existing experience within academy finance and HR, working to ensure that the Trust’s operations effectively support their educational goals.

Compliance Officer

Emma has several years’ experience in providing office management support within a primary sector academy. She has extensive experience and skills in all areas of administration, account management and personnel management; with additional expertise in project management, HR and payroll. In addition to her administrative role within the primary sector, Emma simultaneously managed Designated Safeguarding Lead responsibilities.
Prior to working within the education sector, Emma held a senior compliance role and worked within the construction industry for over 10 years. Emma managed process improvement and project development to ensure manufacturers fulfilled their legislative due diligence obligations.
Emma is a Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor, holds Mental Health First Aid, Senior Mental Health Lead, and ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) accreditations.

Finance Officer

Finance Officer Dave has worked in finance for over thirty years and specialized in the Education Finance sector for over twenty of these. He has a wealth of knowledge, skills and experience to call upon, gained from working in Local Authorities, Academy Trusts, Schools and as a self employed Financial Consultant, in varying roles. This experience includes; Budgets, Management Accounts, Financial Monitoring, Bank Reconciliations and Cash Flow Management, using a number of different Finance and Budgeting packages.

Graduate Finance Apprentice

Between September 2018 and July 2021, Daniel studied Mathematics at York University where he achieved a first class honours. Since graduating, Daniel has worked as part of the central finance team here at Inspire where he will develop his knowledge and skills.

Alongside his employment, Daniel is also in process of completing an ACCA Level 7 Professional Accountant apprenticeship which will aide him in learning valuable financial skills including: financial/management accounting, financial reporting and audit.

Finance and Business Operations Assistant

Olivia is an adaptable Accounting and Finance student at Leeds Beckett University. Her current placement as a Finance and Business Operations Assistant at Inspire Partnership Multi Academy Trust provides hands-on experience in managing resources within the education sector, working in both the HR and Finance department. This valuable experience, supported by previous corporate exposure in a retail-finance setting and a practical understanding of social media management, highlights her well-rounded professional skills and dedication to efficient business operations.

Educational Psychologist

Anthony joined the trust in February 2024 after training and working as a local authority Educational Psychologist (EP) since September 2018. Prior to becoming an EP, he worked in various educational and community based roles in Yorkshire and London. These roles involved working with underrepresented and marginalised communities, across all age ranges, with the ultimate aim of improving life trajectories and outcomes by providing /improving access to education, community care and training through holistic support. Anthony's work has focused on opposing systemic practice and practises that traditionally oppressed, ostracized, discriminated against and stereotyped those in need and the most vulnerable within our society. Multi-agency working with partners such as CAMHS, Serious Crime Units, NHS, Social Care, Barnardos, The Mayor of London’s Office, Community Safety, Housing, and many others provided him with an insight to the complexities of challenging, and affecting change on, issues such as Special Educational Needs & Disabilities, social justice, organised crime, race, and child exploitation etc.

Trust Officer for Safeguarding, Attendance, Behaviour, Routines & Excellence (SABRE)

Emma has an undeniable passion for ensuring that attendance does not become a barrier for pupils’ educational successes. Emma strongly believes that all pupils have the potential to experience academic success, where she believes strong attendance and positive pastoral support forms the foundations. It is this enthusiasm and drive that has led Emma to work in the role of Education Welfare Officer. Emma has experienced working in many different roles within pastoral education, with roles including Attendance and Behaviour Officer and Learning Mentor. With her rigorous approaches to tackling poor attendance and desire for imparting her knowledge and expertise onto others, Emma works with leaders across the trust, a network of Attendance Officers and individual families to make a difference to the attendance of pupils across the Multi-Academy Trust.

Head of Estates

John has worked within the education sector in school estates since 2006. His journey started as a premises technician, completing building and refurbishment projects for a number of schools, before moving into estates management within academy trusts in 2012. John has been Head of Estates at IPMAT since 2022 . He has extensive knowledge and experience in premises maintenance, estates project management and statutory compliance and holds health and safety and Prince 2 qualifications. John has mentored newly appointed estates managers within the sector and supported on a number of due diligence reviews for growing trusts.

Estates Maintenance Operative

Pen Portrait coming soon.

Estates Maintenance Apprentice

Pen Portrait coming soon.