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Our Leaders

  

executive leadership team

  • David Sutton

    Chief Executive Officer / Accounting Officer

    David Sutton is an experienced school leader who has spent his whole career working in former mining communities, where he has committed to social mobility and economic prosperity through the delivery of high quality education.

    David has been a Head Teacher, an Executive Principal and is the founder CEO of a successful Multi Academy Trust in South Yorkshire. He has an outstanding track record in education and has led a number of schools out of an Ofsted category through his system leadership and school to school support work.

    Back in 2010, David worked with a local sponsor and broader stakeholders to plan and deliver the Academy vision, opening the first Academy in Rotherham. Following the improvement journey at Maltby Academy the school was accredited as a National Support School and David was awarded National Leader of Education status.

      Following his appointment to CEO of Maltby Learning Trust in January 2014, he worked with Governors across the schools to establish a Multi-Academy Trust in Maltby that reflected the local context and served the needs of children in and beyond the learning community.

    He went on to navigate the Trust through a successful period of growth with the transfer of two primary schools into the Trust and the sponsorship of one further Primary and two Secondary schools facing difficulties.

    The Maltby Learning Trust is now widely recognised for its ability to successfully apply ‘school to school’ support in a local community context in order to promote student engagement, transform learning and secure high standards of achievement.

    David continues to work with a number of schools facing significant challenges to build leadership capacity and shape a rapid school improvement plan prior to them joining a Multi-Academy Trust.

    Feel free to get in touch with David to discuss the ever changing educational landscape, including Ofsted, Multi Academy Trusts and all things school improvement and community transformation.

  • Dale Jackson

    Executive Director of Secondary Education

    Dale Jackson started his career as a Geography teacher in Sheffield. Having been through the Rotherham Education system himself, he has always been committed to improving educational standards in schools within disadvantaged communities.

    He now has over ten years’ experience in Secondary school Senior and Executive Leadership. Dale’s previous roles include Principal of Kingswood Academy in Hull, where he led the Academy from Ofsted ‘Inadequate’ to ‘good’. In 2019 Kingswood Academy secured a Progress 8 score of +1.17, including a disadvantaged Progress 8 score of +1.3 and was listed in the top 20 highest performing schools in the country.

    In 2019 Dale joined Maltby Learning Trust (MLT). Now working as Executive Director of Secondary Education across MLT, Dale and the Executive Leadership Team are shaping the strategic development of the organisation across Rotherham and Doncaster.

  • David Horrigan

    Executive Director of Primary Education

    David Horrigan oversees the four Primary Academies in Maltby Learning Trust and has over twenty years’ experience in Primary school Senior Leadership.

    David is an exceptional leader with a proven track record of school improvement, taking two schools from ‘special measures’ to ‘good’, and both within a three-year window.

    Working as Principal at Maltby Lilly Hall David secured rapid school improvement, taking the school from 53% combined attainment to 78% in two years. He has been the Executive Director of Primary Education at the Maltby Learning Trust, driving improvement across our Primary phase, since September 2020.

trust directors

  • David Sutton

    CEO

    David Sutton is an experienced school leader who has spent his whole career working in former mining communities, where he has committed to social mobility and economic prosperity through the delivery of high quality education.

    David has been a Head Teacher, an Executive Principal and is the founder CEO of a successful Multi Academy Trust in South Yorkshire. He has an outstanding track record in education and has led a number of schools out of an Ofsted category through his system leadership and school to school support work.

    Back in 2010, David worked with a local sponsor and broader stakeholders to plan and deliver the Academy vision, opening the first Academy in Rotherham. Following the improvement journey at Maltby Academy the school was accredited as a National Support School and David was awarded National Leader of Education status.

     Following his appointment to CEO of Maltby Learning Trust in January 2014, he worked with Governors across the schools to establish a Multi-Academy Trust in Maltby that reflected the local context and served the needs of children in and beyond the learning community.

    He went on to navigate the Trust through a successful period of growth with the transfer of two primary schools into the Trust and the sponsorship of one further Primary and two Secondary schools facing difficulties.

    The Maltby Learning Trust is now widely recognised for its ability to successfully apply ‘school to school’ support in a local community context in order to promote student engagement, transform learning and secure high standards of achievement.

    David continues to work with a number of schools facing significant challenges to build leadership capacity and shape a rapid school improvement plan prior to them joining a Multi-Academy Trust.

    Feel free to get in touch with David to discuss the ever changing educational landscape, including Ofsted, Multi Academy Trusts and all things school improvement and community transformation.

  • Dame Julie Kenny CBE DL

    Chair of MLT Board

    Chair of Maltby Learning Trust since January 2010, Dame Julie Kenny is the Former Chairman and CEO of Pyronix Limited, which she founded in 1986 and grew into a business with a turnover in excess of £25m, selling to over 80 countries throughout the world. She employed 200 people on 3 factory sites in Hellaby, Rotherham.  

    Alongside the Maltby Learning Trust, Dame Kenny is also Chair and Non-Executive Director of Robson Handling Technology Limited.  She Chairs the Sheffield Culture Collective, and is Chair of the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust and Trading Company. Dame Kenny is also Vice Chair of the National Coal Mining Museum of England and a Director of Sheffield Theatres and Chair of their People and Culture Committee.  

    In recognition of her contribution to the region’s business and industry, Dame Kenny was awarded a CBE in the 2002 New Year’s Honours List and was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University in 2005 in recognition of her outstanding contribution to industry and to the life of the region. She has created a successful business, developed the business base of the region and helped many young people to achieve their potential.   

    Dame Kenny has served as a Deputy Lieutenant for South Yorkshire since 2005 and was honoured to be the High Sheriff of South Yorkshire 2012/13. She was the Vitalise Businesswoman of the Year in 2013 and Private Businesswoman of the Year 2014. She has been honoured by the British Security Industry with a Chairman’s Award (being the first woman Chairman of the Industry in 2010) and a Lifetime Achievement Award. 

    Having been appointed by the Government to serve on very many different Government Boards since 1995, Julie was asked to serve as an Intervention Commissioner with Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council between 2010 and 2014 and was appointed again as an Intervention Commissioner of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council between 2015 and 2019, Julie’s involvement in the promotion of her hometown continues as a Rotherham Pioneer and an Ambition Rotherham Board Member.  

    Julie was honoured in Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in June 2019 with a Damehood for her work with heritage and particularly Wentworth Woodhouse. 

    In 2020, Dame Kenny was made an Honorary Freewoman of the Borough, the ultimate accolade that Rotherham Borough can bestow on one of its citizens.   

  • Glyn Staves

    Vice Chair of MLT Board

    Mr Staves, who joined the Trust in 2014, is a District Judge.  He began his legal career in 2003 after the completion of his A-levels. His first role was doing mainly unskilled jobs as the office junior with a local firm of solicitors based in Maltby.
    Mr Staves initially joined the legal profession without going to university.  He qualified through the CILEX route. He found it an exciting option, since he received hands-on training and the chance to put his skills into practice.  His training was funded from contributions made by his employer.  This meant that he did not following the completion of his training have any student loans or tuition fees. He was later admitted as a Solicitor in 2011. By the time he was appointed as a District Judge in 2022 he was a Dispute Resolution partner at MKB Solicitors LLP, specialising in Business and Property work.
    After being appointed a partner at MKB he went on to turn it into a hugely successful business, including doubling its turnover by the time he sold his share in 2021. The Lord Chief Justice has deployed Mr Staves to the North Eastern Circuit, based at Great Grimsby Combined Court.

  • Pete Sorsby

    TRUSTEE

    Mr Sorsby enjoyed a 28 year career with a high street bank, joining as an Office Junior in 1987 on attaining A Levels and leaving in May 2016 having worked in a wide array of roles culminating in that of Director of Commercial Banking for South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire.

    During the final five years of Mr Sorsby’s career he increasingly became involved in the business communities across all the towns in the area but in particular those of Rotherham and Doncaster, holding positions on Rotherham’s Local Economy Board and latterly its successor body the Business Growth Board.

    A key focus during that time was to help develop the relationships between the area’s employers and their representatives such as the Chambers of Commerce and the area’s education institutions at all age levels.

    A keen advocate of work experience - Mr Sorsby arranged and oversaw numerous programmes for students, several of which resulted in delegates being appointed by the bank or pursuing careers in the sector.  Also personal development - where he saw 4 of his 8 strong team gain in role promotions during his period as Director.

    Mr Sorsby became increasingly impressed by what he saw of Maltby Academy’s achievements and was delighted to be asked to join the Local Governing Body, with a particular focus on forging the Trust’s links with the local business community.

  • Emma Peach

    TRUSTEE

    Mrs Emma Peach is an experienced finance manager with a diverse background in engineering, construction, and manufacturing industries. Currently serving as a finance and HR manager in the digital marketing industry. The blend of financial expertise and people-oriented skills supports her new role of Chair of the FAR Committee.   

    Emma has lived in Rotherham for 20 years. Her interest in supporting Maltby Learning Trust started 4 years ago when she became a Community Governor for Ravenfield Primary Academy and then later Redwood Academy. She firmly believes that every child should have equal access to opportunities, exceptional experiences and to lead successful lives. MLT’s dedication to improve outcomes and opportunities for all children, regardless of their background is what fuels her desire to contribute as a trustee.  

    By actively engaging with the community and advocating for inclusive education, Emma is making a tangible difference in the lives of children within the Trust. 

  • Dean Fenton

    Trustee

    Dean retired from Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) after 23 years of service. Prior to working for RMBC he worked for the National Coal Board and the then South Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service (now Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust)

    For the last 11 years of his service with RMBC, Dean was the Strategic Lead for a range of education services including:

    • School Place Planning and the establishment of new school Infrastructure which included school expansions, amalgamations and the creation of two new mainstream schools
    • School Admissions, Appeals and the Fair Access Protocol
    • Exclusions
    • Children Missing from Education
    • Elective Home Education
    • Child Employment and Performance Licencing
    • Risk Management
    • Contingency Planning
    • School/Academy Ofsted complaint referrals to the Local Authority
    • Statutory returns to Government Bodies

    Dean has also previously served as a school Governor and as the Chair of a school Governing Board in Rotherham.

    From January 2023, Dean will be working part time for a Multi Academy Trust as the Trusts Risk Manager.

    The transferable education skills, knowledge and experience that Dean has acquired over his career will enable him to play an active role as a Trustee at the Maltby Learning Trust. Dean is excited to build on his previous experience and develop new skills in relation to the governance arrangements of the Trust through work with the Trust Board.

    Dean sees the role of a Trustee as a challenging but ultimately rewarding role supporting the commitment of the Maltby Learning Trust to delivering exceptional learning experiences that enable all young people to thrive in a competitive world and lead successful and fulfilling lives.

  • David Lane

    Trustee

    David has over 30 years’ experience working in various commercial and investment roles primarily in the construction and property development sectors. During that time, he has worked with a broad range of private and public sector parties to deliver numerous high-quality projects in the education, health and residential sectors.

    David is keen to bring his experience of collaborative and partnership working to support the Trust’s strategy for engaging effectively with local business partners and stakeholders, thereby enhancing the delivery of aspirational learning opportunities for young people.

  • Rachel Denton

    Trustee

    Rachel has worked in the education sector for 22 years. During that time Rachel has had the opportunity to lead on many initiatives including 14-19 Vocational Programmes, Extended Schools, Strategy for Change – aligned to Transforming Rotherham Learning. More recently, Rachel has led on Safeguarding across Aston Community Education Trust (ACET) and had responsibility for a number of Academies within the Trust in relation to Human Resources. Rachel has worked closely with the CEO, Trustees and Principals from across the Trust as well as external safeguarding partners. 

    Rachel resides in the local Rotherham area and is passionate about the wellbeing of children. Rachel is keen to share knowledge and experience at a Strategic level in order to further strengthen the responsibility that all adults have in keeping children safe. 

    Rachel is very much looking forward to the possibility of broadening her horizons by joining the Trustees of Maltby Learning Trust.

members

  • Richard Stubbs

    MEMBER

    Richard is the Chief Executive Officer of Yorkshire and Humber Academic Health Service (AHSN), an organisation that connects the NHS and academic organisations, local authorities, the third sector and industry to facilitate change across whole health and social care economies, with a clear focus on increasing economic growth and improving outcomes for patients. Prior to this he was the AHSN’s Commercial Director providing executive leadership on all commercial, innovation and wealth creation objectives.

    Mr Stubbs is also a non-executive director of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Leadership Fellow of St George’s House, Windsor Castle.  

    Richard is an ex-student of Maltby Comprehensive School and a former Trustee of the Maltby Learning Trust.

  • Lady Scarbrough

    Member

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  • Professor Phil Jones

    Member

    Professor Philip Jones was the Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University from 2007 until his retirement in Spring 2016. His academic background is in law and he advised the Law Society and the Bar Council on the structure of professional legal education. He was an adviser to the Department for Education and Skills and National Council for Vocational Qualifications on the structure of professional vocational qualifications. He also chairs of the Quality in HE Group which provides oversight of the Quality Assurance Framework for UUK, Guild HE, HEFCE and DELNI  

  • Dame Julie A Kenny DBE DL

    Member

    Chair of Maltby Learning Trust since January 2010, Dame Julie Kenny is the Former Chairman and CEO of Pyronix Limited, which she founded in 1986 and grew into a business with a turnover in excess of £25m, selling to over 80 countries throughout the world. She employed 200 people on 3 factory sites in Hellaby, Rotherham.  

    Alongside the Maltby Learning Trust, Dame Kenny is also Chair and Non-Executive Director of Robson Handling Technology Limited.  She Chairs the Sheffield Culture Collective, and is Chair of the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust and Trading Company. Dame Kenny is also Vice Chair of the National Coal Mining Museum of England and a Director of Sheffield Theatres and Chair of their People and Culture Committee.  

    In recognition of her contribution to the region’s business and industry, Dame Kenny was awarded a CBE in the 2002 New Year’s Honours List and was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University in 2005 in recognition of her outstanding contribution to industry and to the life of the region. She has created a successful business, developed the business base of the region and helped many young people to achieve their potential.   

    Dame Kenny has served as a Deputy Lieutenant for South Yorkshire since 2005 and was honoured to be the High Sheriff of South Yorkshire 2012/13. She was the Vitalise Businesswoman of the Year in 2013 and Private Businesswoman of the Year 2014. She has been honoured by the British Security Industry with a Chairman’s Award (being the first woman Chairman of the Industry in 2010) and a Lifetime Achievement Award. 

    Having been appointed by the Government to serve on very many different Government Boards since 1995, Julie was asked to serve as an Intervention Commissioner with Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council between 2010 and 2014 and was appointed again as an Intervention Commissioner of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council between 2015 and 2019, Julie’s involvement in the promotion of her hometown continues as a Rotherham Pioneer and an Ambition Rotherham Board Member.  

    Julie was honoured in Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in June 2019 with a Damehood for her work with heritage and particularly Wentworth Woodhouse. 

    In 2020, Dame Kenny was made an Honorary Freewoman of the Borough, the ultimate accolade that Rotherham Borough can bestow on one of its citizens.   

  • Richard Belcher

    Member

    Mr Belcher became a parent governor of Maltby Academy in 2010 and joined the board of the Maltby Learning Trust on its inception in 2014. He has two sons at the Academy. Mr Belcher qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1996 with the Northampton office of MacIntyre Hudson, a firm of accountants / auditors. He swiftly moved out of accounting practice to join a newly forming UK subsidiary of an American hair appliance manufacturer in Sheffield. This role involved registering the company with all the relevant authorities, setting up the office space, arranging transportation and warehousing contracts and designing / implementing the company’s processes and operating systems.

    Mr Belcher then joined ANSYS (formerly Fluent Europe) in November 1997 and held various finance management roles before being promoted to European Finance Director in 2012. He is responsible for leading the finance functions in 20 ANSYS entities spread across 12 European countries with a combined revenue in excess of $300m and with over 600 employees. Mr Belcher has an honours degree in Accounting and Management Control from Sheffield Hallam University, is a Common Purpose graduate and avid Sheffield Wednesday supporter.

academy principals

  • Richard Wood

    Principal Maltby Academy

    Appointed to the MLT in 2019 as Principal of Maltby Academy, Mr Wood has extensive experience as a Senior Leader and has worked in a number of Secondary settings across North, West and South Yorkshire. Mr Wood is also a qualified OFSTED inspector. During his 12 years at King James’s School in Knaresborough, he secured ‘Good’ Ofsted judgements including ‘Outstanding’ for behaviour. He was seconded to Settle College, North Yorkshire to support the reorganisation of South Craven schools. As Principal at Mexborough Academy in 2015, he secured significant improvements in outcomes, behaviour and culture.

  • Liam Ransome

    Principal Wath Academy

    Mr Ransome was appointed as the new Principal at Wath Academy in September 2020. As Deputy Headteacher at Kingswood Academy, he was responsible for Teaching and Learning, Behaviour, Inclusion and Attendance, and was part of the senior leadership team which led the school from ‘Inadequate’ to ‘Good’, delivering a Progress 8 score of +1.17. He has also worked as Deputy Headteacher at Amnuay SIlpa Bilingual School in Bangkok, Thailand where he implemented a safeguarding system, a new behaviour and rewards policy, attendance and punctuality systems and created the inhouse staff leadership development programme

  • Matt McDonald

    Principal Sir Thomas Wharton Academy

    Mr McDonald joined Maltby Learning Trust' in 2019 as Senior Vice Principal at Sir Thomas Wharton Academy holding responsibility for curriculum and progress, teaching and learning and more recently behaviour and standards. He was appointed as Principal at Sir Thomas Wharton Academy in March 2022; during Mr McDonalds time at the Academy it has received an Ofsted 'Good' judgement and has made year on year improvements to outcomes. 

    Mr McDonald worked in Doncaster based schools in Middle and Senior leadership positions until 2013 when he was appointed as a Director of Education to lead teaching and learning across 13 secondary schools for a large Multi Academy Trust. During this time, he developed capacity within the trust school leadership teams and departments to drive improvements and standards, and was responsible for leading trust schools through multiple Ofsted inspections, helping to take a number of them from inadequate to good over a five-year period

    In addition to the above school leadership experience, Mr McDonald has had articles published in the TES and worked with external education agencies such as iRIS Connect, delivering keynote speeches at national and internal education conferences on his experiences relating to reflective practice.

  • Richard Pease

    Principal Maltby Lilly Hall Academy

    Principal at Maltby Lilly Hall Academy, Richard was jointly responsible for improving the results profile of the school from the 53% to 78% combined attainment in two years, and instrumental in the Academy securing a ‘Good’ judgement for leadership and management at the last inspection. As an outstanding teacher, he has a detailed an instinctive knowledge of teaching and learning and a proven ability to improve the practice of others. Now drives good practice in Year 6 across the Maltby Learning Trust. Mr Pease is recognised for his outstanding Maths practice and for his contribution to rapidly raising attainment in Maths across the Trust primary Academies. Formerly Vice-Principal of Maltby Redwood and an integral part of the leadership team which brought the school out of Special Measures to secure a ‘Good’ judgement in 2012.

  • Ruth Berry

    Principal Maltby Redwood Academy

    Ruth is an experienced Senior Leader who has worked for the Trust since 2018. She is dedicated to providing outstanding teaching and learning opportunities and thrives on curriculum development; ensuring that all students receive purposeful, broad and balanced experiences whilst at school. Ruth is passionate about the Early Years Foundation Stage; ensuring that all students get off to a flying start on their educational journey. She is the Chair of the MLT EYFS Driver group and was previously an early Years Moderator for the Local Authority. Formerly, as Assistant Headteacher of Warmsworth Primary School in 2014, she collaboratively led the school to an ‘Outstanding’ outcome at inspection where Leadership was recognised by Ofsted as being ‘unflinching in the drive to make things better still for pupils’.

  • Catriona Wilby

    Associate Principal Maltby Manor Academy

    Catriona, now an Associate Principal at Maltby Manor Academy, embarked on her educational journey more than a decade ago as a newly qualified teacher and has since played a key role in its growth and success. Her unwavering commitment to the school's mission of delivering quality education to every child has been exceptional. Catriona's expertise as a Key Stage 2 teacher consistently inspires and educates young minds, making a lasting impact on her students.

    Beyond the classroom, Catriona actively enhances teaching and learning practice school-wide. Her contributions have been pivotal in maintaining top-tier teaching standards at Maltby Manor Academy, upholding a culture of educational excellence.

    Catriona is not only an educator but also a community builder. She is deeply committed to the Maltby community and is dedicated to fostering a culture where every child can thrive. Her passion lies in creating equal opportunities for all students, regardless of their starting points, ensuring that each child has the chance to reach their full potential.

  • Leanne Jepson

    Associate Principal Ravenfield Primary Academy

    Leanne has recently been appointed as Associate Principal at Ravenfield Primary Academy. She has 9 years of teaching experience. Leanne's previous positions include: Class teacher, Maths Lead, Maths SLE, SLT and Assistant Principal. Leanne was keen to join Maltby Learning Trust as she was previously a student of Maltby Redwood and Maltby Academy. Leanne feels extremely privileged to have been given the opportunity to progress in her career, where she is now responsible for leading an amazing team and ensuring every day is an exceptional and memorable day for the students of Ravenfield. She recognises the importance of Governance and the continuous drive for improvement.