Our Board of Directors are responsible for making strategic decisions about the running of the Trust. They play a critical role in accountability, effectiveness and standards and have duties as both directors (under company law) and trustees (under charity law).

The day to day running of the schools within the Trust is delegated to the local governing body and regularly monitored to ensure high educational standards.

Our Directors bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the Trust.

To contact our directors email: kirsty.forbes@stcmat.org

Our Directors

Andrew Bailey - Chair of the Board

Andrew originally trained as a mining engineer at the University of Nottingham and Bolsover Colliery and also worked in civil engineering, mainly involving the structural inspection, investigative testing and maintenance of high rise concrete structures.  Since the closure of the Selby Coalfield, where he held a management position, he moved to Devon with his wife and children where they run a small farm and holiday cottage business. He has been a Governor at the Ilfracombe Academy since 2012 and a Director of St Christopher’s (secondary) MAT since 2013. He has developed a keen interest in education and utilising his skills, knowledge and experience to help the local community in the improvement of educational provision for all.

Amy Laver - Vice Chair & Chair of Resources

Amy is a commercial Partner Solicitor specialising in corporate and charity matters. She is experienced in transactional corporate matters for small to medium businesses and bringing an analytical and commercial viewpoint. She is a charity governance specialist, with vast experience of advising schools and academies in particular.

Fr. Paul Jones - Chair of Performance & Standards

Fr. Paul qualified as an accountant and worked in local authorities before joining the priesthood.  He is the Priest of All Saints Church in Babbacombe, Torquay and a Rural Dean. He is also a Governor at St Cuthbert Mayne Secondary School, a church school jointly sponsored by the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church.

Graham Briscoe - Chair of  Audit Committee

Graham is a Chartered Engineer, a Chartered Information Technology Professional, a Certified Management Consultant and a Fellow of the British Institute of Facilities Management.

He has worked in many management services roles throughout his thirty year corporate career with Royal Sun Alliance in London, Horsham, Liverpool and Bristol encompassing many roles – project and change management, information technology, quality and customer service management, continuous improvement, transformational change, facilities management, due diligence  and office and work relocations associated with company mergers and acquisitions. Graham also covers “Change Management and Facilities Management” pro-bono support to Charity, Voluntary and “Not for Profit” organisations in in the south-west and south-east Wales.

Stuart Ludford

Stuart is the headteacher of a large primary school in Teignmouth and has worked in schools of a variety of sizes in Devon through his career. He has experience of the challenges faced by schools in different circumstances and has been a member of the governing board in several primary schools.  He is passionate about providing the very best experiences for children, the development of the whole child and the importance of supporting children in developing a strong framework of values, ethics and learning behaviours. Leadership development and the professional development of school teams are also high priorities.  Stuart is also a director of a Community Interest Company providing supply teacher services in Devon and is regularly engaged in support work for other school leaders, alongside the Local Authority.  He is married, with two children who are coming to the end of their school journey.

Matthew Shanks

Matthew is the CEO of Education South West and a National Leader of Education.  He is an experienced school leader and teacher who has worked in education for 26 years, 17 in senior positions as a Headteacher, Executive Headteacher and CEO. He is an active governor in other educational settings and trained by Ofsted to lead inspections of primary and secondary schools.

Matthew has a BA Hons, PGCE (Cantab), PGCert (Initial Teacher Training), MA(Ed) in Leadership and Management and level 7 diploma in Executive Leadership Coaching and Mentoring.  He is married with three children and lives outside Exeter.

Alyson Tyler

Alyson worked successfully for 10 years in marketing agencies in London.  She worked closely with clients on their strategy development, brand and campaign planning and implementation.  She then started a vibrant career teaching in London schools.  As Deputy Headteacher, she helped to turn a struggling inner city school from Special Measures to Good.  As a Headteacher she quickly took her school from Good to Outstanding - with both Ofsted and SIAMs.  Having grown up in Wales, she missed the abundance of open, green spaces and easy opportunities to be in or near the sea and rivers.  So, in 2017 she took the opportunity to become Managing Director of a global SCUBA Diving tour operator in Devon.  Many moons ago, Alyson did a degree in Marine Sciences at Southampton.  She also has an NPQH.  She is passionate about innovative education which develops a child’s personal expectations and horizons. 

Revd Simon Springett

Simon has been ordained for 40 years and served ten years in parish ministry, as a curate and incumbent, plus 22 as a Royal Navy chaplain.  Simon gained a PGCE(PCE) whilst serving at the Commando Training Centre, Lympstone.  Simon has been CEO of Aggie Weston's, a Christian service-delivery charity working with the Royal Navy and families. Simon has a balance of Christian commitment, interest and experience of education, and business experience.  

Jane Palmer

Jane is a retired solicitor with more than thirty years experience in corporate finance, acquisitions and commercial law including contracting, employment, data privacy, health and safety, pensions and corporate secretarial. During Jane's legal career, she held the position of company secretary in a number of English registered companies and has been a Director of both English and Dutch companies as well as a Trustee Director of her employers’ pension funds.  Jane has previously been a Governor with a Primary school in Twickenham.  

Dr Lisa Grover (Mitchell)

Lisa is an academic, teaching on the senior leader and senior people professional apprenticeship programmes and researching the application of ethical theory to business challenges. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and is experienced in reward, HR systems, analytics and organisational change.  Lisa is a leader in the Higher Education and Charity sectors and is also a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development and the Chartered Management Institute.  Lisa wants to use her skills to help create community and improve the life chances of young people within her local area.

Jo Evans - Chief Executive Officer

Jo Evans is CEO of St Christopher’s Multi Academy Trust, currently 18 primary schools across Plymouth, Torbay and Devon Local Authorities. Jo has been re-energising the organisation to work collaboratively, operate effectively and continue to grow in a sustainable way. Jo has a very strong research informed background, being part of the Cambridge Primary Review Board of Directors. She has been a leader in a range of rural and city schools, in which she has taken one school from Special Measures to Outstanding and the most recent from Good to Outstanding. This has been achieved through her resolve to provide a principled approach to education. 

Jo has recently written a book chapter for Routledge, “Aims into Practice” and has been involved in the creation of the Church of England Professional Qualification for Headship.