Atlas Astrea Academy Trust
In response to the school’s latest Ofsted inspection, a new Governance Transition Board was instigated on 19th June 2017.
The new governors are:
| Alan Richards, Chair of Board, is an experienced Chair of Governors in both the Primary and Secondary sector and is licensed as a National Leader of Governance by the National College of Teaching and Leadership. He is the Chair at two Teaching Schools rated as outstanding by Ofsted and is a Director of a School Improvement company based in Rotherham. Alan has a very successful track record of supporting school improvement and governor development. |
| Benedick Ashmore-Short is Director of Education -Primary- for Astrea Academy Trust. Winner of the Pearson “Primary Headteacher of the Year” in 2014, Benedick joined Astrea from Hamford Primary Academy in Essex prior to which he was the Primary Lead for the Tendring Teaching School Alliance. Benedick has a track record of school improvement with schools in special measures, both primary and secondary. He speaks and writes regularly on leadership in education. |
| John Hoare is the former Chair of Governors of Stirling Primary School. He was a headteacher in Staffordshire and Somerset and the Diocesan Director of Sheffield for 7 years (still organising inspections for the diocese). John is also a former Ofsted and Church school inspector. He was a Borough Councillor for 8 years and is now a Town Councillor. John is a Trustee of Friends of the Peak District and former Chair of South Yorkshire Public Transport Executive; he currently chairs the South Yorkshire Transport Users Group. |
| Paul Ruane is the Head of Education Services for Doncaster. He enjoyed a long career in education and has worked in a number of different schools, first as a class teacher, then as an advisory teacher for ICT in Cheshire. Following that he was deputy head in a school in Warrington before moving to County Durham as a primary headteacher. During this time, he went back to Durham University part time to obtain a Master’s degree in Education. He also worked as a consultant headteacher supporting other schools across County Durham. In 2014, he decided it was time for a change of direction and joined Doncaster local authority as a Senior Standards and Effectiveness Officer. He really enjoyed school improvement work and feels it has been a privilege to visit so many different schools in Doncaster and see so much good practice in teaching and learning.
Paul’s current role is Head of Education and he believes passionately in the power of education to change children’s lives and to transform communities. Paul believes this is a really exciting time to live and work in Doncaster and is looking forward to helping Stirling Primary School on its journey of improvement. The school serves a vibrant and diverse community and he recognises the determination from parents, staff and governors to ensure that the school provides the best education it possibly can for all its children. |
| Julie Parry, Headteacher of Atlas Primary School, brings with her extensive leadership experience having worked for nineteen years as a headteacher in four different education authorities. She has a very successful track record of achieving transformations in challenging circumstances. In July 2015 she led a school out of Special Measures. Prior to that, Julie supported a school as interim headteacher to accelerate progress and improve the quality of teaching to keep the school she was in out of a category. Julie has led schools through the transition to academies. She joined Stirling Primary School in March 2017. |
| Catherine Mitchell, acting Clerk to the Board, is Business Manager of Atlas Primary School. |
All governors are contactable through the school email (admin@astreaatlas.org) or postal address. (Atlas Academy, Prospect Place, Doncaster DN1 3QP)