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Human Resources
Meet The Team

Our team is proud to support schools with both strategic HR and transactional functions, freeing your time to focus on teaching and learning.  

secondary school pupils in a classroom

Rachel is an employment solicitor and CIPD HR professional. She has represented schools, academies, local authorities and governing bodies in risk management, employment tribunals and other litigation, exit strategies and succession planning. She has vast experience in assisting school leaders.

Rachel Foster

DIRECTOR OF HR AND EDUCATION STRATEGY

Jade is CIPD qualified and holds a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management. Jade leads our HR & People Service, supporting both the team and educational establishments to navigate complex employee relations matters while aligning people strategies to organisational vision and risk management. She leads on our strategic offer to schools and Multi-Academy Trusts, providing bespoke, practical solutions that strengthen leadership capability, ensure compliance, and support sustainable school improvement.

Jade Walwyn

HEAD OF HR

Keren works for the HR, Payroll and Governance teams as the business manager, organising and promoting the HR & People training programme on a termly basis. Keren has a background in finance and is a qualified AAT Accounting Technician.

Keren Callaghan

BUSINESS MANAGER

Katie has extensive HR experience within the education sector supporting leaders of schools, multi-academy trust and local authorities with complex employee relation matters. Katie is an accredited Safer Recruitment Trainer and specialises in safeguarding and Single Central Record management. Katie delivers Internal Scrutiny on HR functions and processes in academies and multi-academy trusts providing assurance and practical recommendations for improvement. She is also a specialist in job evaluation and leadership pay.  

Katie Dillon

HR MANAGER

Kirsty is CIPD-qualified with extensive HR experience across the public sector, including the NHS, local authorities, education and higher education. She specialises in academisation and change management, supporting schools and multi-academy trusts with restructures, TUPE and workforce planning. Kirsty works closely with senior leaders, governors and trustees to design and implement effective staffing models that drive school improvement while minimising organisational and legal risk.

Kirsty Howe

HR MANAGER

Paula has over 18 years’ HR experience in education, specialising in organisational change, academisation and TUPE. She advises senior leaders and governors on complex employee relations and leadership matters. Paula also designs and delivers tailored training to strengthen people management across schools and trusts. A qualified mediator, she provides professional mediation to resolve workplace conflict early and effectively.

Paula Shacklady

HR MANAGER

Katie is a CIPD-qualified HR professional with over 20 years’ experience, including nine within the education sector. She has extensive experience managing complex employee relations cases and parental complaints at a senior level. An accredited Safer Recruitment Trainer, she supports leaders and external agencies with employee safeguarding matters. Katie prides herself on her sensible, empathetic and fair approach and currently serves as a primary school governor.

  

Katie Davies

SENIOR HR BUSINESS PARTNER

A highly experienced HR professional and a parent governor, Laura understands school leadership pressures which helps her to provide pragmatic, empathetic advice. As a member of our Equality team, Laura specialises in Equality Act compliance, helping schools navigate evolving legislation and ensuring their teams are trained in this important area. Her passion for supporting schools with parental complaints, helps to ensure trust is rebuilt and relationships are strengthened in school communities.

Laura Drinkwater

SENIOR HR BUSINESS PARTNER

Clare brings over 20 years’ experience in education and local government, delivering HR, safeguarding, and wellbeing support with a pragmatic and diplomatic approach. CIPD‑qualified, she provides strategic HR guidance, manages complex employee and parental issues, and delivers our bespoke staff wellbeing strategy support and prestigious wellbeing award packages. An ACAS‑accredited mediator, MHFA England Instructor, and governor at two schools, she offers grounded insight into leadership, culture, and governance.

Clare Barber

SENIOR HR BUSINESS PARTNER

Sally is an associate member of the CIPD with 20 years’ experience of HR in education and also serves as an academy trustee for an expanding multi-academy trust. Sally has broad experience of employee relations, dealing with complex case work including discipline and grievance and preparing for tribunals. As a HR generalist, Sally has led on teacher recruitment, absence management also has a keen interest in employee well-being and management coaching.

Sally Berry

HR BUSINESS PARTNER

Sophie is CIPD qualified with HR experience in the finance and education sectors. She provides comprehensive HR support to school leaders and governors, including employee relations, recruitment and payroll administration. Sophie specialises in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, delivering our education-specific equality training to staff and governors, equipping them with the knowledge and confidence to foster inclusive cultures, meet statutory responsibilities and promote equality across their settings.

Sophie Thompson

HR BUSINESS PARTNER

Steph is a CIPD Level 5 qualified HR Business Partner with 11 years’ experience in education. She has in house experience, partnering closely with school leaders and governors to manage complex employee relations matters. Steph brings strong expertise in safeguarding and Single Central Record compliance, alongside experience in school budget management and developing clear, effective HR policies and procedures.

 
Stephanie Mansfield

HR BUSINESS PARTNER

Sabah is a qualified Associate member of the CIPD. Sabah has significant experience working in the education sector and has worked within school settings across different local authorities offering her a unique understanding of the needs of both pupils, staff and key stakeholders. Sabah supports schools and academies with the management of employee relation matters providing practical guidance on disciplinaries, grievances, absence management and capability processes.

Sabah Iftikhar

HR BUSINESS PARTNER

Matthew is a CIPD Level 5 Qualified HR Business Partner with extensive in-house HR experience within several Multi Academy Trusts. Working closely with school leaders in an advisory capacity, he provides expert guidance on a wide range of employee relation matters including attendance management, flexible working requests, disciplinary and grievance matters. Matthew also has practical experience in single central record management and delivering training for school line managers on HR policy and procedure.

Matthew Beacock

HR BUSINESS PARTNER

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