Meet the team

Tom’s leadership journey in education is driven by an unwavering commitment to educational equity: ensuring that every child, regardless of starting point or barrier to learning, has access to ambitious teaching and a pathway to independence.

Tom began his career as a primary teacher, before becoming an academic and pastoral middle leader, then progressing into curriculum and assessment senior leadership in alternative and specialist education. Prior to joining the Trust, Tom served as Vice Principal of an Outstanding special school, contributing to sustained national recognition for inclusion and world-class provision. In 2024, Tom joined Raleigh Education Trust as Director of Curriculum and Assessment, before being appointed as a School Improvement Director in 2026.

In his current role, Tom works strategically across the Trust’s mainstream primary, specialist, and alternative provisions. He provides quality assurance, develops curriculum and assessment approaches and builds leadership capacity to ensure evidence-informed practice improves outcomes for all pupils.

A teacher at heart and lifelong learner, Tom holds a First-Class BEd (Hons) with QTS, NPQSL, and has recently achieved the National Professional Qualification for Headship. Tom previously contributed to wider system leadership as Chair of Governors at a mainstream primary school in the East Midlands, supporting strong strategic governance and contributing to significant school turnaround. Tom remains passionate about collaborative leadership and using evidence-based practice to secure the highest standards for all children and young people.

Mathew is a data, automation, and transformation professional with over 10 years of experience helping national and multinational organisations harness the power of data to drive informed decision-making and deliver meaningful change. He has worked across a range of business functions, including People (HR), Finance, Performance, and Operations, partnering with stakeholders to improve data quality, streamline processes, and develop insights that support organisational outcomes.

Passionate about transforming processes, systems, and ways of working, Mathew enjoys applying analytics, automation, and emerging technologies to solve complex challenges and deliver lasting value. He has successfully delivered transformation initiatives that improve efficiency, strengthen data-driven capabilities, and unlock new opportunities for organisations through innovation and the effective use of data.

Committed to lifelong learning and professional development, Mathew holds a BA (Hons) in Business Management, an MSc in Big Data, and has completed a Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship. He is also a Chartered Manager Fellow (CMgr FCMI) through the Chartered Management Institute, recognising his expertise in leadership, data analytics, and continuous improvement.

Marie joined the Trust following a successful career in primary education, most recently serving as a Headteacher where she led sustained improvements in pupil outcomes, attendance, behaviour, inclusion and curriculum development.

With over 20 years of educational experience, including more than 15 years in senior leadership, Marie is recognised for her strategic vision, collaborative leadership style and unwavering commitment to ensuring every child achieves their full potential. Her approach is grounded in the belief that all children, regardless of their starting points or personal circumstances, deserve access to exceptional educational opportunities.

A passionate advocate for inclusion, Marie has successfully developed an enhanced specialist provision for pupils with SEND and additional needs, championed trauma-informed practice and worked closely with schools, local authorities and external partners to improve outcomes for vulnerable children and families.
As a qualified NPQH and NPQEL leader, Marie is dedicated to supporting schools to thrive, empowering colleagues at all levels and ensuring that every child benefits from an ambitious, inclusive and nurturing educational experience.

Gift is a Finance Officer at Raleigh Education Trust, supporting schools and central services with financial reporting, budget monitoring and maintaining strong financial controls across the Trust.

Gift holds a degree in Business Economics and is currently studying towards the ACCA professional qualification as he works towards becoming a fully qualified accountant. He brings a broad range of finance experience, having progressed from Accounts Assistant roles through to Management Accountant positions across a variety of sectors.

Although new to the education sector, Gift enjoys the unique nature of school finance and the opportunity to contribute to an organisation that makes a difference to young people’s lives. He particularly values the fast-paced environment at Raleigh, where no two days are the same, and enjoys the variety of project work alongside working collaboratively with colleagues across the Trust.

Outside of work, Gift is a dedicated Formula 1 enthusiast and rarely misses a race. A lifelong fan of Lewis Hamilton, he enjoys travelling to Formula 1 events and has attended races including Silverstone and Bahrain, with Qatar high on his list of future destinations. When he is not following motorsport, he can usually be found at the gym, staying active and preparing for the day ahead with his trademark early starts.