Dan Rogers
Headteacher, St George's Edgbaston CofE Primary School
Sam Goode
Acting Headteacher, St Michael's Bartley Green CofE Primary School
Neil Kitching
Headteacher, Lady Katherine Leveson CofE Primary School
Neil was appointed as Headteacher at Lady Katherine Leveson C of E Primary in January 2023. He has worked in a number of authorities across the West Midlands in a range of leadership roles. Prior to joining Lady Katherine Leveson, he was the Deputy Headteacher in a school in Coventry.
He feels very privileged to be the Headteacher at Lady Katherine Leveson and is passionate about leading a school that meets the needs of every individual so that they are able to reach their potential.
Tricia Bunn
Headteacher, Nethersole C of E Primary School
Tricia was appointed as Headteacher at The Nethersole CE Primary Academy in March 2022. She is passionate about education and feels privileged to have enjoyed a rich and diverse career spanning 25 years. In this time, she has experienced a range of roles, including Headteacher, School Improvement Adviser and Senior Lecturer in Primary Education.
Tricia’s ambitions for her pupils, staff, families and the wider school community are at the heart of all she does – an excellent education gives children choices and life chances.
Hannah Cook
Headteacher, Bentley Heath C of E Primary School
Hannah was appointed as Headteacher at Bentley Heath C of E Primary in January 2022. She is passionate about education and feels privileged to have enjoyed a career in teaching for over 12 years. In this time, she has experienced a range of roles, including Deputy Head and SENCO. She has also completed her Master’s in Educational Leadership, which she was awarded in January 2018.
She truly believes that when children feel happy, safe, and secure, they are able to learn best and reach their potential, and that every child, regardless of their circumstances, deserves the very best education possible. Bentley Heath is a truly inclusive school with an emphasis on nurturing and developing the whole child, and she is committed to building on Bentley Heath’s successes and its Christian ethos, allowing every child to become the very best version of themselves – rooted in Jesus and loving one another.
Natasha Johnson
Headteacher, Woodside C of E Primary School
Natasha was appointed as the new Headteacher at Woodside in January 2022. For the last 8 years, she has worked as a leader across three very different Staffordshire schools. Having worked in two Church of England schools within Lichfield Diocese, Natasha feels privileged to be appointed for her first Headship working within the Birmingham Diocese and for BDMAT.
Natasha’s philosophy is that she hopes to provide an education for every child, that allows them to ‘live life in all its fullness’ through a curriculum that is inclusive, diverse and focusses on developing the whole child through her committed leadership. She believes through her vision of ‘together in God’s love, we inspire and grow’, she can achieve this at Woodside.
Susan Friend
Headteacher, Warton Nethersole's CofE Primary School
Susan started her role as Head Teacher at Warton Nethersole’s CofE Primary School in November 2020 after living and working in Bristol for the past 7 years. Susan has had a varied teaching career including teaching in London and at an International School in Prague, Czech Republic. Having worked in two Church of England schools previously, she was keen that she followed this path into headship and hopes that with her team at Warton they can ensure that all of their children thrive through wide and inspiring experiences that develop their understanding of the world around them. Susan’s vision for education is one where all pupils, regardless of background and barriers, have equitable opportunities to learn and grow as well as many, many moments of wonder, joy and friendship.
Mark Bowman Dalton
Headteacher, Christ Church, Church of England Secondary Academy
Mark joined Christ Church, Church of England Secondary Academy as Headteacher in September 2020 to prepare the school for opening at its new purpose-built site in Yardley Wood in September 2021. Prior to this, Mark was a member of the senior leadership teams of Church of England schools and schools within the Ark network, having most recently led Ark St Alban’s Academy for three years as Principal.
In addition to school leadership, Mark is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a member of the Teach First’s West Midlands Steering Group.
Sara Eley
Headteacher, Austrey CofE Primary & Newton Regis CofE Primary School
Sara was appointed as Headteacher at Austrey CofE Primary & Newton Regis CofE Primary School in April 2020. Both schools joined Birmingham Diocesan Multi-Academy Trust (BDMAT) on 1st September 2019.
She began her career in 1992 and has worked as a teacher and Senior Leader in schools since then across the Midlands. Most recently, she was the Deputy Headteacher of a church school in Leicestershire for six years. Sara enjoy new challenges and feels very lucky to have had the opportunity to take over the leadership of these schools.
Paula Burns
Head teacher, Holy Trinity CofE Primary School
Paula became Headteacher at Holy Trinity CofE Primary Academy in September 2015 and the school joined BDMAT in January 2019. Paula started teaching in 2000 in a Church of England primary school before teaching across two schools in Sandwell over a 15 year period. She always knew that she wanted to return to working in a Church of England school, as she feels they provide a nurturing environment for all pupils, so was delighted when she was appointed Headteacher at Holy Trinity CofE Primary Academy. Paula is very proud to be the Headteacher of such a richly diverse school community in which pupils with different home languages, cultures and religions learn happily together.
Anita Delaney
Headteacher, St. Margaret's CofE Primary School
Anita has been a teacher for 24 years and has spent most of her teaching career in Solihull teaching across the full age range from FS1 through to Year 6. She became headteacher at St Margaret’s CofE Primary School in September 2018. She feels incredibly proud and privileged to be leading the school. She is passionate about developing the whole child and ensuring that each child is given the opportunity and support to fulfil their full potential regardless of their starting point. This is something that St Margaret’s does this really well with the Christian ethos being at the very heart of everything that they do.
Linda Francis
Headteacher, St George's CofE Primary Academy, Newtown
Linda was appointed Headteacher at St George’s Newtown in September 2019. Linda has served within the primary education sector for twenty years teaching in Birmingham, Dudley and Sandwell local authorities. Committed to lifelong learning, Linda’s passion stems from the exhilarating feeling that she gets when motivating and enthusing students, colleagues and parents towards achieving their personal goals especially when the outcomes will have positive life changing effects for all involved. She is extremely proud to be the head teacher of St. George’s Primary Academy, Newtown.
Matthew Edwards
Executive Headteacher, Coleshill and Lady Katherine Leveson CofE Primary Schools
Matthew returned to his roots when he was appointed Headteacher of Coleshill CofE Primary School in April 2018, having previously spent his teaching career in Staffordshire. Growing up in the area and attending the local secondary school, Matthew has a strong affinity with Coleshill and a passionate desire to see his pupils’ and community thrive. Matthew was appointed Executive Headteacher of Lady Katherine Leveson in 2022
Phil Hynan
Headteacher, St Michael's CofE Primary School, Handsworth
Philip was appointed headteacher at St. Michael’s, Handsworth in September 2021. Prior to that, he worked at four other schools, located mainly in inner-city Birmingham. Having taught at two other Handsworth schools, Philip is passionate about the community. He is an advocate of the rich culture, heritage and potential of B21 and determined to help the pupils of St. Michael’s achieve their full potential.
Sally-Ann Roberts
Headteacher, Nonsuch Primary Academy and Acting Executive Headteacher of St Michael's Bartley Green
Sally has worked at Nonsuch Primary School for the last sixteen years and has been the Headteacher since January 2019. Sally loves everything about the school, especially the community spirit, and is passionate about working with both the children and the parents to provide the best learning opportunities and experiences for the pupils.
Sally strongly believes that a quality education gives children both choices and life chances. This belief is at the heart of everything she does.
Devina Shryane
Headteacher, St Clement's CofE Primary Academy
Devina has developed and grown in her passion for teaching, guiding and supporting children, staff and families during her 16 years at St Clement’s CofE Academy. There was a period during this time when she worked at a very different type of school, but quickly realised that working within a Church of England inner city school was where she felt most effective. Becoming the Head Teacher has inspired her to continue to raise aspirations and breakdown barriers so that everyone that passes through the school doors feels welcomed, appreciated and valued.
Sam Smith
Headteacher, Hawkesley Church Primary Academy
Sam became Head of School at Hawkesley Church Primary Academy in January 2019.
At Hawkesley Church Primary academy, they place a high priority on children as individuals in God’s world. As part of the school’s distinctive Christian ethos, they encourage each pupil to live out the academy’s values of respect, responsibility, hopefulness, friendship, truthfulness and perseverance. They are also proud of the very strong links they have with the Church of England and the Methodist Church.
Carl Watkins
Headteacher, Quinton Church Primary School
Carl was appointed Headteacher at Quinton Church Primary School in November 2020 after being the Acting Headteacher since January 2020. Previous to this, he was Assistant Headteacher at the school for 3 years. Throughout his teaching career, Carl has taught in all year groups and has led maths, PE, history, geography, science, pupil premium and behaviour at a number of schools across Sandwell.
Carl is dedicated in leading the amazing team of staff at Quinton to ensure pupils are provided with a broad and balanced curriculum that will enable them with skills in life to succeed. Carl’s vision for the school is to continue to raise the high standards of education offered whilst providing a safe and enjoyable environment for all.