Trust Team
Interim Chief Executive Officer - Mr Tony Nelson
Headteacher, New Chapter Primary School – Mr John Billing
Mr Billing has over 13 years of experience in Primary Education, including 9 at senior management level. He has experience across the primary key stages and has developed an extensive knowledge of New Chapter Primary School and it’s catchment area. Prior to becoming a Headteacher, Mr Billing spent 3 years as the Deputy Headteacher at New Chapter Primary, working closely with the Headteacher to raise standards across the school.
Headteacher, Heronsgate School – Mrs Jane Edwards
Mrs Edwards has 16 years primary school experience; three years in London and thirteen years in Milton Keynes. She has experience across the primary key stages and has been a Headteacher in Milton Keynes for five years. Before becoming a headteacher, Mrs Edwards was a deputy in a large primary school. Since 2010 she has worked closely with the Local Authority as a support for other Headteachers in Milton Keynes with a focus on raising standards. Since 2013 Mrs Edwards has worked with two schools in her role as a Local Leader of Education.
Headteacher, Kents Hill School – Mrs Jane Mackie
Mrs Mackie has over 19 years primary school experience; three years in Manchester and 16 years in Milton Keynes. She has experience across the Early Years and primary key stages and over five years senior management experience. Mrs Mackie was previously a Deputy Headteacher in a large primary school Milton Keynes for five years. During this time she was fundamental in introducing effective assessment as part of the driving force in raising standards in writing and maths. Mrs Mackie is a committed practitioner for Mental Health and Wellbeing.
Principal, Walton High, Brooklands - Mr Andy Bennett
Mr Bennett has 15 years’ experience working in a number of secondary schools. Before becoming a teacher, he had a successful career in IT infrastructure alongside 9 years of voluntary work with young people. In his previous role in a Cambridgeshire school, Mr Bennett was a Specialist Leader of Education for Maths and Middle Leadership under the Discovery Teaching Alliance and was regularly deployed to support both primary and secondary colleagues in developing their practice. He ran a successful Maths department and had whole school responsibility for Monitoring and Evaluation. Mr Bennett was also involved with the development of trainee teachers in collaboration with Cambridge University.
Mr Bennett joined Walton High in January 2018 and, as a Vice Principal, was responsible for Student Outcomes. He guided the school through the two years of Centre Assessed Grades caused by the pandemic as well as being an active member of the Deputy and Assistant Heads group in Milton Keynes. Mr Bennett transferred to our Brooklands Campus in September 2021 to take up the role of Principal. As part of this, Mr Bennett has joined both the Milton Keynes Secondary Heads group and East Quadrant Headteacher’s forum to help steer the education of students in the wider community. Mr Bennett has recently undertaken a city-wide role in supporting the work of the Head of P16 networking group and the P16 Planning Strategy group. He is currently studying towards his National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH).
Principal, Walton High, Walnut Tree – Ms Sharon Alexander
Ms Alexander has over 30 years’ experience of working in education, including 15 years at senior management level. She is currently Chair of the Milton Keynes Secondary Heads Group and represents the Education sector on the Milton Keynes Council Skills and Economic Growth Board.
Ms Alexander has worked closely with the Local Authority in recruiting, training and assessing Initial Teacher Trainees and Newly Qualified Teachers. This work has been expanded to include close liaison with the Tommy Flowers SCITT and the Denbigh Teaching School Alliance as we strive to recruit, train and retain high quality teaching staff for a city with a growing school population. Ms Alexander also sits on the MK Behaviour Partnership Steering Group and the High Needs Reference Group - these important groups plan for and meet the needs of the more vulnerable students across the city and ensure that favourable outcomes for all students, regardless of additional need, is at the forefront of decision making.
She has responsibility for the leadership and management of Walton High.
Interim Chief Operating Officer - Mrs Gemma Kintas
Mrs Kintas is a fellow certified chartered accountant with 19 years of financial and 9 years of senior leadership experience. She started her career in practice as an auditor, moving into the education sector nine years ago. She is the Chief Financial and Data Protection Officer of the Trust.
Mrs Kintas is a passionate leader focused on the human element. Her specialisms include accounting, curriculum-based forecasting, data protection, governance and operational management for Academy Trusts and Further Education Organisations.