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The Education Team

Schools looking to join a Trust need to be sure that they will get high quality provision for their school from a knowledgeable and experienced team who can both support and challenge to develop the learning of the pupils in their care.  We offer this through our Education Team of four school leaders who between them have the following experience:

  • Headship of 7 different schools across primary, secondary and special phases in Surrey, London and abroad
  • School improvement consultant for a London Challenge and SAfE teams
  • Leading with Guildford diocese and Teach First Early Career Framework training
  • Numerous NPQ qualifications as well as delivering the programmes to others
  • School SEND reviews for the local authority
  • All have years of school leadership in senior teams in a variety of settings
  • Qualified Ofsted inspector working in South East region

We believe that this gives a fantastic range of experience through which we can support schools in different situations to develop and improve the education of their pupils.  We are committed to making our vision a reality and know that through this diverse team schools will find the necessary skills and credible experience to help their pupils flourish.

Mike Boddington – Chief Executive Officer

Mike has worked in the secondary education sector for over 25 years. His career spans both Anglican faith schools as well as secular schools, whose locations range from inner city to suburban settings in London and Surrey.  He has been a pastoral leader, a Head of Sixth form in two institutions, before moving into senior leadership in several schools including as Headteacher at Esher High School.  This has given Mike insights into the huge diversity of the educational system and equipped him with invaluable understanding of sustainable school improvement.  He is a trained Ofsted inspector bringing that crucial experience to the schools of the Trust.

In his role as CEO Mike has strategic oversight of the schools, ensures culture, policy and practice are fit for purpose and aligned, and ensures the educational outcomes across the schools are of the highest standard.  He leads a small, focussed Executive Team which implements the Trust vision, works on medium and long-term development planning, and enables the growth of the ELT through collaboration with other schools. 

Helen Gregory – Director of School Improvement

Helen is an experienced school improvement partner and education adviser. Before joining the Enlighten Learning Trust, Helen has served within leadership teams in schools for 18 years and has experience within secondary, primary and special schools.   In recent years Helen has developed and nurtured a wide network, and is currently working alongside the Schools Alliance for Excellence as part of the school improvement team.  In addition, she has delivered quality CPD opportunities across a range of school networks including the Guildford Diocese. 

Helen has acted as a leadership coach on the National College of School Leadership Programme for supporting women in leadership.  Keeping pace with change in the world of education – and the continuing high demands on school leaders and teachers presents significant challenges. 

Helen sees her role as building effective dialogue with schools to provide appropriate challenge with good support to enable schools to realise ambitious goals for their pupils.  She seeks to develop and deliver a collaborative approach to school improvement, effectiveness and leadership.  Helen promotes a positive culture and high expectation in the development of teaching and learning pedagogy across the Trust.  

For the last six years, Helen has been able to use her previous teaching and leadership experience to develop the craft of effective school improvement advice.   

Anthony Marsh - Director of Primary 

Anthony has worked in the primary education sector for over 25 years. He has over 20 years of highly successful senior leadership experience in faith, maintained and academy schools serving communities in Croydon, West Sussex, and Surrey. Anthony has most recently served as Executive Head Teacher at the Federation of St Martin's Schools where he has transformed practice, using evidenced based approaches, for the benefit of all pupils. He focuses on delivering high level spending on front line teaching and learning environments.  

His varied experience of schools and leadership have equipped him with deep understanding of school improvement. He has consistently used this experience to work alongside leaders and their teams to support their journey of improvement. He believes passionately in the ability of pupils and of the staff and communities that work with our students. He is committed to high aspiration, staff development and staff well-being as key ingredients of great schools. In his role as Director of Primary, Anthony is responsible for ensuring that the values, behaviours, curriculum principles and culture of the trust are reflected in the operation of our primary schools.  Anthony is also Safeguarding Lead across the Trust.

Bethan Willetts - Deputy Director of Education

Bethan has worked across phases as a School Improvement Partner supporting leadership teams across a number of primary and secondary Pupil Referral Units in areas of high deprivation.  As School Improvement Partner she worked with leadership teams to transform schools across Croydon, South London.

She has also been a Headteacher in both inner city and suburban primary schools and has years of experience working for a large Multi Academy Trust where she also worked across the network of schools, supporting others.