Meet the team

Joe is CEO of School Partnerships Alliance, joining in January 2025. He was Master of Dulwich College (2009–2024) and previously Headmaster of Oakham School, having earlier taught at Eton College. He has served as governor of more than a dozen state and independent schools and is a trustee of several foundations. Alongside his education work, he is also a playwright and librettist.

Margaret is Director of Programmes and Research, with 35 years’ experience in teaching and leadership. She was formerly Principal Deputy at King’s College School, Wimbledon. She completed a PhD at King’s College London focused on cross-sector partnerships. Her work centres on leadership, collaboration and holistic education. Outside education, she is involved in hockey both nationally and internationally.

Janine is Membership and Communications Manager. She has a background in marketing, coaching and school governance, and recently completed an MSc in Organisational Psychology with a focus on education. She chairs the governing body of a large South-East London primary school and is passionate about creating opportunity and equity for all children. Outside of S.P.A Janine is a keen swimmer and reluctant runner.

Sara is Executive Assistant to the CEO. She previously worked as a Head’s PA at St Swithun’s Junior School and King’s College School, Wimbledon. She joined School Partnerships Alliance in 2024 and supports the organisation’s leadership and operations.

Louise is a consultant with over a decade of senior leadership experience across education and children’s charities. Louise specialises in developing sustainable fundraising strategies, securing major gifts, and building mission-aligned partnerships and serves as a Trustee at Children’s University Trust.

Christina is an award-winning partnership consultant and Level 7 executive coach. She supports schools and other organisations to design sustainable, high-impact partnerships and develop confident middle leaders. Christina founded #PartnerChat, a network for those leading school partnerships. She is a Fellow of both the Institute of Physics and the Chartered College of Teaching and in 2025 her contribution to widening participation was recognised with the Institute of Physics’ Phillips Award.

Clancy has over 20 years’ experience working across schools in Yorkshire. She has led professional development, coordinated the York ISSP partnership and now supports S.P.A.’s consultancy, CPD and resources. Her work focuses on widening access, cross-sector collaboration and sharing expertise to improve outcomes for young people.

Keith is an educational consultant and coach with over 30 years’ experience in primary education. He has held senior roles in school improvement and teacher development and now coaches leaders nationally. He also leads CPD for the National Association for Able Child in Education.

Nicola was Principal of Thurston Community College with over 30 years’ experience in education. She has led a range of local and international partnership projects, including post-crisis education rebuilding, and founded East Kent Schools Together.

Sarah is Director of Schools at the Royal National Children’s SpringBoard Foundation. She previously led partnerships at Highgate School and played a key role in establishing the London Academy of Excellence in Tottenham, with a strong focus on widening access and social mobility.

Tom is CEO of E-ACT, a national multi-academy trust. He has held senior leadership roles across schools and trusts and brings extensive experience of system leadership, governance and organisational development.

Dr Clare Ives is Head of The Leys School, Cambridge, and has held senior leadership roles at Sevenoaks and Canford Schools, as well as 8 years in the Civil Service. She holds a PhD from the University of St Andrews. She brings extensive experience in leadership, governance, EDI and cross-sector partnership, and is passionate about widening opportunity for young people.

Stephen is a recently retired school business leader with extensive experience in education finance, governance and assurance. He has served on national advisory groups and was awarded an MBE for services to education. He continues to support trustee boards and school business initiatives.

Simon is Deputy CEO and Head of Policy for the Independent Schools Council, where he is responsible for managing relationships with government and Parliament. He is a school governor and has worked for other trade bodies including the education team at the Confederation of British Industry. 

Neil is the independent sector specialist in the policy team at the Association of School and College Leaders, and was previously head of a large co-ed independent school until his retirement in 2024. He has served as governor of state infant and senior schools, and is currently a trustee at the Pinnacle Learning Trust in Oldham.

Leo is Headmaster of Shrewsbury School and an experienced partnership leader. He helped found School Partnerships Alliance to expand opportunity and promote the sharing of expertise and resources across the education system.

Fiona is Director of Independent Schools at United Learning and a former Head of Guildford High School. She holds a range of advisory and governance roles across education and was awarded an OBE for services to education.

Kate is CEO of Challenge Partners with extensive experience in education leadership and policy. She has advised government and system leaders, holds a PhD in education policy, and serves as a governor and trustee across the sector.

Leora is Chief Executive of the Confederation of School Trusts. She is an experienced policy advisor and Visiting Professor with a strong background in system leadership, governance and school improvement.

Ian was the founding interim lead of School Partnerships Alliance and now advises on government and school relations. He is a former headteacher with extensive experience of national education initiatives and sector governance.

Tony is a former headteacher with a long career in London schools. He led major community-focused and school improvement initiatives and now advises on safeguarding, leadership and organisational development.

Ali is CEO of the Royal National Children’s SpringBoard Foundation. She brings extensive experience from senior strategy and impact roles at Oxfam, local government and No.10 Downing Street.

Iain is Director of The Bridge at Wellington College. He has taught and led in both state and independent schools and oversees partnership, coaching and leadership development programmes.

David is Chair of AQA and Energy UK. He is a former Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Schools Minister and Cabinet Office Minister, and served as MP for Yeovil from 2001 to 2015.

Lord Nash is a former Schools Minister and government non-executive director. He is a qualified barrister, venture capitalist and co-founder of Future Academies, with a long-standing interest in school reform.

Hamid is CEO of Star Academies and a board member of Ofsted and other national bodies. He is an Honorary Professor of Education at the University of Birmingham and was knighted for services to education in 2021.

Carl is Founder and Chair of the Foundation for Education Development and CEO of City Learning Trust. He has extensive experience in education strategy, development and national leadership roles.