Our People

Neil Miley, CEO

As CEO, Neil guides our trust’s strategic direction and empowers leaders with the autonomy and clarity they need to excel in their roles.

As our trust’s accounting officer, Neil oversees operational management, ensuring resources are utilised effectively to benefit both pupils and staff.

Passionate about collaboration, Neil actively engages with the wider community, building partnerships with local organisations to enrich opportunities and outcomes for all our pupils.

Dean Webster, Executive Director of Secondary Standards

Dean supports secondary school leaders in achieving excellence within their schools, fostering a stronger culture of partnership across our trust.

He identifies and codifies best practices, both internally and externally, and works to embed these effectively where needed.

Dean is dedicated to raising outcomes for all students while narrowing achievement gaps for disadvantaged and vulnerable learners.

He ensures our trust maintains the right balance between alignment and school autonomy.

Claire Pender, Trust Improvement Director

Claire supports leaders across our trust to enhance the quality of education in their schools through effective monitoring, support and coaching.

She provides professional development for leaders and facilitates opportunities for staff growth.

Claire is a champion for oracy and creativity and fosters collaboration through cross-trust and external partnerships.

Claire also leads key elements of our people strategy, ensuring all our staff are supported to grow.

Charlotte Chance, Director of Finance & Operations

Charlotte plays a pivotal role in the growth and development of Mercia Learning Trust, drawing on extensive expertise in academy financial management to uphold our trust’s reputation for exemplary practice.

She oversees finance, payroll, estate management (including PFI), IT, and human resources.

Charlotte has successfully managed large-scale capital construction projects, such as the expansion of Totley Primary School and the construction of Mercia School.

Her substantial experience includes guiding schools through the transition process into our trust as either converter or sponsored academies.

Michele Nott, Executive Primary Headteacher

As headteacher of Nether Edge Primary School and executive headteacher for our primaries, Michele is committed to embedding strong values and maintaining high expectations for all.

Michele also provides strategic direction and shapes the school’s future vision.

She leads on culture, curriculum development, teaching and assessment, whilst ensuring effective organisational management.

Michele is committed to the professional growth of all staff, ensuring collaboration and development across her team and our trust.

She supports leaders across all aspects of the school, whilst strengthening connections within the wider community.

Ann Farrar, Headteacher at Anns Grove Primary School

As headteacher of Anns Grove Primary School, Ann is committed to embedding strong values and maintaining high expectations for all.

Ann also provides strategic direction and shapes the school’s future vision.

She leads on culture, curriculum development, teaching and assessment, whilst ensuring effective organisational management.

Ann is committed to the professional growth of all staff, ensuring collaboration and development across her team and our trust.

She supports leaders across all aspects of the school, whilst strengthening connections within the wider community.

Paul Haigh, Headteacher at King Ecgbert School

As headteacher of King Ecgbert School, Paul is committed to embedding strong values and maintaining high expectations for all.

Paul also provides strategic direction and shapes the school’s future vision.

He leads on culture, curriculum development, teaching and assessment, whilst ensuring effective organisational management.

Paul is committed to the professional growth of all staff, ensuring collaboration and development across his team and our trust.

He supports leaders across all aspects of the school, whilst strengthening connections within the wider community.

Paul is also a council member for the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL).

Sian Stockham, Head of School at King Ecgbert School

As Head of School, Sian works alongside the headteacher of King Ecgbert School.

When the headteacher is not in the building, Sian leads the school covering the full roles and duties of a headteacher.

Joshua Fisher, Headteacher at Mercia School

As headteacher of Mercia School, Joshua is committed to embedding strong values and maintaining high expectations for all.

Joshua also provides strategic direction and shapes the school’s future vision.

He leads on culture, curriculum development, teaching and assessment, whilst ensuring effective organisational management.

Joshua is committed to the professional growth of all staff, ensuring collaboration and development across his team and our trust.

He supports leaders across all aspects of the school, whilst strengthening connections within the wider community.

Ruth Hollingsworth, Headteacher at Newfield School

As headteacher of Newfield School, Ruth is committed to embedding strong values and maintaining high expectations for all.

Ruth also provides strategic direction and shapes the school’s future vision.

She leads on culture, curriculum development, teaching and assessment, whilst ensuring effective organisational management.

Ruth is committed to the professional growth of all staff, ensuring collaboration and development across her team and our trust.

She supports leaders across all aspects of the school, whilst strengthening connections within the wider community.

Ben Paxman, Headteacher at Totley Primary School

As headteacher of Totley Primary School, Ben is committed to embedding strong values and maintaining high expectations for all.

Ben also provides strategic direction and shapes the school’s future vision.

He leads on culture, curriculum development, teaching and assessment, whilst ensuring effective organisational management.

Ben is committed to the professional growth of all staff, ensuring collaboration and development across his team and our trust.

He supports leaders across all aspects of the school, whilst strengthening connections within the wider community.

Mark Bennett, Headteacher at Woodlands Primary School

As headteacher of Woodlands Primary School, Mark is committed to embedding strong values and maintaining high expectations for all.

Mark also provides strategic direction and shapes the school’s future vision.

He leads on culture, curriculum development, teaching and assessment, whilst ensuring effective organisational management.

Mark is committed to the professional growth of all staff, ensuring collaboration and development across his team and our trust.

He supports leaders across all aspects of the school, whilst strengthening connections within the wider community.

Mark is also a governor at a special school in Sheffield.

Mel Balfour, Finance Manager

Mel manages the centralised finance team who deal with all aspects of finance on behalf of the trust.

Mel leads on the effective management of budgets, ensuring processes and procedures are adhered to in accordance with the trust finance policy and Academy Trust Handbook.

Abigail Eaton, Director of Business & Payroll

Abigail manages the payroll and recruitment functions within our central team, supporting our leaders to recruit the very best staff.

Abi also leads on supporting admin functions throughout our trust, ensuring systems and processes are consistent and efficient.

John Gregory, Facilities & Estates Manager

John leads the effective management of our premises and estates team with a strong focus on health and safety.

John manages all building and refurbishment projects across our trust, ensuring our buildings are safe, warm and well looked after.

Gareth Harle, Director of IT

Gareth leads on the effective management, development and innovation of IT services across our trust and schools, supporting all staff and pupils to have access to the technology they need to be successful.

As a governor at a local primary school, Gareth is the chair of the resources committee.

Claire Hogg, PA to CEO & Governance Officer

As PA to the CEO and Governance Officer, Claire oversees trustee and governor recruitment, training, and compliance with governance legislation.

Claire manages clerking, events, and key governance processes, including the AGM and maintaining essential records.

Claire is a member of Trust Governance Professionals (TGP)

Abi Merritt, Head of Development & Engagement

Abi manages the communications strategies within our trust including marketing and promotion of our schools and trust, and engagement with stakeholders and organisations.

She supports our schools to maintain high standards of communication with all stakeholders.

Abi is also an ambassador for See It Be It in Sheffield, a council member in Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, a governor at Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School, and a member of The Children’s Hospital Charity’s Education Advisory Group.

Anne Robson, Trust SEND & Safeguarding Lead

Anne leads on supporting our schools with SEND and safeguarding matters.

Anne is an expert in her field and works closely with our SEND and safeguarding teams across all schools, supporting with process and decisions to support our most vulnerable pupils.

She also helps lead our approach to Specialist Resource Provisions.

Emma Staley, Director of HR

Emma leads on the effective management of human resources.

She ensures our trust adheres to the latest HR guidance and legislation, providing expert advice on pay, conditions and grading.

She leads induction and training sessions on HR topics, supports employee relations, and oversees staff wellbeing initiatives.

Emma also ensures compliance with GDPR regulations across our trust.

Emma is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

Rhona Dodds, Chair of Board and SEND Link

Former NHS professional with extensive experience in clinical audit, management, and quality improvement.

Rhona is also the SEND link trustee.

Trustees oversee trust strategy, performance, policy, finance, risk and audit, HR and all aspects of business management.

Trustees are unpaid volunteers but form a critical part of our trust structure of governance.

Malcolm Butler

Vice President and Director of Global Engagement at University of Sheffield

Malcolm is a trustee and chair of HR and remuneration committee.

Trustees oversee trust strategy, performance, policy, finance, risk and audit, HR and all aspects of business management.

Trustees are unpaid volunteers but form a critical part of our trust structure of governance.

Bolawa Karim

Technology Programme Lead at HSBC

Trustees oversee trust strategy, performance, policy, finance, risk and audit, HR and all aspects of business management.

Trustees are unpaid volunteers but form a critical part of our trust structure of governance.

Sarah Mashford

Partner at Eversheds Sutherland

Trustees oversee trust strategy, performance, policy, finance, risk and audit, HR and all aspects of business management.

Trustees are unpaid volunteers but form a critical part of our trust structure of governance.

Esme Pogue

Senior Legal Counsel (Product) at EE Limited

Trustees oversee trust strategy, performance, policy, finance, risk and audit, HR and all aspects of business management.

Trustees are unpaid volunteers but form a critical part of our trust structure of governance.

Joanne Powell

Regional Director at Astrea Academy Trust

Trustees oversee trust strategy, performance, policy, finance, risk and audit, HR and all aspects of business management.

Trustees are unpaid volunteers but form a critical part of our trust structure of governance.

Mark Rusling

Elected Councillor for Brightside/Shiregreen and Head of Training at Antisemitism Policy Trust

Trustees oversee trust strategy, performance, policy, finance, risk and audit, HR and all aspects of business management.

Trustees are unpaid volunteers but form a critical part of our trust structure of governance.

Andrew Thomas

Director – Funding & Financial Oversight Directorate, Department for Education

Andrew is vice chair of the board and chair of the finance risk and audit committee.

Trustees oversee trust strategy, performance, policy, finance, risk and audit, HR and all aspects of business management.

Trustees are unpaid volunteers but form a critical part of our trust structure of governance.

Stuart Voyce

Executive Director of School Improvement at Resilience Multi Academy Trust

Trustees oversee trust strategy, performance, policy, finance, risk and audit, HR and all aspects of business management.

Trustees are unpaid volunteers but form a critical part of our trust structure of governance.

Patrick O'Shea

Chair of Governors, Anns Grove Primary School

Local governors act as a critical friend to our schools’ senior leaders, supporting and reviewing areas relating to pupil achievement, behaviour, attendance and support for vulnerable pupils.

Richard Thackray

Chair of Governors, King Ecgbert School

Local governors act as a critical friend to our schools’ senior leaders, supporting and reviewing areas relating to pupil achievement, behaviour, attendance and support for vulnerable pupils.

Jackie Arundale

Chair of Governors, Mercia School

Local governors act as a critical friend to our schools’ senior leaders, supporting and reviewing areas relating to pupil achievement, behaviour, attendance and support for vulnerable pupils.

Emily Green

Chair of Governors, Nether Edge Primary School

Local governors act as a critical friend to our schools’ senior leaders, supporting and reviewing areas relating to pupil achievement, behaviour, attendance and support for vulnerable pupils.

Anne Quaile

Co-Chair of Governors, Newfield School

Local governors act as a critical friend to our schools’ senior leaders, supporting and reviewing areas relating to pupil achievement, behaviour, attendance and support for vulnerable pupils.

Helen George

Co-Chair of Governors, Newfield School

Local governors act as a critical friend to our schools’ senior leaders, supporting and reviewing areas relating to pupil achievement, behaviour, attendance and support for vulnerable pupils.

Nick Harris

Chair of Governors, Totley Primary School

Local governors act as a critical friend to our schools’ senior leaders, supporting and reviewing areas relating to pupil achievement, behaviour, attendance and support for vulnerable pupils.

Janet Collins

Co-Chair of Governors, Woodlands Primary School

Local governors act as a critical friend to our schools’ senior leaders, supporting and reviewing areas relating to pupil achievement, behaviour, attendance and support for vulnerable pupils.

Chris Jenkinson

Co-Chair of Governors, Woodlands Primary School

Local governors act as a critical friend to our schools’ senior leaders, supporting and reviewing areas relating to pupil achievement, behaviour, attendance and support for vulnerable pupils.

Bella Abrams

Group Chief Technology Officer, Jisc

As guardians of our constitution, members have the power to appoint and remove trustees and meet annually to receive the audit and trust annual report.

Rhona Dodds

Former NHS professional with extensive experience in clinical audit, management, and quality improvement.

As guardians of our constitution, members have the power to appoint and remove trustees and meet annually to receive the audit and trust annual report.

Chris French

Retired Education Leader

As guardians of our constitution, members have the power to appoint and remove trustees and meet annually to receive the audit and trust annual report.

Arnie Singh

Chief Commercial Officer, Veezu

As guardians of our constitution, members have the power to appoint and remove trustees and meet annually to receive the audit and trust annual report.

Phil Smith

Business Owner

As guardians of our constitution, members have the power to appoint and remove trustees and meet annually to receive the audit and trust annual report.