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Trust Senior Leaders

Scholars’ Education Trust

Position	Name
Co-Chief Executive Officer	Claire Robins OBE, BA, MEd, NLE
Co-Chief Executive Officer	Matthew Gauthier BA (Hons) NPQH
Chief Operations Officer	Hazel Wale FISBL
Chief Finance Officer	Stephen Kinsley

CLAIRE ROBINS - Co-Chief Executive Officer
	Claire taught at a number of schools in Hertfordshire before becoming head of Sir John Lawes School in 2006. In 2008, Sir John Lawes became a National Support School and Claire was made a National Leader of Education, since when she has led on school to school support work with a number of schools, leading to the setting up of the Scholars’ Education Trust in 2011. In September 2022, she stepped down as head of SJL and became full-time CEO of the Trust. Claire sat on the Regional Schools’ Commissioner’s Head Teacher Board for the NWLSC region for 8 years and is also a founder director of the Harpenden Secondary Schools’ Trust, which was established to promote wider educational opportunities across the town. She is a Member of the Harpenden Secondary Education Trust, the governing body for Katherine Warington School, a free school which opened in Harpenden in 2019, and also a trustee of the Atlas Academies Trust and The Kemnal Academies Trust. Claire was awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in June 2018 for Services to Education, is a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching, and an honorary fellow of Worcester College, Oxford University. In March 2023 Claire became an Ofsted Inspector.

CLAIRE ROBINS - Co-Chief Executive Officer

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Claire taught at a number of schools in Hertfordshire before becoming head of Sir John Lawes School in 2006. In 2008, Sir John Lawes became a National Support School and Claire was made a National Leader of Education, since when she has led on school to school support work with a number of schools, leading to the setting up of the Scholars’ Education Trust in 2011. In September 2022, she stepped down as head of SJL and became full-time CEO of the Trust.

Claire sat on the Regional Schools’ Commissioner’s Head Teacher Board for the NWLSC region for 8 years and is also a founder director of the Harpenden Secondary Schools’ Trust, which was established to promote wider educational opportunities across the town. She is a Member of the Harpenden Secondary Education Trust, the governing body for Katherine Warington School, a free school which opened in Harpenden in 2019, and also a trustee of the Atlas Academies Trust and The Kemnal Academies Trust. Claire was awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in June 2018 for Services to Education, is a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching, and an honorary fellow of Worcester College, Oxford University. In March 2023 Claire became an Ofsted Inspector.

MATT GAUTHIER - Co-Chief Executive Officer
	Matt taught Business and Economics at a number of schools in Hertfordshire before being appointed deputy headteacher at Sir John Lawes School in 2007. Matt was appointed Headteacher of Francis Bacon School in 2011 and led its transformation into Samuel Ryder Academy, Hertfordshire's first all-through school. Matt is Executive Headteacher at Buntingford First School and Samuel Ryder Academy. As Co-CEO, Matt supports other schools in the Trust, mentoring newly appointed headteachers and providing leadership and strategic guidance, particularly over data and curriculum. Matt is a board member of the Alban Teaching School Hub, Governor and Chair of the Resources Committee at the local Pupil Referral Unit (PRU), as well as a member of the St Albans Strategic Partnership Executive Group.

MATT GAUTHIER - Co-Chief Executive Officer

Matt taught Business and Economics at a number of schools in Hertfordshire before being appointed deputy headteacher at Sir John Lawes School in 2007. Matt was appointed Headteacher of Francis Bacon School in 2011 and led its transformation into Samuel Ryder Academy, Hertfordshire's first all-through school. Matt is Executive Headteacher at Buntingford First School and Samuel Ryder Academy.

As Co-CEO, Matt supports other schools in the Trust, mentoring newly appointed headteachers and providing leadership and strategic guidance, particularly over data and curriculum. Matt is a board member of the Alban Teaching School Hub, Governor and Chair of the Resources Committee at the local Pupil Referral Unit (PRU), as well as a member of the St Albans Strategic Partnership Executive Group.

HAZEL WALE FISBL - Chief Operations Officer
	Hazel has worked in education for a number of years achieving her SBM qualification in 2004 followed by the NPQH in 2008. She is a NASBM Fellow and was awarded NASBM School Business Manager of the year in 2015. Hazel was part of the original EIP team that supported Samuel Ryder and is responsible within our central operational provision for central operations that includes governance, HR and PR/marketing. Hazel’s expertise has led to her being frequently approached to speak at local and national conferences and to provide consultative support for a number of schools. Hazel is a key member of the school to school support team.

HAZEL WALE FISBL - Chief Operations Officer

Hazel has worked in education for a number of years achieving her SBM qualification in 2004 followed by the NPQH in 2008. She is a NASBM Fellow and was awarded NASBM School Business Manager of the year in 2015.

Hazel was part of the original EIP team that supported Samuel Ryder and is responsible within our central operational provision for central operations that includes governance, HR and PR/marketing. Hazel’s expertise has led to her being frequently approached to speak at local and national conferences and to provide consultative support for a number of schools. Hazel is a key member of the school to school support team.

STEPHEN KINSLEY - Chief Finance Officer
	Stephen is an experienced CFO within education; having held senior roles across multi-academy trusts, standalone academies, and individual maintained schools. His career spans positions such as COO, Director of Finance & Operations and School Business Manager, giving him a broad and practical understanding of school leadership. Starting out as a part-time clerical assistant, Stephen brings a grounded perspective to his work and now leads the Trust’s overall financial strategy. He’s deeply committed to creating environments where both children and staff can thrive, and believes in the importance of making the behind-the-scenes operations of schools as effective and supportive as possible. In addition to his executive roles, Stephen is an experienced Governor and Trustee, and regularly shares his insights at conferences and through mentoring other educational settings.

STEPHEN KINSLEY - Chief Finance Officer

Stephen is an experienced CFO within education; having held senior roles across multi-academy trusts, standalone academies, and individual maintained schools. His career spans positions such as COO, Director of Finance & Operations and School Business Manager, giving him a broad and practical understanding of school leadership. Starting out as a part-time clerical assistant, Stephen brings a grounded perspective to his work and now leads the Trust’s overall financial strategy. He’s deeply committed to creating environments where both children and staff can thrive, and believes in the importance of making the behind-the-scenes operations of schools as effective and supportive as possible.

In addition to his executive roles, Stephen is an experienced Governor and Trustee, and regularly shares his insights at conferences and through mentoring other educational settings.