Our Central Team
Jodie Parker (NPQH, NPQEL)
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Head Teacher (St Nicholas CE First School)
Jodie started her professional career as a KS2 teacher, working in South Staffordshire, in her first school starting as Newly Qualified Teacher and leaving as successful Head Teacher. She has successfully led Primary and First Schools as Headteacher and is passionate about building community capacity and sustainable school improvement. She has worked as Deputy CEO within the Trust since 2016 and has an excellent understanding of faith school leadership. As well as providing strategic direction, Jodie is also the Accounting Officer for the Trust, responsible for the use of public funds and the delivery of education. She uses her understanding of the nuances of the two and three tier systems to support the development of the Trust. Jodie is proud to work in South Staffordshire where she has developed her passion for education and her commitment to supporting all children to achieve their potential. She believes the role of the Trust’s schools cannot be to merely educate young people, rather more to create a generation of young people who are socially and environmentally responsible, equipped with the knowledge and skills to make a difference to their communities and their future. Get in touch with Jodie to discuss Education, Multi Academy Trusts or the three tier system.
Sabrina Varricchione
Deputy CEO and Head Teacher (Birches First School)
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Kirstin Reade (BA (Hons), PGCE)
Headteacher (Codsall Middle School)
Kirstin has worked at Codsall Middle School for more than 30 years, beginning as a Newly Qualified Teacher, moving through middle and senior leadership before becoming Headteacher in 2021. She leads a successful, over-subscribed school, prioritising sustained and strategic school improvement. Kirstin believes passionately in the benefits of the three-tier system of education and how middle schools can help pupils to flourish. She places high value on an evidence-based approach to education and has extensive experience of the Visible Learning method of applying research findings to learning, using her expertise in curriculum and pupil achievement to develop systems that help professionals track their impact in the classroom. Central to her leadership ethos is the commitment to nurturing outward-looking citizens, who make positive contributions to our community and the world around them. Having spent all of her career in South Staffordshire, Kirstin is proud to have seen generations of young people go on to pursue their own pathways confidently and well-prepared, and to be still playing a part in the difference they will make to the world.
Ian Moore (AAT)
Chief Finance and Operations Officer (CFOO)
With over 30 years of experience in the finance sector, I joined CMAT in 2022 and have spent the last 22 years of my career working in education. My expertise lies in ensuring compliance with the Academies Handbook and in the conversion and growth of multi-academy trusts. I am responsible for the management of central services and lead on estates, ensuring that our school’s financial and operational needs are met. As the CFO, my specific areas of responsibility include overseeing the school’s financial management, ensuring the efficient allocation of resources, and supporting the leadership team in making strategic decisions that will positively impact our pupils’ educational experiences. I am committed to transparency and accountability. I have experience in Trust Governance, serving as a Director and Chair of Finance for a Wolverhampton based Trust. Having grown up within the Codsall community I am proud to be back working within it and making a difference to the lives of children and young people.
Lindsey Richards (CSBM)
HR Lead ( Plus Mental Health First Aider, L3 Counselling)
With over 14 years of experience in school administration, Lindsey brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role. As the HR lead for a CMAT for the past 4 years, I am responsible for supporting the leadership of safeguarding, safer recruitment, payroll, and the organisation of staff development. I am committed to developing a person-centred approach to my role, ensuring that our teams can thrive and reach their full potential. In addition to my professional experience, I am also a qualified Mental Health First Aider and hold a Level 3 Counselling qualification. These skills and qualifications allow me to provide support and guidance to the school community, particularly in the area of mental health and well-being. I support the development and implementation of the MAT’s HR-related policies and procedures, ensuring that they are up-to-date and aligned with best practices.
Julie Howell (CSBM)
Finance Lead
As Finance Lead I am committed to ensuring that the school’s financial resources are managed effectively to provide the best possible educational experience for all of our pupils. With over 22 years of experience working in administration and finance, I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to my role. As a former long-serving School Business Manager, I have a comprehensive understanding of school budgets, procurement processes, and compliance with policies and procedures. I am skilled at planning, monitoring, and managing budgets to ensure the best use of public money, and I am dedicated to achieving the best value for every school.
Ruth Connolly (NASENCo)
MAT SENDCo
With over 15 years of experience as a trained secondary school teacher, Ruth has a good understanding of the education system and the unique needs of pupils. Her professional journey has been shaped by a passion for inclusion and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. She has worked extensively as a school-based SENCO, collaborating with parents/carers and outside agencies to develop and implement support strategies tailored to the individual needs of our pupils. Her recent Neuroscience qualification has further strengthened her expertise in supporting pupils with diverse learning needs. In addition to her professional experience as teacher and SENCo, Ruth is a trained attachment lead, providing training and support in this area across the MAT. She is committed to addressing trauma and adverse childhood experiences for young people. Ruth’s mission is to create environments where all pupils feel safe, supported, and empowered to thrive.
Ryan Gough (BA (Hons), NPQSL, NPQH, L2 Counselling Skills)
Director of Education
Ryan Gough has been leading on Teaching and Learning within his own school and within the MAT, leading to his current role as Director of Education for CMAT. He builds sustainable relationships between colleagues across the MAT focused on school improvement. In this role, he brings professional experience and a deep passion for driving evidence-informed practices in curriculum development and design, ensuring that pupils who travel through CMAT experience an ambitious and carefully sequenced learning journey. Ryan achieved the qualification of NPQH, and has been recognised for his exceptional work within ITT by receiving the prestigious “Mentor of the Year” award from Wolverhampton University twice. This recognition reflects his unwavering commitment to nurturing and developing the current and next generation of educators. As the MAT Director of Education, he is dedicated to fostering collaboration among his colleagues and identifying MAT-wide priorities that will build capacity for bespoke, evidence-informed training.