The Central Team - working together for students and staff in our region
Angelos Markoutsas
Angelos Markoutsas
Mark Tidman
Emma Hardy-Smith
Emma has worked in education since 1996. She has a BA Honours degree in History and a PGCE in Primary education. Emma has held a number of leadership roles in a variety of primary schools across North Somerset and Somerset including a number of years in the role of SENDCO resulting in a passion for inclusion. Emma has specialised in leading teaching and learning and school improvement and has supported two schools in Special Measures. Since 2018, Emma has been working with the PLT ,initially as an interim Headteacher at PPSA and Vice Principal at SACA. Since January 2020, Emma has been Principal of SACA, which is our only dual site primary academy.
Emma is very passionate about curriculum development and inclusive child-centred learning. She leads the primary curriculum across the trust.
Dan Milford
Dan started his teaching career in 1995, having trained at Marjons University in Plymouth, as a teacher of Physical Education. After teaching for a few years in Devon and Cornwall, he relocated and started working at Worle Community School, now WCSA. During his time there, he held roles such as Head of PE, Head of Year and Assistant Principal in charge of conduct and behaviour.
Dan formed part of the Leadership team when Worle Community School became WCSA as part of the Trust in 2017 and this led to him moving across the King Alfred School in Highbridge in late 2017, initially on a secondment, as Head of Conduct and Culture.
In 2018, as King Alfred School joined the Trust and became an academy (TKASA), he was appointed Vice Principal, working closely alongside Principal Nathan Jenkins. In April 2021, Dan took over as Acting Principal before this role was made permanent in October 2021.
Dan is passionate about the importance of building strong relationships as they are the key to success; relationships between staff and students, schools and their communities and between colleagues across the Trust.
Outside of education, Dan is a keen sportsman who regularly enjoys golf, tennis, cycling and going to the gym, as well as supporting his youngest son by helping to coach his football team. Dan鈥檚 daughter is also part of the Trust as she is an English teacher at TKASA.
Emma Barker
I am Principal across three fabulous and unique primary academies in rural Somerset 鈥� Pawlett Primary School Academy, East Huntspill Primary Academy and West Huntspill Primary Academy. I am passionate and determined to provide the very best education experience for our learners 鈥� both for the children and the adults I work with. Reading, Oracy and Learning Outdoors are at the heart of our curriculum delivery in our schools. Having come into education later in my career, my experiences, skills and knowledge brings an alternative perspective to my leadership, one I continue to develop and grow.
Sally Taylor
Jason Edwards
Jason studied History at Cardiff University before training as a teacher at the University of York in 1997. He has taught in a number of secondary schools including in Chesham, Bristol and Cheddar. Jason has a long association with Priory Community School, dating back to 2003. He has a Master鈥檚 degree in school leadership from Plymouth Marjon University and, since 2008, has worked as a school leader including as Deputy Headteacher in two schools. He is currently Assistant Principal at Priory. Jason is passionate about supporting teachers to develop their classroom techniques. He has a keen interest in developing professional learning and coaching programmes and works with schools across 草榴社区 to support them in this. Jason has long been an enthusiastic advocate of the WalkThrus toolkit for teachers. He works as a consultant for WalkThrus, supporting schools across the country to implement effective professional learning programmes using their resources. Outside of work, Jason loves spending time in Berlin, studying German history, running trail marathons and enjoying time with his family.
Charlotte Bradley
Sophie Coulton
Ally Webb
Karen Geddes
Karen holds the NEBOSH Certification in Construction Health & Safety together with various building management qualifications. Her experience with property management began in South Africa and more recently with North Somerset Council where she held the position of Property Compliance Officer.
Karen joined 草榴社区 on the 5 th October 2021 as Assistant Estates and Compliance Manager. She brings with her over 12 years of Health & Safety, business management knowledge and experience, across a wide range of property portfolios from high football corporate offices to educational properties.
Karen looks forward to the challenges that lay ahead and working with all the academies within The Trust.
Paul McLean
Paul worked for an Electrical and Mechanical company as an Air Conditioning Engineer, and also carried out various compliance tasks for a number of years over Schools in and around the North Somerset, Somerset and Bristol areas.
He then moved to Worle Community School as Facilities Manager in June 2021, where he worked closely with the Operations Manager to carry out the day to day running of the school and deliver works to improve the facilities. Whilst at WCSA Paul gained his IOSH Health & Safety for School Business Professionals.
Paul joined the Central Team as Assistant Estates and Compliance Manager in January 2023 and is looking forward to working closely with all of the academies within the Trust.
Kym Withers
Kym has recently joined as HR Advisor for 草榴社区 in April 2022.
Previously working in the retail sector for 18 years in a management and field based role in Learning and Development supporting across all areas of the business. Kym has gained extensive knowledge in learning and development, HR, recruitment and management.
Kym is an Associate member of the CIPD, having previously gained a Level 5 Certificate in Human Resource Management in 2019.
Kym is a former student of Worle Community School - An Academy.
Nicole Sprague
Nicole has several years of retail customer service experience and joined 草榴社区 in September 2022 to pursue a career within HR. Due to great CPD opportunities with TPLT Nicole was able to progress from Apprentice to Admin Assistant quickly. Nicole has qualifications in business studies, food & beverage services and equality and diversity. Joining her colleagues on Level 3 CIPD course with Weston College in September, Nicole is very excited for the future with TPLT.
Charlotte Stevens
Charlotte joined 草榴社区 in September 2022 , having previously worked in the Dental industry for over 12 years. Charlotte has over 15 years of administration experience gaining lots of skills and knowledge, supporting areas such as finance and sales.
She obtained her Level 3 Certificate in Personnel Practice in 2011. Charlotte is a former student of The King Alfred School- An Academy.
Natasha Stokes
Natasha joined The PLT in January 2023 as HR Admin Apprentice to progress in her career after several years of experience in the retail and the hospitality sector. Natasha is a former student of Priory Community School and went on to achieve 3 A levels in Law, Psychology and Sociology at Weston College.
Simon Merrick
Simon studied for a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree in Commercial Music at Bath Spa University before beginning employment at PCSA in 2006. He since has over 12 years of experience in the IT industry, having led on many major projects implementing modern technologies.
Simon was appointed as Head of IT for TPLT in February 2019.
Simon is a former student of Worle Community School.
Martin Thomas
Martin completed a BTEC IT Diploma at Weston College and then completed an IT apprenticeship at PCSA. He then worked mainly within the business sector, most recently with an internationally managed IT service provider. He has been with the Trust since 2016 as deputy until gaining promotion to the Network Manager position.
Martin is a former PCSA student.
Mark Wilfan
Mark has a degree in Sports and Exercise Science from Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education. Mark started his educational IT career in 2006 working at Broadoak School as an IT tech. 5 years later he accepted a Deputy Network Manager role at Backwell. In 2015 he accepted a Network Manager position at The King Alfred School an Academy and subsequently TKASA joined TPLT.
Charlie Milton
I initially started studying Archaeology at the University of Bristol in 2012, and eventually moved into a learning support role at The Holy Trinity Primary School in Taunton. Here I completed my Level 3 Diploma in Specialist Support in Teaching and Learning in Schools, focusing on the teaching of Computing in a Primary School setting.
Wanting to expand my working IT knowledge, I found myself joining the IT Team at TKASA - the school where I was formerly a student.
Even though I work in IT, I still have a true passion for all things historical. I even help run a Viking Age re-enactment group in my spare time (we have invaded The King Alfred School Academy once or twice!)Tim Hurr
Tim Hurr studied Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence at The University of Leeds, followed by a PGCE at the University of East Anglia. Tim taught for over 20 years, students ranging in age from 10 up to retirement, with Maths and IT/Computing his specialisms. More recently Tim moved into IT support and is solution focused to ensure IT supports students and teachers both in and outside the classroom.
Ben Baker
Ben studied a BTEC Diploma in IT at Weston College for two years and joined the IT Team at PCSA for Work Experience, for the duration of his course. After the successful placement, he was then employed as an Apprentice IT Technician and has since been promoted to a 1st Line IT Technician. Ben is excited about future IT projects across the Trust and thrives while learning new skills and meeting new people.
Ben is a former PCSA student.
Cam Doyle
Cam completed a BTEC IT Diploma at Weston College and has worked within the IT industry ever since. After building his career as an IT technician for a local business and then the NHS, Cam has joined the team as a second line IT technician. Cam is a former PCSA student."
Marinde Edwards
Marinde worked in the Pensions and Life Insurance industry for over 10 years in South Africa before immigrating to the UK with her family.
Marinde joined Priory Community School in September 2002 as an Administrator and developed her skillset and progressed to become the Finance Manager and is now part of the Central Team to provide financial support to schools within the Trust.
Wendy Annakin
Wendy has worked in the Education sector for thirty years, initially with Avon County Council and then Bath & North East Somerset Council. She joined the finance team at Worle Community School eighteen years ago, becoming the Finance Manager working with a great finance team.
Wendy joined the Central finance team in September 2020, helping to develop the finance function across the schools within the trust.
Nikki Jones
Nikki is a fully qualified accounting technician, achieving her AAT Level 4 Professional Diploma in Accounting in 2010. She initially gained experience at a local primary school before starting her Finance career at Worle Community School an Academy, joining as a Finance Assistant in 2013.
Nikki has now progressed to a Finance Officer and joined the Central Team in September 2020.
Bev Bailey
Bev joined Priory Community School in January 2004 as a receptionist from Weston College where she had worked for 6 years. Bev then progressed to join the Finance team in March 2010. Bev was one of the first ever pupils at Priory School when it opened in 1975.
Emma Barrett
Emma started work at TKASA in September 2019 as a Finance Administrator and joined the Central Finance Team in September 2020. Emma progressed to a Finance Officer in April 2021 and Assistant Senior Finance Officer in April 2023.
She previously worked as a Management Accountant and has experience in Accounts and HR Roles. She has an AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting Qualification and is currently studying for Level 4.
Ilona Stefanowicz
Ilona started at Priory Community School in September 2019 as a Finance Administrator and joined the Central Finance Team in September 2020. Previously she worked in the leisure industry as a Finance Assistant.
Ilona completed her Bachelor of Management degree at AGH University of Science and Technology. Recently Ilona gained her AAT Level 3 Advanced Diploma in Accounting at Weston College.
Hannah Lippiatt
Hannah started at PCSA in January 2018 and joined the Central Finance Team in September 2020.
She worked in the legal sector specialising in costs law for over 10 years and qualified as a Costs Lawyer in 2016, before wanting a change and joining PCSA.
Hannah is a former PCSA student.
Agnieszka Szwaczka
Agnieszka joined the Central Finance Team in September 2021 having previously lived in Poland. In 2007 she completed her studies at the University of Agriculture in Poland and became Mc Ing. of Technology of Food and Human Nutrition. She moved to England in 2008 and until 2016 she was working as Senior Care Assistant. For the last 5 years she has worked at Weston General Hospital as a Nursing Assistant, before wanting a change of career and decided to study AAT at Weston College.
Agnieszka completed her AAT Level 4 Professional Diploma in Accounting and is now a fully qualified Accounting Technician.
Ali Bird
Ali joined the Central Finance Team in February 2022, having previously worked in Banking for nearly 40 years. Ali has also completed her AAT Levels 2&3 and is now a qualified bookkeeper. She has decided to have a change of career to work closer to home and become a part of the local community. Ali is also proud to be a part of the school attended recently by both of her children who are now at/going to University, Southampton University and London College of Contemporary Art respectively. A super proud mum.
