Sandra Appleby
Sandra Appleby has taught and led in primary schools in London and the East Midlands for more then twenty five years. She is currently a Headteacher and Senior Regional Director of Primary Education for the David Ross Education Trust. As a System Leader within the multi-academy trust, Sandra's role involves strategic trust-wide planning and providing training, support and challenge to the Principals, senior leadership teams, staff and governoors across the trust. She is a member of the Northamptonshire Schools Forum as well as being a member of several school governing boards.
As Headteacher of Greenfields Primary School and Nursery in Kettering (rated Outstanding - Ofsted January 2020), she has seen many key successes, amongst which was the crowning of the school as East Midlands Primary Champion at the prestigious TES Pupil Premium Awards. Sandra holds the view that educational excellence can be and should be achieved in every school, regardless of the community challenges. A view that aligns very nicely with the NPAT vision and values.
Ruth Corkin
Ruth Corkin is a Principal specialising in indirect taxes with a top 50 firm of business advisors. As part of this role she provides advice to academies. Away from her day job, Ruth has three grown up children who have all been educated via the academy system and is now a grandmother.
As someone who received free school meals as a child, Ruth passionately believes that every child should receive the best education available and NPAT's ethos matches this perfectly.
John Fazackerley - Chair of Business, Finance, Audit & Risk Committee
After graduating from Oxford University, John worked with a Christian organisation in Iran for two years as a volunteer. Returning to the UK in 1976, he qualified as a Chartered Accountant and spent his working life with a leading professional firm in Manchester, Northampton and Milton Keynes. He held various voluntary trustee roles whilst working, including as Governor of Milton Keynes College for 12 years. Since retiring in 2013 he has taken up new roles in the not-for-profit sector including Governor at Weston Favell CE Primary School since 2014 (Chair since September 2017) and Treasurer of St John's Home, Northampton. He is deeply involved in his local church, St Peter's Weston Favell and his hobbies include Art Appreciation, Theatre and Cinema, watching sport and playing golf (badly).
Rob Hardcastle - Chair of Education, Standards & Performance Committee
Rob Hardcastle has twenty-five years of experience in education in Northamptonshire primary and secondary settings. He has worked in roles such as Advanced Skills Teacher, Deputy Headteacher, Headteacher and Head of Primary Education and is currently CEO of Hatton Academies Trust. In 2016, Rob was shortlisted for the Pearson Teaching Awards in the category of Primary Headteacher of the Year. As a Headteacher, he secured judgements by Ofsted of Outstanding in every category in 2015. He is the senior partner for Challenge Partners Northants Hub and delivers NPQSL training for Best Practice Networks. Rob is very much looking forward to working with the NPAT Board of Trustees.
Julia Kedwards
Julia Kedwards is the Chief Executive Officer of Northampton Primary Academy Trust (NPAT). Julia has worked for the trust for many years, having previously been Headteacher of Ecton Brook Primary School, a larger than average split site primary school in Northampton and a Teacher at Headlands Primary School. Julia is a founding member of NPAT and has led the evolution of the trust from its original five schools to its current position, establishing a central team and developing clear strategies for the development of the education, finance, operations and growth functions. Julia was awarded an OBE for her work in the Queens New Years Honours List 2018.
James Marscheider - VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD
James is a senior marketing professional with nearly twenty years' experience leading teams in high performance organisations. He is also a Parent Governor at another Northamptonshire Primary School. Success in both roles requires excellent communication skills, budgeting and leadership skills, skills which James is happy to share to support our success moving forward. James enjoys the opportunity to work with the central team to enhance NPAT's marketing and community engagement activities. James is a Father of three and (when time allows) is a keen golfer and still attempts to play football as often as possible.
Julie Stapleton
After spending over twenty years in Human Resource roles mainly in the Logistics and Supply Chain industry, Julie has recently taken the leap to become a self-employed HR Consultant. She has previously operated at Board level across many geographies and is able to bring that experience to businesses requiring qualified HR support on an ad hoc or project basis. She particularly enjoys working on transformational change, employee engagement and organisational planning. Her aim is to support organisations through those processes as well as offering HR guidance and support as needed. Outside of work, Julie enjoys travelling and spending time with family and friends.
Jeremy Stockdale - Chair of Board of Trustees
Jeremy is currently the Chair of Trustees. Jeremy is an experienced leader of people and businesses, having led teams across multiple disciplines, sectors and geographies throughout the UK and in Africa for a major high street bank. This experience has given Jeremy a passion for Culture, Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion and the vital role all play in the transformation of businesses to create long-term, sustainable benefit for both organisations and society. In his spare time, he is an enthusiastic armchair sportsman, slow runner, Chelsea fan and most importantly, husband to Helen and father to two children.