Executive Team
Our executive team strategically manages and runs the Trust, working alongside our specialist team at head office and our schools' senior leadership teams.
Tom Quinn, Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Tom has been a Head Teacher since 2002 and a National Leader of Education since 2009 and is the Chief Executive of the Frank Field Education Trust. He has provided Executive leadership to nine schools as a National Leader of Education (NLE) during this time and has been an Ofsted Inspector. He led an Outstanding school for 14 years that became a Teaching school in 2014 and delivered an comprehensive ITT programme and CPD offer that reached 100’s of schools in the north West. Tom was a co-opted member of the Headteacher Board for LWY RSC region for three years working with two Regional School Commissioners to improve outcomes in the region. He has also been a member of DfE Headteacher Secondary Reference Group advising the Government on education policy.
Cath Green, Deputy CEO (DCEO) and Executive Head Teacher
Cath has been a headteacher since 2014 and has worked in education for over 30 years. Cath’s expertise lies in school improvement. Cath has moved two secondary schools from an OFSTED Inadequate rating to Good and has supported other leaders to do the same during her career. Cath joined the trust as a Principal at its inception and has been part of its transformative journey. During her career she has worked as an Advanced Skills Teacher and also as a Lead practitioner for SSAT. Cath combines her role as DCEO with that of Executive Head for The Ellesmere Port Church of England College. She joined the executive team to support its journey into its next phase of growth. Cath also holds NPQH and NPQEL qualifications.
Sam Finch, Chief Finance and Operating Officer (CFOO)
Sam is responsible for ensuring that our Estates, Finance, Site and Health and Safety functions all operate smoothly, and are fully compliant, across the trust. Sam has worked in the education sector for the last 14 years managing operations in a variety of sectors from special to SEMH, independent, primary and secondary within maintained schools, alternative provisions and academies.
Sam has gained further strategical knowledge by completing the Level 5 Diploma in School Business Management and Level 3 AAT which has enabled her to help schools experiencing financial deficit to improve their future outlook and balance their finances. Sam has also recently taken part in the DfE training to become a fully accredited Contract Manager.
Sam has considerable experience in collaborating to achieve best value and has strong links with a variety of stakeholders across the sector.
Sam is also a Trustee at a Multi Academy Trust in the North West and the Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL).
Katie Dixon, Director of Education
Katie has been a headteacher since 2015 and has worked in education for over 29 years and is now a Director of Education of the Frank Field Education Trust. Working in Sandwell for eight years at the beginning of her career with three years working as part of the school improvement team in Stoke-on-Trent as an Advisory Teacher and more recently working as a senior leader and Principal in Stoke-on-Trent, taking a school out of Special Measures. Katie was involved with the early years of the Trust’s development as a Principal. Katie is a geography specialist with experience of curriculum and pastoral leadership. As Principal Katie has grown strong and confident leaders with many moving onto promotion or their own Headships. She joined the executive Team for the Trust to widen her scope to support other leaders. Katie has NPQH and NPQEL.
John Shannon, Director of Education
John joined FFET as Director of Education. He has taught in five schools, led three of them, undertaken two Executive Headships and been a Deputy CEO. He has supported primary and secondary schools through inspection delivering good and outstanding judgements. He believes that schools should be at the heart of their community and is passionate about delivering social justice by empowering staff and engaging pupils and parents. He is research driven, created collaborative primary and secondary networks and has been fortunate to speak at events regionally, nationally and internationally. John has been awarded LLE status; completed his School Improvement Partner training; spent time representing over 500 schools on the Lancashire Education Sounding Board and mentored NPQH and NPQEL candidates and those new to headship. He has completed his NPQH, NPQEL and holds an MBA in Educational Leadership.
Central Team
Our Central Team supports the Operational, Financial, Marketing, and Human Resources services to our schools. If you would like to know more about these services please contact us at info@ffet.co.uk
Bobby Bailey, Marketing and Communications Manager
Bobby took on the position of Marketing and Communications Manager at the Frank Field Education Trust in 2018. His main role involves leading the implementation of the Trust’s marketing and communications strategy, branding, PR, digital and communications.
Before joining the Trust, Bobby accumulated over 10 years of professional experience in Education, where he worked within the marketing and corporate communications department for a large multi-academy Trust in the North-West. In this role, Bobby provided crucial strategic support to schools, offering expertise to schools in all areas of Marketing and Communications.
Prior his career in Marketing, Bobby has gained a wealth of experience working in various Stage Management roles in theatres and venues across the country.
Gareth Shields, HR Manager
Gareth joined Frank Field Education Trust (FFET) as HR Manager in April 2022, with responsibility for leading the operational and strategic development of the Trust’s HR function.
Prior to joining the Trust, Gareth has gained 3 years of operational and strategic HR experience within the private Health and Social Care sector; specifically within residential childcare and independent schools. Gareth has extensive experience working at a senior level; dealing with complex Employee Relations issues, implementing Learning and Development and Pay and Reward initiatives, Coaching and Mentoring, Change Management and Recruitment.
Gareth is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), and holds both a CIPD Level 7 Diploma, and an MA degree in Human Resource Management.
Mark Gallagher, Finance Manager
Mark brings with him 20 years finance experience covering the Private Sector, Public Sector and Voluntary Sector. He’s comes to the Trust from his previous role in the Public Sector managing a Finance Team and overseeing end-to-end finance operations of payroll, accounts receivable, accounts payable and balance sheet reconciliations. This role also involved budget setting and engagement with budget holders to identify opportunities for addressing overspends or improving income generation. Prior to this, he worked in a hybrid Finance/IT Role responsible for balance sheet reconciliations and project managing software installations and upgrades.
Highlights include project managing the migration to Office 365 from an on prem solution and the installation of online bookings, online payments and an online Direct Debit Solution across a multi-site environment. While in this role he gained his PRINCE2 Practitioner qualification and is comfortable managing projects with a particular strength on managing costs.
Hayley Jones, Finance Manager
Hayley has 15 years’ finance experience within various industry sectors including an organisational charity, NHS and currently the education sector. After completing her AAT qualification, she moved to a Senior Management Accounts Assistant position within the NHS responsible for Corporate Support Services. Hayley joined The Ellesmere Port Church of England College in 2014 as Finance Officer and completed her ACCA membership in 2015. Hayley has moved to the central team, responsible for the financial management and production of statutory reporting requirements across the MAT.
Peter Bolton, Estates Manager
In January 2024, Peter Bolton assumed the role of Estate Manager at the Frank Field Education Trust (FFET), overseeing Trust Estates, Services and Facilities Strategy, including Health & Safety Compliance and Management.
Prior joining FFET, Pete led a significant refurbishment initiative in another Multi-Academy Trust, enhancing safety systems such as electrical and fire safety within the estate. Prior to his tenure in the education sector, Pete worked as a contract mechanical engineer across various industries. Currently, he is pursuing a Level 4 qualification in Facility Management.
Leanne Docherty, Social Media Officer
Leanne joined the Frank Field Education Trust (FFET) as the Social Media Officer in September 2023, with responsibility for leading the development of the Trust’s Social Media accounts, including visual communications, advertising and also website development.
Prior to joining FFET, with over 21 years’ experience, Leanne worked within the Media sector for the largest commercial news publisher in the UK and Ireland, providing online marketing solutions for a range of businesses including schools, colleges and universities to name but a few. Leanne has a strong commercial awareness and a proven track record of success in all previous positions held. A main part of Leanne’s previous role was building long term relationships with key clients including schools and colleges across the north west and implementing marketing plans to enable those clients to reach their ideal audiences. Leanne has also successfully completed a Level 3 Award in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools which has given her a greater understanding of school settings, policies and procedures.
Stacey Thomas, Senior Early Life Worker
Stacey has been part of Early Life Group since it’s creation in 2021, and comes from a background in Early Years in a variety of settings and roles. Stacey has a BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Studies.
Stacey loves working with families, watching as their little ones learn and grow, and being there to help and support them through all the things being a new parent throws your way.
Emma Cannon, Senior Early Life Worker
Emma has several years’ experience within the early years sector, predominantly in nursery settings. Emma is fully qualified in Level 3 in childcare, first aid & baby massage.
Emma’s favourite part of the job is watching the children grow & develop, seeing them grow from a new born into individuals with their own personalities & quirks.
