Trustees

Hilary has spent much of her career working within education management. She was Director of Business Development at the University of Plymouth and then at the Open University, working globally setting up new partnerships and growing the income and reputation of the OU. She worked for learndirect establishing on line learning in many educational settings as well as leading the implementation of learndirect centres within prisons. Hilary spent several years as Area Director for the AoC, working closely with colleges in the East region as well as MD for AoC Services, the wholly owned trading company specialising in Leadership Search and Development as well as Training and Conferences for thousands of staff working with the 250 colleges in England.

Hilary was Chair of the Thomas Alleyne Academy governing body prior to being appointed as Chair of the Trust Board in July 2024. She has served as a governor at a community school, an independent school and has recently completed a term as Chair of an independent training consortium in Wales . Hilary has also had extensive experience within the private and third sectors.

Jonathan was previously a director of a business established in 1990 for 28 years. A local resident, both his daughters attended Thomas Alleyne.

He has considerable experience in education leadership as a Governor and/or Chair of Governors at Woolenwick Infant and Nursery school, Woolenwick Junior School, the Thomas Alleyne School, continuing to serve as Vice-Chair of the local governing body for the Thomas Alleyne Academy, taking the chair in May 2016 and stepping down at the end of 2020/21. He has worked with five different heads, and has experience of recruiting excellent leaders. He became a Director of the Hart Schools Trust in February 2016 and currently works for HFL Education as a governance advisor.

In addition, Jonathan was previously active in the local community as co founder of Stevenage Old Town Business and Community Partnership, Treasurer of the Fairview Road Residents Association (2006-2016) but has now moved out of the immediate area. He became a Director of the Hart Schools Trust in February 2016.

Kit Davies was appointed CEO of Hart Learning Group in April 2018, having been Acting CEO since December 2017. He joined the Group in August 2015 as Deputy Principal of NHC and was promoted to Principal in September 2017. Kit began his FE career in 2001, having previously lived and worked in Spain, Mexico and Japan teaching and training English language teachers.

Kit is a fully qualified teacher, teacher-trainer and language specialist with a broad set of classroom practitioner and management skills gained from over 20 years’ experience in a range of educational settings.

His academic background is in the field of linguistics, having completed a degree in Spanish at Portsmouth University and then a master’s degree in Applied Linguistics at King’s College London. He has one published book to his name, a secondary school book on Spanish language and culture called ‘Spain Live’.

Dr Karidis has spent all his adult life in education (more than 20 years as a professional), holding a Doctorate and two Master’s degrees in Economics. He has been a member of staff, at different levels of seniority, in a number of well-respected Higher Education institutions in the UK and abroad.

Currently, he is a Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Coventry University and the Chief Executive of Coventry University London.

Mark took up his first teaching post in 2004 at the Highfield School, Letchworth Garden City, progressing from being a teacher of history to Head of Year and Key Stage 4 Progress Manager.

In 2008, Mark took up the post of Assistant Head Teacher at the Marshland High School, West Walton, Norfolk. He was promoted to Deputy Head Teacher and then left to take up the role of Head Teacher at the Thomas Alleyne School in Stevenage.

Since 2014, he has combined that role with the leadership of the Hart Schools Trust.

Vicky Parsey is Executive Principal at the Aspire Academies Trust. She is a very experienced Outstanding Headteacher having held headships in a variety of different school settings, and has extensive teaching experience across all key stages and has held numerous subject leadership roles, giving her a clear understanding of the curriculum and leadership at all levels.

Within her teaching career, Vicky has focused on the development of leadership at all levels, Early Years and SEND. She has extensive experience of working with Teaching Schools, providing school-to-school support as well as working in partnership with schools, Governing Bodies, Local Authorities and external agencies; giving a hands-on approach to strategic advice in order to improve the quality of teaching and learning and enhance the life opportunities for all children.

Vicky is also a National Leader of Education, an Ofsted Inspector and a qualified Coach.

Helen Stanton-Tonner been a serving head in the independent sector for 10 years and is now the Director of Education and Inclusion for the Independent Schools Association where she had been a member Head. Prior to this she worked within senior roles across a number of schools in both the independent and the state sector. She also worked as an educational advisor, supporting schools with the implementation of technology-based projects to enhance the education and accessibility for their pupils.

Louise is currently an Executive Principal overseeing a number of primary and secondary schools within The Shared Learning Trust.

She has worked in education for the past twenty-eight years and has worked as a Headteacher, School Advisor and Ofsted inspector during her career.

Louise joined The Shared Learning Trust in 2016 as Principal of The Chalk Hills Academy, and has spent considerable periods of time working in North London and for a large national multi-academy trust, with a focus on leadership development, curriculum, safeguarding and change management.

Shareen is Executive Head at Wembley Multi-Academy Trust. She is passionate about raising aspirations and creating inclusive environments where no child is left behind, and an MBA qualified education professional with deep-rooted experience and expertise in early childhood education, senior educational leadership and the creation of ambitious strategies for teaching and learning excellence.

Shareen has developed special interest in broader learning and growth practices, in particular Executive Coaching and Mentoring and is currently completing her ILM Level 7 coaching certificate. She is a trained Facilitator for the National Professional Qualifications (NPQML, NPQSL, NPQH)

Paul qualified as a Chartered Accountant and has over 30 years’ experience as a Finance Director and Group Financial Controller. He has worked for quoted international companies in a wide range
of industries, including engineering, security, contracting and technology businesses. As Group Financial Controller Paul developed the management information, budgeting, and strategic planning
processes for two quoted international groups, and has managed restructuring and turnaround projects, acquisitions and acquisition integration. He currently works as a part-time Finance Director
and business advisor for technology SMEs and start-ups in Hertfordshire and surrounding areas.