After many years as a teacher and Head Teacher, saw the opportunities on offer and committed wholeheartedly to the academy programme in 2010. As an outstanding school Sandy Hill Primary was qualified to be an early converter. From that point he built an extremely effective team becoming quickly the CEO of one of the largest and most successful Trusts in the south west.

He was at the forefront of rolling out the academy programme,  fearlessly leading innovation in the 4-16 education sector. Aspire was the first trust in Cornwall to academise a PFI school, to build a free school from the ground up, to develop the academy hub model, and to completely reshape academy governance and leadership. He has advised LAs, trustees, governors and school leaders throughout the country on all aspects of trust development and growth. He was Head Teacher consultant at the Department for Education for nearly 10 years. As an active member of key LA/school partnership groups, and founder member and chair of the Cornwall Academy Leaders Group, he understands how important partnership working is. Since retiring in 2020 his absolute belief that nothing is more important than the safety, well-being, and future of our children has not changed. As such, he feels very privileged to become a trustee at The Special Partnership Trust. He says he thoroughly enjoys his retirement, spending time with his family, their dogs, and he runs, cycles, and swims whenever he can.