Before joining the Trust, Andrew was Operations Director for Cognita Schools Europe, one of the world’s largest providers of independent education. Previously, he was the commercial lead at North Bridge House in Hampstead and worked in contemporary music education for Tech Music Schools (now BIMM London). He has gained significant experience in each phase of the UK education system from EYFS and Primary to Secondary, FE and HE. In these roles, he has devoted himself to maximising both the potential of each school, as well as the life chances of the children and young people in his care.

His general commercial experience extends to spells in independent film exhibition and distribution where he was responsible for significant growth and business development. He is hugely enthusiastic about the arts and sport and early in his career, worked as a professional musician.

Malcolm qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1995 and worked in General Practice and Audit for 30 years before selling his Practice in 2018. Malcolm joined The Primary First Trust in April 2018, bringing with him a wealth of experience in both commercial and not for profit organisations. Malcolm is particularly keen to establish efficient methods of operation to maximise cost savings thereby enabling more funds to be utilised in the enhancement of the education of the pupils of the Trust.

Lorna is a Local Leader of Education and has worked across many different Local Authorities and in both Primary and Secondary settings.  Lorna delivers significant outcomes for schools through tight financial management, development of Governance, the ability to set and manage cultural change with strong people management, whereby supporting individual and school development achieves sustainable results.

In her role as Education Director, Lorna is accountable for the outcomes of schools, along with the Head Teachers of those schools. Her main focus is to work with the Trust’s highly effective school leaders to ensure the best outcomes are achieved, where values and ethos are at the heart of every decision.  Lorna is values and research driven and uses this ethos and knowledge to enable school teams to be outward facing in school development and culture development. Thus, ensuring the interest and well-being of the staff and of the children in her care are always recognised and thought of.

Kerry has worked in education for over 20 years. After a period of teaching IT in adult education, Kerry joined Mayplace Primary School in 2000 to support the development of ICT from both a technical perspective and in the classroom.

As a school governor Kerry became involved in premises management and health & safety, chairing premises committees in both a local primary and secondary school. In 2012 she was appointed to the role of School Business Manager and completed her DSBM qualification. The school joined The Primary First Trust in 2014 and when the decision was made to centralise some of the core administrative services, Kerry moved to the post of Facilities Lead in January 2018 based at the White House in Gravesend. This strategic role oversees compliance, condition and the development of our school sites. Kerry works closely with Headteachers and Site staff to ensure that schools provide a healthy, safe, secure environment in which pupils can learn. She monitors compliance with relevant health and safety, fire safety and security requirements, ensures that regular schedules of preventative maintenance are established and maintained and that premises related contracts are regularly reviewed to ensure that they are effective and represent best value.

The past two years have seen many of our schools benefitting from capital building works funded either by the Local Authority or from successful bids to the governments Condition Improvement Fund. Kerry has been responsible for the preparation and submission of these bids and has worked with Head Teachers and the various project teams to improve facilities in our schools. Currently Kerry is excited to be involved with the building and launching of our new free school, Springhead Park.

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Sarah joined The Primary First Trust when it was set up in November 2013, transferring from its first school, The Barnehurst Federation, with the founding CEO.

As well as performing the EA role to the CEO Sarah also manages the Trust website and social media platforms, marketing campaigns, organises Trust conferences and Inset days and undertakes office management and administration for the Central Team.

John has been a very successful Head Teacher for the past 7 years and has a First-Class BA (Hons) Degree in Primary Education. He brings huge drive, great experience and an enormous passion for education, all of which will be of immense benefit to The PFT, our schools, staff and pupils.

John Bryant

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John has twice been recognised nationally for his work as a Silver Award Winner in the Pearson National Teaching Awards, once for Headteacher of the Year and the second for Primary School of the Year.

Jane joined the Trust in March 2015, working as the Lead Clerk to the Governing Bodies across all Trust schools.  Jane scheduled, attended and minuted all governance and appeal meetings. Jane provided statutory advice and key guidance to all schools and governing bodies. 

Jane then took on the role of the Business Administrator in September 2020, whereby she provides support to all central business areas within the central team, manages the review and scheduling of all Trust policies, schedules, attends and minutes all key Trust/School meetings (i.e. School Development Group, Compliance checks, Risk Reviews, Quality of Education reviews) and provides administration support for all Trust inset days/conferences.

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Lucy has worked in education since 1995 in a number of roles including Finance Officer, Finance Manager, PA to the Principal and HR Officer.  After almost 27 years in the same secondary school, Lucy joined PFT in November 2021 as Finance Lead.

Suzie has worked in Education Finance since 1994, initially as a finance officer in a non-selective secondary school.  She obtained her School Business Manager qualification in 2011 and since then has been a SBM in a selective Grammar school and three form entry Primary school before joining the PFT in June 2019. 

Sue started working in Education Finance in 1993, for Kent County Council, then transferred to a local secondary school as Bursar, the school later joined a MAT, and she worked for the Trust Central finance team.

Sue later moved to Westcourt Primary School as Finance and Premises Officer.  When Westcourt  joined the Primary First Trust she became part of the Central Finance Team.

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Sharon has worked in education for 22 years.  She started on a temporary basis in Westcourt Primary School back in July 2000.  In January 2018 she became a member of the Trust Central Team and joined the Finance Department.  

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