Dr Antony Edkins appointed as Northern Regional Executive

11 December 2009

The United Learning Trust (ULT) has appointed Dr Antony Edkins to head its Northern Regional Executive.  Dr Edkins will have responsibility for driving improvement at each of ULT’s academies in the North including, Stockport Academy, Salford City Academy, Barnsley Academy as well as its two Sheffield Academies.  He takes over this role from Mrs Kathy August, who was appointed Deputy Chief Executive earlier this year.

Antony Edkins is currently Executive Head Teacher at Harrop Fold School in Salford where he has delivered transformational change.  Described by Ofsted as an ‘outstanding’ leader, Antony has had extensive experience in school improvement including as Head of Secondary School Improvement at East Sussex Local Authority and as a DCSF advisor to the Academies Division School Improvement Programme and National Challenge Programme.

Dr Edkins’ appointment completes ULT’s new regional leadership team which was announced earlier this year.  This included the appointment of two Regional Executives – Mrs Fiona Oommen as Southern Regional Executive and the Rt Rev Peter Hullah as Regional Executive for the Midlands.

Commenting on his appointment, Antony Edkins said: “Having spent the last six years specialising in educational improvement and working with teachers to accelerate success, I am very excited by the opportunity to take what I have learnt into a leadership role in an organisation such as the United Learning Trust.  ULT has a growing reputation in the North West and I look forward to supporting and developing this. Through my work for the DCSF and as a head teacher in Salford, I have worked closely with ULT academies and so relish the opportunity to build on existing relationships and develop new ones across a team of highly motivated educational leaders.”

Sir Ewan Harper, Chief Executive of ULT, said:“We are delighted to welcome Dr Edkins into ULT.  He brings with him a depth of experience in school improvement and his expertise will be an important factor in our continued success both in the North West and across the country.  He will work closely with our Deputy Chief Executive, Mrs Kathy August in developing our school improvement framework and will be a real asset to our growing senior leadership team.  As Northern Regional Executive, Antony will play a critical role in supporting each academy Principal and helping them to accelerate progress so that each student attending our academies will receive an outstanding education.”