BET SLT
Bay Education Trust Senior Leadership Team – Academies


Stephen Kings
Chief Executive Officer

Mark Smith
Head of School at Paignton Academy
Mark Smith was appointed Head of School at Paignton Academy in September 2017. Mark has worked in education since 1983 and held several posts within this Academy, including Head of Year, Assistant Principal and Deputy Principal. Mark recently completed his NPQH and is committed to providing an outstanding education for all of our students.

Jessica Humphrey
Executive Headteacher at Kings Ash and Curledge Street Academies
Bay Education Trust Senior Leadership Team – Operational


Lisa Finn
Chief Finance Officer
Lisa Finn was appointed to Chief Finance Officer for the Trust in April 2017, and is the Deputy CEO. Her background is working in Education Finance and Corporate Finance in local government for the last twenty years. She has worked in a number of London boroughs and more recently in Devon and Torbay.

Paul Garside
Human Resources Manager

Claire Blagdon
Chief Operations Officer
Claire Blagdon was appointed as Chief Operations Officer in May 2018. Claire was employed by Torbay Council before moving to Paignton Academy. Claire has been with the Academy for fifteen years in various roles including Out of Hours Co-ordinator. Her risk assessments are used as model of best practice for Devon and Torbay.