BET SLT

Bay Education Trust Senior Leadership Team – Academies

Stephen Kings

Chief Executive Officer

Stephen Kings was appointed Chief Executive Officer in January 2018. Stephen has been working within education for over forty years. He was previously Head teacher of Churston Ferrers Grammar School, Brixham and founding Principal of Merchants Academy, Bristol.

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

Jessica Humphrey was appointed Executive Headteacher for Kings Ash and Curledge Street Academies in January 2018. Previously, she has been Headteacher at Curledge Street Academy and Cockwood Primary in Devon. She has worked in several different schools in South Devon, as Deputy Head, Key Stage 1 Leader and SENCO, as well as teaching all year groups from Reception to Year 6.

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. 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

Paul Garside was appointed Human Resources Manager in February 2017, having worked for Torbay Council providing operational HR support to schools and academies across Torbay and South Devon. He is a Trustee on the Board of the Riviera Education Trust and a governor at Sacred Heart Primary School. Previously Paul was Chair of the Governing Body at Mayfield Special School until September 2017. He is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development having studied at Plymouth University.

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.