Staff

Alistair started out as a Finance Director working in consumer goods companies both in Europe and the UK before moving into the business of education in 2006. He has worked extensively in a business development capacity majoring on new markets and new facilities for private school groups including those in the international sector. As the Chief Operating Officer for the Diocese of Bristol Academies Trust, Alistair leads the business function and supports schools to manage and deploy resources effectively. He is passionate about education and enjoys having the opportunity to make a difference for children in the classroom.

Cathy joined the DBAT team as a School Improvement Officer in September 2018, with 33 years of service to primary education behind her. This saw her working as a teacher then middle leader, SENCo and a Deputy Head. She then moved into Higher Education, working at Bath Spa University for 10 years during which she ran the Primary PGCE programme and lectured within the mathematics team as well as across the primary studies course. She has had two headships in Bristol schools spanning more than 12 years and also worked as an Acting Headteacher for schools needing leadership support. Cathy is committed to the wider educational landscape through mentoring new headteachers, those in challenging circumstances as well as working in partnership with a range of schools, beyond her own setting.

Paul is Chartered Accountant, having trained with a regional firm specialising in advising Academies and Multi-Academy Trusts. Since joining DBAT in 2015, Paul has fulfilled the statutory Chief Financial Officer role within the trust, providing strategic and operational oversight of its £13m revenue budget and working closely with the Accounting Officer (CEO) on all matters relating to financial compliance. Outside of work Paul is a Trustee of a Bristol-based charity and was previously a Governor and Chair of Resources at a local maintained Primary School.

Becky has worked in financial services for 15 years and joined the Education Team in 2017. As DBAT’s Finance Assistant she works with the Chief Financial Officer, aiding the strategic and operational development of the Trust’s finance function and associated business activities. She is the first point of contact for accounting and finance queries from the academies, providing transactional and administrative support both centrally and academy-based. She is currently taking AAT exams in Professional Accountancy.

Grace studied Experimental Psychology at the University of Bristol and graduated in 2018. She developed a passion for education and aiding children and young people’s development through a variety of volunteer and work experience over the last five years. These roles have included working with children with special needs, volunteering as a STEM Ambassador, administration in further education and teaching English abroad. As DBAT’s administrator she works closely with the academies, coordinating the provision of business support, data management and administration.

Liz has wide experience of working with a range of schools, starting out as a teacher and senior leader in primary schools in England and abroad, before working with an LA in school improvement and professional development. She was an Ofsted inspector and NCTL trainer.
As the Director of Education for the Bristol Church of England Diocese, Liz supports all CE schools in the diocese through many roles including developing leadership, safeguarding, academisation and the promotion of church school vision, helping schools to become places where children and staff experience ‘life in all its fullness’.

Katy Staples is the Schools’ Adviser for the Bristol Diocese. She supports and advises schools in the diocese in Christian Distinctiveness, Collective Worship and RE. She is the SIAMS manager and supports and advices schools in preparing for their section 48 inspections.
She is author of “Valuing All God’s Children,” a guidance document for Anglican schools for countering homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying.
Katy is writing National CEEO guidance on Relationships and Sex Education she is currently updating materials for Church Schools to support relationships and sex education called “Love and Sex Matters.”

Adam is a School’s Adviser for Bristol Diocese and a class teacher at Horfield CE Primary in Bristol. In addition he is a qualified SIAMS inspector. Adam’s role is to support schools in preparing for SIAMS inspections, to advise on developing Christian distinctiveness in schools, and to offer training and support to schools to improve RE and spiritual development.

As a serving teacher, and member of NATRE (National Association of Teachers of RE) executive, Adam has a passion for bringing high quality RE to life in the classroom, and developing spirituality throughout the curriculum.

Ali joined the Education Team in 2016 with long standing experience within the education team of the diocese of Liverpool, in partnership with Chester, Manchester, Carlisle and Blackburn. She administered the SIAMs process for 500 schools and a Christian leadership course across the dioceses.
As Education Coordinator for all schools in the Bristol diocese, her skills are well used to benefit DBAT, as she communicates with officers and schools so that all training and project work is well resourced, updated and organised.
The Church School Partnership award has taken off under her management and she is currently coordinating the Engaging Younger Generations project, which brings together mentors, volunteers and young people from our churches and schools.

Clare is the Schools Officer supporting Governor Development and Admissions for all schools in the Diocese of Bristol, having previously worked for a number of local schools and, prior to that, at the University of the West of England.

Her work is varied, and includes: advising and training Academy Trusts, governors and clerks on best practice and procedure in governance; acting as Company Secretary for the Diocese of Bristol Academies Company (the Diocesan Umbrella Trust); overseeing the appointment and training of foundation governors for church schools in the Diocese; monitoring and advising on school admissions policies and procedures; and investigating technical queries for the Education Team.