Staff

Committed to ensuring the best learning opportunities for all, Jez has been developing pedagogical innovation for over 20 years. As a SENCo, senior school leader, Headteacher, Inspector and School Improvement Officer, Jez has led on the development of curriculum and assessment change, inclusion and the creative curriculum at local and regional levels. He's passionate about ensuring the system meets the needs of all learners – and will always look for approaches outside of the ‘norm’ that will inspire school communities and learners in a lifelong love of learning. 

He is a husband, the father of two amazing daughters, a committed Christian, a worship leader, and a musician who loves nothing more than to sing and learn new instruments.

He sees being the CEO of DBAT as both an honour and greatly humbling – the opportunity to enable an amazing community of highly professional educators and staff to lead and develop the very best environment and opportunities for learning, in an organisation committed to values and the development of the individual is an incredible privilege.

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.

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.

Jane is a highly experienced Educator with a Master’s degree in Education from Oxford University, and she joined the DBAT team in September 2019. She had previously been a Headteacher for 16 years in Schools in the UK, Thailand, and Oman, and has worked as a Headteacher Support Advisor for Somerset County Council. Her role involves working with Academies to secure high-quality provision with a focus on outstanding progress for all pupils, so that each child can be the best that they can be.

Nicki joined DBAT in September 2019 as a School Improvement Partner. She studied in Scotland, and moved to London to start her teaching career, before relocating to Bristol with her family. Nicki has worked in education for over 25 years. She is an experienced headteacher and is passionate about improving the life chances of all children through high quality teaching, learning and pastoral care.

Katy Staples is the Schools’ Adviser for all schools in the Bristol Diocese. She aids and advises DBAT academies and all other 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 the Bristol Diocese. He supports all schools in the Diocese, including DBAT 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. He is also a class teacher at Horfield CE Primary in Bristol and a qualified SIAMS inspector. 

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.

Clare is the Schools Officer supporting Governor Development and Admissions for all schools in the Diocese of Bristol, including DBAT schools. She has 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.