We Invest in People
Our talented colleagues are the driving force behind our success. At Red Kite Learning Trust, we invest in the people who make a difference, developing leadership, strengthening teams, and creating environments where everyone to thrive.
Our Focus
This year, we’ve focused on attracting and supporting great people, enhancing professional development, and making it easier for colleagues to do their best work. From welcoming new senior leaders to launching our central CPD offer and colleague resource hub, we’re helping teams across the Trust feel valued, supported, and ready to deliver excellence.
Highlights
Welcoming Our New Chief Operating Officer
We’re proud to welcome Jonathan Timmis OBE as our new Chief Operating Officer at Red Kite Learning Trust. Jonathan brings extensive leadership experience from both the military and education sectors. His strategic vision, operational expertise, and deep commitment to people and purpose make him a perfect fit for our values. We’re already seeing the positive impact of Jonathan’s leadership, with improvements to operations underway across our Trust as we continue to grow and deliver excellence for our schools and communities.
New Commercial Director Focuses on Brand, Partnerships and Growth
This year, former Trust CFO, Steve Howell, was appointed as Commercial Director in what is a new and important role for our Trust, with a focus on nurturing our brands, developing our partnerships and identifying commercial opportunities. Priorities have been to concentrate on projects and activities that enhance our brand and reputation in partnership with others and whilst delivering commercial returns.
Strengthening Leadership at Crawshaw Academy
Mr Iain Addison joined Crawshaw Academy as Headteacher in January 2025, bringing a wealth of experience from his current role at St Aidan’s in Harrogate. He is joined by Mrs Kayleigh Cuddy, Deputy Headteacher, and Mr James Wilkinson, Assistant Headteacher, both of whom started in September 2024. Together, they bring renewed energy, expertise, and a clear commitment to positive change at the school.
Improving Recruitment and Retention
We are committed to attracting and retaining the very best talent. In response to sector-wide recruitment challenges, we’ve launched a Trust-wide strategy to improve the candidate experience, strengthen our brand, and support schools with smarter, more effective processes. A key step has been moving to My New Term, a modern platform designed for education, which has streamlined applications, expanded our reach, and made it easier for candidates to connect with opportunities across our Trust.
Strengthening Schools Through Strategic People Support
Our dedicated HR and People teams have been instrumental in strengthening schools across our Trust over the past year. By leading structural change, supporting staff through transitions, and embedding strong safeguarding and recruitment practices, we’ve helped create positive, resilient working environments. Through this proactive and people-centred approach, we’re building capability, promoting wellbeing, and ensuring every school has the support needed to thrive.
Investing in Professional Development for All
This year, we took a significant step forward in our commitment to continuous professional growth by launching a new central CPD programme for both teaching and operational staff. Designed to support career development and build capability, the programme has made high quality learning more accessible through a range of flexible, targeted opportunities.
Making a Difference Through Collaboration
On 4 July, our Make a Difference Day brought colleagues from across the Trust together for a powerful day of shared learning focused on Inclusion and operational improvement. Keynotes, workshops, and collaborative activities deepened understanding of inclusive practice and strengthened relationships, reinforcing our shared goals and collective commitment to collaboration and best practice across our schools.
Introducing The Nest: Our Central Hub for Support and Resources
We’ve redeveloped resources hub to bring together essential policies, guidance, and key contacts into one easy-to-use platform. Designed to simplify processes and reduce workload, The Nest helps our Central Team deliver consistent, supportive guidance, empowering colleagues across all schools.
