Ian takes the reins at NE multi-academy trust
Laidlaw Schools Trust (LST), which has two schools in Sunderland, has announced that it has appointed a new chief executive officer.
Ian Simpson, an experienced school leader, will take up his post at the multi-academy trust covering the North East of England in April.
He is currently Executive Principal at Oasis Academy
Isle of Sheppey in Kent, where he moved after his success at Oasis Academy Lister Park in Bradford.
In under two years, he led Lister Park to its first ever Good judgement from Ofsted, which praised him for “the passion and dedication to improve standards rapidly”.
Mr Simpson said: “I passionately believe that all children – regardless of their social and economic background – deserve a first class education.
“This has been my driving force each and every day in every school that I have worked in. I look forward to working with the whole LST community to ensure that all our pupils aspire and achieve.”
LST’s schools include Academy 360, a mixed allthrough school located in the Pennywell area of Sunderland, and South Hylton Primary Academy.
Its ethos and values include ‘empowering our children to believe in themselves and embrace the future as active, respectful, successful and responsible citizens’.
Susanna Kempe, chair of Laidlaw Schools Trust and CEO of the Laidlaw Foundation, the trust’s sponsor, said: “We were looking for an exceptional educationalist and inspirational principal to lead LST through its next phase of growth.
“Therefore, we are absolutely delighted to appoint Ian.”