Education and School Improvement

 

Kate Law BA (Hons), PGCE, NPQH, NPQEL. Director of Education

After teacher training in London and starting her career in Medway, Kate moved to Chilton Primary in Ramsgate. She has held various leadership positions at the school and spent some time as a Specialist Leader of Education for Primary English for EKLA before becoming Head of School at Chilton in 2015. Since 2019, she has led on Teaching and Learning across Viking Academy Trust and became the Director of Education for the Trust in 2023.

Kate has vast experience in school evaluation to inform improvement planning, particularly in the development of teaching and learning. Kate has worked with leaders across the Trust schools to develop their understanding of both middle and senior leadership and also delivers training on behaviour for staff. Kate has also been a DSL since 2015, ensuring rigorous child protection procedures are in place. Kate has experienced a number of Ofsted inspections and is knowledgeable on the process of and preparation for inspection. 

 

School Finance

 

Traysi Higgin, CIPFA (Affil), FMAAT. Chief Finance Officer and School Resource Management Advisor

Traysi has worked in education finance for over 25 years, beginning her career in London at a large university in 1998 as a research grants financial coordinator. Seeking a better location to raise her young family, Traysi moved to Kent in 2002. She was employed by the local authority in the trading arm for education finance, followed by 10 years as a School Business Manager (SBM). More recently, she has served as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at the Viking Academy Trust since 2018.

Traysi has gained a wealth of knowledge and experience in school finance and payroll and is passionate about sharing her expertise with like-minded professionals dedicated to providing the best possible education for children. With a strong commitment to ensuring every penny counts, Traysi became an accredited School Resource Management Adviser (SRMA) in 2021. She provides advice and support to schools on the best utilization of their resources through Integrated Curriculum Financial Planning (ICFP) on behalf of the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).

Having recently achieved CIPFA Level 7 certification, Traysi is ready to speak with you and support you in all aspects of school finance.

 

People and Payroll Services

 

 

Lisa Blachford, HR Director, Assoc CIPD, MIoL

Intro here...

 

 

Marketing and Communications

 

Claire Roby, BA (Hons), MIoL, ACIM. Trust Administration Manager

Claire has worked in marketing and administration in education for the past 18 years. For the first part of her career she worked in higher education, at two Kent-based universities, specialising in business-to-business marketing, business-to-consumer marketing, website communications (including information architecture) and social media marketing and communications.

Keen to make a difference in the community and spend more time with her family, Claire moved to primary education in her area in 2017, taking up the role of office manager at a local junior school. After almost five years in primary, mastering the sector’s administration and systems, Claire moved to the Viking Academy Trust in 2021 as manager of the three school offices, wraparound care clubs, the Trust’s holiday club and leads the administration, information and communication.

She has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in office systems and processes, traditional and digital marketing methods including social media, and the Bromcom Management Information System.

Please contact her to start a meaningful discussion in this area.

 

Data and IT Services

 

 

Chris Bing, Trust IT Manager

Intro here...

 

 

Estates and Compliance

 

 

Sarah Hickman, Trust Estates and Health and Safety Manager

Intro here...

 

 

To begin your school improvement journey with Viking School Services, please complete our register of interest form here, or call (TBC)

We look forward to working with you.