Central Team (ID 1070)

• Mark Greatrex
  Chief Executive
  Mark Greatrex

  I became chief executive of the Bellevue Place Education Trust in May 2015. I head the executive leadership team and school leaders, working closely with our board of trustees in fulfilling the BPET vision. I’m responsible for an annual income of £19 million.
  
  I lead and collaborate with our over 525 staff, and together we have the honour of educating more than 3,680 pupils, ensuring that, as an organisation, our education offer is of the highest standard through delivering a broad and rich curriculum offer across the school day and beyond.
  
  I am a Department of Education (DfE) system leader delivering support through the DfE’s Trust and School Improvement Offer. I work with and mentor other trusts’ CEOs, as we all develop our respective offer to the school communities we serve.
  
  I began my career as a civil servant in the DfE, in the Academies Division with just five academies opened nationally. This grew to 203 open academies when I left to join a multi-academy trust. I have been a senior leader in three MATs and BPET is the first I have led. Achievements have included converting and setting plans to transform many failing schools seeing, as a consequence, significant improvement in student achievement. I have opened over 10 new free schools, the first being the first free school of 2011. I’m proud that BPET schools are currently performing 10% above the national average and all are judged Good or Outstanding by Ofsted.

  I hold a number of non-executive roles: I am a governor in a maintained primary school, Millfields Community School (Hackney, London); I am also a trustee of Greenhouse Sports, an inspiring charity which aims to give all children from deprived communities access to sport and develop their skills and confidence. Finally, I am very proud of my research work to support Lord Adonis in writing his excellent book about academies ‘Education, Education, Education’.

• Marwa Sadek
  Director of Finance
  Marwa Sadek

  Since joining BPET as Chief Financial Officer (later renamed as Director of Finance) in 2019, I've supported its growth and contributed to the successful onboarding of schools. I manage a comprehensive range of financial aspects, including budgeting, accounting, control procedures, and statutory reporting. I also lead internal and external audits, and offer strategic financial guidance to information to the chief executive officer, headteachers and trustees.

  Furthermore, I've coordinated high-quality management information for various individuals and entities at the executive level, ensuring alignment with with the standards set by the Department for Education , ESFA, and relevant accounting SORPs. With 18 years of experience, I bring expertise in financial modeling, project accounting, resource allocation, internal audit, fiduciary control systems, and personnel management.

  Beyond work, I'm passionate about community service, volunteering with local schools, charities, and events like Cancer Research. I believe in making a positive impact and fostering lasting connections, as evident from my volunteering for the 2012 London Olympics.

• Laura Gregory
  Director of Education (on sabbatical)
  Laura Gregory

  I joined BPET as the Director of Education on 1 September 2019. My role is to support the educational standards in all BPET schools along with overseeing the annual School Improvement Review Cycle, offering and designing CPD programmes for staff and facilitating strong collaboration across our schools.

  Prior to this, I was the principal of a large outstanding primary academy in Hertfordshire – one of the first designated Teaching Schools in England, within a trust. While in this role, I became an additional Ofsted inspector for primary and early years and gained the Professional Qualification for School Inspectors (PQSI), before leaving to be a School Improvement Adviser for Buckinghamshire Local Authority (LA). Here I supported over 25 schools from two very different contextual locations. I then moved on to be the Primary School Improvement Lead for a trust of seven schools, with both primary and secondary schools. All of the schools apart from one were in special measures, so a fair amount of my work was targeted on rapid change and improvement.

  I am also a Fellow of the Chartered College for Teachers, a leadership coach for Ambition Institute and a MAT reviewer for Challenge Partners.

  I'm on sabbatical for the 2023-2024 academic year.

• Alison Colenso
  Interim Director of Education
  Alison Colenso

  I joined Bellevue Place Education Trust as Interim Director of Education in June 2023 whilst Laura Gregory takes a year’s sabbatical. I provide support to all BPET schools through the annual School Improvement Review Cycle, offer and design continuous professional development for all staff and facilitate strong collaboration across the trust.

  I began my career in education in 2002 when I re-trained as a primary classroom teacher having previously worked as a management accountant. I have taught classes of children across the primary range, as well as taking on several leadership roles, including those of deputy headteacher and headteacher. In fact, I was the founding headteacher at Deer Park School in Richmond Upon Thames – one of BPET’s free schools that opened in 2015. I successfully led Deer Park School through rapid growth, managing change and with a relentless pursuit of excellence which was recognised in the school’s outstanding Ofsted judgement in 2018.

  Prior to taking on my current role in the trust, I served as one of Her and then His Majesty’s Inspectors at Ofsted for three and half years. I led inspections of maintaining schools and academies, non-association independent schools, initial teacher education and inspections of lead providers of the early career framework.
  
  I currently sit on the governing body of Hampton High – a co-educational Secondary School, with a Sixth Form, in Hampton in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.

• Maxine Mallett
  Executive Headteacher
  Maxine Mallett

  I joined BPET as Headteacher of Rutherford House School in 2015. Due to my experience, I have been appointed BPET Executive Headteacher since 2022 supporting other Headteachers across BPET when necessary.

• Jane Aust
  Operations Manager
  Jane Aust

  I joined BPET as Operations Manager in January 2022 and work closely with Richard Crompton on asset management, contract management, compliance, ICT, Health & Safety. I mainly support Headteachers, Office Managers and Site Managers across the trust.

  Prior to joining the central team, I was the Office Manager for a BPET school and have worked in education since 2003, in both class and office based roles across the primary age range 3-11. I strongly believe that happy children learn better, and use this belief to ensure the BPET vision of ‘Learn, Enjoy, Succeed’ is embedded in all schools.

  Prior to working in education, I was a public house manager and a bookmaker; I am a qualified ECB scorer and have spent many weekends following the local cricket team. I have two children and I support Reading Football Club where I am a season ticket holder.

• Flavia Cerrone
  Head of Marketing & Communications
  Flavia Cerrone

  I joined the central team in June 2022 and work with all schools in order to make sure they communicate with parents, carers and the wider community in the most effective way. I set the marketing and communications strategy and help schools share the fantastic work they do every day. I run parents surveys in order to identify areas of improvement, support social media efforts, and I’m currently involved in managing the redevelopment of all schools’ websites and even the occasional building improvement!

  I started my career as a writer for a marketing agency where I used to spend time with clients to get to know them well in order to shine a light on what they did best, and the passion they did it with. Following that, I worked at the Royal Academy of Dance for nearly a decade, making my way up to the position of Press & Communications Manager. At the RAD I used to manage projects such as website and database developments, I lead the press & PR strategy, and built the RAD’s social media presence from scratch, an effort for which my team and I won an award.

  I then trained as a yoga teacher and became the Teacher Training Manager at one of the most prestigious yoga centres in the world. I managed and was responsible for all teacher training courses and CPDs from timetable to content, and worked closely with the marketing team to fill up places for a value of £300K per year.

• Claire Kevin
  Executive Assistant
  Claire Kevin

  I joined BPET in 2019 as Executive Assistant to the Director of Education and Chief Executive and am responsible for overseeing the administrational structure of the School Improvement Review Cycle across all BPET schools, the CPD offering for all staff, and the pupil competitions – such as debate, chess and poetry. I also work alongside the Director of Education in organising the annual BPET conference.

  I am responsible for ensuring the arrangements of core business functions are efficient and well organised such as Headteacher Performance Management processes, recruitment, as well as the annual whole-trust celebration event.

  I have 25 years of Executive Assistant and office administration experience, and prior to joining BPET was Executive Assistant to the CEO and Education Director at Bellevue Education.

• Leaana Hill
  Head of People
  Leaana Hill

  I joined Bellevue Place Education Trust as the Head of People in March 2024, bringing extensive experience in human resources and people management. As an accomplished people leader, I am deeply passionate about fostering inclusive environments where individuals flourish, feel valued, and are empowered to reach their full potential. The BPET values of Learn, Enjoy, Succeed resonate with me on a profound level.

  I am entrusted with developing a dynamic people strategy that aligns with BPET's to become an employer of choice. I oversee all aspects of the people strategy and culture, including staff growth, training, recruitment and compliance.
  
  

  Prior to joining BPET, I held a leadership position at a top British International School in the Middle East, where I gained valuable insights into cultural diversity and sensitivity. This experience instilled in me a dedication to excellence and high performance within a team environment.

  My career journey has been enriched by organisations that prioritise stakeholder and people focus, providing me with foundational and advanced leadership training. I am driven by a deep-seated aspiration to pay this knowledge forward, fostering growth and development in others.

  Beyond my professional endeavours, I am passionate about holistic well-being, believing in the importance of balance in life. I live in Horsham with my partner, and am a proud mother to two adult children, both of whom reside in the USA. In my leisure time, I am a keen runner, embracing the challenges and rewards it brings to life.

• Tom Walton
  Finance Consultant (part time)
  Tom Walton

  I have been a chartered accountant with ICAEW (FCA) since 2006 and audited charities, SMEs and listed clients during my training. I worked at Merrill Lynch, supporting front desks in the analysis of their P&Ls, and have been involved in educational programmes since 2000; I was Managing Director of a company, which welcomed students from abroad on curriculum enrichment programmes from 2010 - 2019.

  I have provided financial consultancy and training to publicly funded bodies since 2020 and BPET from 2022. My main duties at BPET are preparing and reviewing budgets and forecasts, analysing trends and variances, reporting, training, advising, benchmarking, providing accounting expertise and technical advice, system implementation and improvement, compiling ESFA returns, reviewing and upgrading controls, improving the efficiency of the finance department as well as supporting the Director of Finance and other members in their roles.

  One of the highlights of my involvement at BPET is knowing that I’m making a difference to the schools and the children they serve as well as providing an effective bridge between the finance department and others in the Trust.

  Outside of work, I play 5-a-side and am a keen snowboarder. I am a British and London Junior Chess Champion and always enjoy a game when I get the chance.

• Aseel Ahmed
  Financial Accountant
  Aseel Ahmed

  • I joined BPET as an apprentice in 2016, and quickly demonstrated a natural talent for finance, and progressed to Finance Assistant and later Finance Officer.

  In pursuit of broadening my horizons and gaining invaluable expertise, I moved to a larger trust where I excelled as a Senior Finance Officer. However driven by a deep connection to BPET and a desire to contribute further, I returned to BPET in 2023 armed with enhanced experience, expertise, and a fresh perspective.

  I'm committed to continuous learning and embarked on the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) program in September 2023, with a plan to complete the program by 2025.

  Beyond finance, I'm passionate about football, literature, and traveling. This well-roundedness reflects my commitment to success and drives me to make a positive impact wherever I am.

• Zhenzhen Chen
  Management Accountant
  Zhenzhen Chen

  I joined BPET in January 2022, initially in a temporary capacity, and was promoted to Management Accountant in March 2023 on a permanent basis. I oversee vital processes including managing the trust’s payroll and closely monitoring the budget.

  Although new to the education sector upon joining, I brought over six years of valuable accounting experience from the corporate world. My experience covers a range of roles across five companies and industries both in the UK and China. These include international logistics, cross border e-commerce, FMCG, manufacturing, and customs clearance areas. My professional experience covers management accounts, VAT assurance and audit preparation, with a demonstrated track record of leading the improvement of working processes, internal control and ERP systems.

  I have studied and achieved a BA in international finance as well as a MBA in financial management.

  Currently, I’m working towards achieving ACCA status and I am at the final stage of my qualification.

• José Otero
  Finance Assistant (Apprentice)
  José Otero

  In September 2020, I joined the trust as a Business Admin Executive Apprentice. After successfully completing my initial apprenticeship, I transitioned to the finance team, pursuing a finance apprenticeship to achieve AAT Level 3 certification.

  
  My responsibilities are formed by essential duties: I am responsible for bank reconciliations on a monthly basis, handle procurement card processes for the entire trust, input and manage invoices within the financial system, and communicate with schools and stakeholders.

  This role is not only professional growth but also continuous learning. Pursuing my AAT Level 3 qualification proves my commitment to mastering finance. Through skill development and experience I have and will gain in my time here at BPET, I aspire to contribute effectively to trust’s finance team and our goals.

• Ore Ayoade
  Digital Marketing Assistant (Apprentice)
  Ore Ayoade

  I joined BPET in February 2024 as a Digital Marketing Assistant Apprentice. My main responsibility is supporting the Head of Marketing and Communications in the delivery of the BPET Marketing Strategy by handling various tasks, while simultaneously working towards a Level 3 Multi-Channel Marketer qualification.

  I am committed to continuously growing my expertise in this field to contribute to the trust as effectively as I can.

• Tahmima Khatoon
  Business Admin Assistant (Apprentice)
  Tahmima Khatoon

  I joined the BPET team at the beginning of February 2024 as a Business Support Apprentice. In this role, my main focus is to assist the Executive Assistant in managing the organisational and administrative framework within the Trust.

  I am also pursuing a Level 3 Business Administration qualification. Committed to making a positive impact, I am determined to support the trust in its growth and attainment of all goals.