Our vision is to enable all to flourish
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
Canon Rachel Howie
Rachel brings substantial experience from across the education sector, having worked as a teacher, Headteacher and an HMI with Ofsted. She has also served as an Intervention Consultant in schools in challenging circumstances and as a Diocesan Director of Education. She joined the Trust as its Chief Executive in July 2016.
She is deeply passionate about all aspects of education, particularly in enabling children and young people to fulfil their potential, and in developing inspirational school leaders and high-performing, values-driven school staff
Rachel is an honorary Canon at Gloucester Cathedral and serves as a Trustee for both the Gloucester Diocesan Board of Education and the National Society for Education. She is also a Governor at The Kings School in Gloucester.
CEO
Helen joined the central team in September 2017 as Head of School Improvement and was appointed Deputy CEO in March 2019. She is a qualified teacher with 30 years’ experience including 12 years as Headteacher, and Executive Headteacher, in schools across Gloucestershire, Essex, Thurrock, and Waltham Forest. She has worked in schools in challenging circumstances and has a strong track record of securing improvement such as leading her last school to be judged as Outstanding by both Ofsted and SIAMS.
Helen has held several additional roles in education including being a school improvement partner working with leadership teams to improve outcomes for pupils, as well as acting as a mentor for new Headteachers and leading training for teachers including the NPQs. Helen is passionate about valuing all children through providing high quality teaching and learning in all our Trust schools.
In 2017 her contribution to educational leadership was recognised when she was awarded the Teaching Times and Achievement for All's "inspiring leadership" award. She is a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching. Helen is a serving Ofsted and SIAMS Inspector.
Helen Springett
Deputy CEO
Laura joined DGAT in October 2024. She is a CIMA qualified management accountant, with 21 years finance experience across the private and public sector. She trained in the consumer goods industry, working for Unilever PLC for 12 years in a range of management and financial accounting roles.
Laura has worked in the Education Sector since 2017 and has held substantive and interim school trust CFO positions during this time. Further, Laura was a Trustee of a large multi-academy trust in the South-West for four years, assuming Finance & Audit Committee and Board responsibilities. She is an accredited School Resource Management Adviser. Within this role she has completed a large number of trust and local authority deployments for primary and secondary schools. Further she has experience mentoring newly appointed CFOs in the sector.
Laura Fox
Chief Finance Officer
Nicki joined DGAT in January 2020. As a vision-driven, strategic executive leader she is committed to delivering operational excellence that supports outstanding educational outcomes. With extensive experience in school Trust governance and HR, Nicki ensures operational strategies, policies and processes are not only effective but also aligned with the Trust’s vision and strategic priorities. A committed people professional Nicki works closely with school leaders, Trustees, local governors, and external partners to foster trust and collaboration.
Nicki Wadley
Chief Operating Officer