Benedick Ashmore-Short

Benedick Ashmore-Short - Chief Executive 

Benedick has had a career in education spanning two decades and has an unrivalled track record of school transformation in numerous roles including Primary and Secondary Headship, Executive Director of Education and Chief Executive Officer.

In 2014 he was named Pearson 'Headteacher of the Year' winning a coveted Plato due to a significant school transformation that led to the school being a catalyst for community cohesion and moving from ‘Special Measures’ to Good in under two years. He has led 21 schools through inspections all with positive outcomes- the majority moving forward two Ofsted grades.

Benedick has been described by Ofsted as ‘inspirational and forward-thinking’ -he is a highly motivational leader who believes in empowering teaching staff and pupils to achieve beyond their dreams. His passion has always been teaching and he has continued to teach throughout his career, regardless of position, and has the rare experience of teaching all year groups from Reception to Y13. 

Benedick's areas of specialism are due diligence, financial turnaround, management of risk, inspection readiness and strategic, sustained school improvement. He has led numerous training, development and leadership programmes and has recently specialised in developing Executive Leaders across the UK working with Ambition School Leadership.

He is delighted to have joined TPAT as Chief Executive Officer during this important stage of our strategic journey.

James Nicholson

James Nicholson - Director of Finance & Operations-Deputy CEO

James joined The Park Academies Trust in January 2023. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and has a wealth of experience in Finance, ICT, Estates, group procurement and legal issues.

He has previously worked in large academy trusts and was instrumental in having a previous organisation’s Financial Notice to Improve lifted just 12 months after joining them. At another he turned around a history of multi-million pound annual losses into an annual surplus whilst at the same time the educational team raised pupil outcomes.

James has been an academy trust Chief Financial Officer since 2003 and a Trustee since 2007. At various points he has also worked with the Department for Education and The Education Skills Funding Agency on finance and governance issues.

Rachel Surch

Rachel Surch - Director of Primary 

I am an experienced primary practitioner and have spent 18 years in leadership and 9 years as the headteacher at Red Oaks. I am very proud to be part of the TPAT family and I strongly believe in inclusion and raising standards through an exciting and broad curriculum that optimises fun and challenge.

I love my job and consider myself privileged to have the opportunity to shape the future of Swindon children. TPAT primary schools are always striving to be creative and dynamic; often found to be leading new initiatives and encouraging fresh opportunities.

I am fortunate to work with a wonderful primary team who are keen to share ideas and be at the forefront of education. TPAT primaries work alongside our secondary colleagues who are like-minded in realising the potential of primary and secondary collaboration and developing a seamless transition for pupils.

I look forward to welcoming and working with new primary partners with whom to continue this exciting journey towards excellence.

David Williams

David Williams - Director of Inclusion

David Williams (Executive Director of Inclusions for The Park Academies Trust) has a BSc (Hons), a PGCE, and a research Master’s degree in Learning and Teaching specialising in student well-being from the University of Oxford. He completed the National Award for Special Educational Needs Co-ordination in 2014, and the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) in 2019 and he is qualified to test for JCQ examination access arrangements. In 2017 David completed the Master’s level Attachment Lead qualification.

David was a trustee of the British Dyslexia Association from 2010 to 2020, and was joint non-executive Chair of the Management Board and Chair of the Trustees from 2018 to 2020.  David is currently a Trustee for the Wiltshire Dyslexia Association and since 2018 he has contributed to the All Party Parliamentary Group for Specific Learning Difficulties. In 2007, he received an international scholarship for his research into the use of mindmapping techniques with ASC students, and in 2011 was named Dyslexia Teacher of the Year.  David is frequently invited to speak to groups of SENDCos both locally and nationally. 

David is a member of the Swindon Strategic Special Educational Needs Board and sits on the Swindon and North Wiltshire Professional Leaders Network for the Clinical Commissioning Group. David chairs the Swindon Sendco Champions and the Secondary Sendco working group.