A YORK-BASED academy trust has made a key appointment in a bid to keep standards high.

Hope Learning Trust, which includes Manor CE and Vale of York Academies in the city, has appointed a new secondary school improvement lead, Katherine Humpleby who is already a well-known face in the city’s education scene as she was previously employed as Education Adviser with the Diocese of York.

Katherine will work closely with Brian Crosby, the Trust’s CEO, as well as Hope’s head teachers, staff, governors, trustees and the central team, to continue to raise standards across the Trust.

She will support Hope’s staff and young people to exceed their potential, through access to the very best opportunities to flourish, in both their academic and personal lives.

One of Katherine’s first tasks will be to visit all of the Hope academies, to introduce herself to staff and governors, and to look at the key strengths and priorities for each individual school.

She will also be working closely with the academies’ governors and Hope’s Trust Board, to provide guidance, training and key information, to enable them to continue to effectively support and challenge the academies, to attain the highest educational standards possible.

She said: “As the role of academy improvement continues to grow, I look forward to supporting further recruitment and development of the subject specialist team.

"I’m also keen to drive forward high-quality teaching and learning and to share innovative best practice from each academy across our family of schools.

“I’m also looking forward to engaging with our primary colleagues and wider work of the Trust, including partnership and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders including: the Teaching School, parents, further and higher education providers, employers, the Diocese of York and wider community."

Mr Crosby said: “We’re thrilled to have Katherine on board within the Hope team. She brings with her vast experience through her work with the York Diocese and is utterly committed to providing the very best opportunities for the young people within our Trust.”

Hope now has six partner schools: Manor Church of England Academy, Vale of York Academy, Barlby High School, Poppleton Ousebank Primary, Burton Green Primary and Forest of Galtres Anglican Methodist Primary, with Baldersby St James Primary joining next month and taking the total to seven.

The Trust is also currently supporting two secondary schools in Scarborough, George Pindar and Graham School.