Andy Johnson - BA (Hons), MSc (Managing School Improvement), PgCert, QTS, NPQH, SLE, FCCT

Following an earlier career in youth and charity work, Andy joined the profession as a trainee RE teacher at Maiden Erlegh School and has been with the organisation for eighteen years. He held a variety of middle and senior leadership positions before joining the team to lead the Trust’s first free school in east Reading in 2015. He was appointed Headteacher in 2018 and led the work to sustainably grow the school to 900 students and to provide high quality education within a vibrant and successful community. In 2020 Andy was appointed to the Principal Designate role for River Academy and asked to lead the Trust’s exciting new school project to serve communities in north and west Reading. He carried out this role alongside directing the provision of high-quality education and care across the schools in our Trust until June 2023 when a new Principal Designate was appointed allowing Andy to focus on his role as Executive Director of Education. 

Andy has extensive experience in leading and developing highly performing teams and has provided school to school support as a Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) to a number of schools. He has also presented at national conferences and DfE roadshows and is a serving Ofsted Inspector.