Our People
Our Central Team
Join us
Flourishing people, flourishing schools.
We are dedicated to cultivating a workforce of experts. We believe in nurturing talent, expanding capacity and fostering growth within our Trust.
Our Central Team are integral part of ensuring Trust-wide success. Their expertise are essential to supporting smooth operations at all of our schools.
After starting my journey as a Learning Support Assistant, then transitioning to a Finance/HR assistant within one of our schools, I joined the Central Team in October 2019, in the role of HR Assistant.
From day one, the Trust has embodied it has Vision and Values. The sense of belonging has been incredible, especially during one of my life’s toughest challenges. The Trust has prioritised my continuous professional development every step of the way.
This encouragement led me to pursue and achieve my professional CIPD qualifications, while providing a safe space to ask questions and learn without judgment.
I have been given amazing opportunities to step out of my comfort zone, allowing me to flourish and grow more confident in my capabilities, ultimately leading me to my current role as HR Officer.
I genuinely can’t imagine working anywhere else. This environment of support, growth, and the care I receive here are unmatched, and I feel very lucky to be part of such an amazing team.
Emma Griffiths
HR Officer
The Central Team
Emma Wigmore 
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Suthan Santhaguru
Chief Finance and Operations Officer (CFOO)
Debbie McManus
Head of Finance
Colin Hooker
Director of HR
Michelle Keeling
Head of Safeguarding and Wellbeing
Becky Fairhead
Head of School Improvement
Gina Bailey
Director of Learning
Ellie Turnbull
Head of Communications
Education
Becky Fairhead Head of School Improvement
Lisa Corby Head of Learning
Neil Taggart Head of Learning
PA
Elizabeth Williams PA to CEO
Human Resources
Emma Griffiths HR Officer
Karen Swallow HR Assistant
Finance
Debbie McManus Head of Finance
Sharon Porter Finance Manager
Alex Brace-Wyman Finance Officer
Trust Co-ordinators
Gemma Williams SAA & ROL
VACANT STO
Sara Thorne HOW & RIV
Stacey Hyatt BEL & RID
Lucie Mead STC, TIL & SMI
Maria Chinegwu JCO
Lucy Taylor COL & GRY
Nikki Gilmore GRE
Sharon Anderson BUL, ORS & MBG
Chandi Lohia WMI, WMJ, SJH
VACANT LAT
Property & Facilities Management
Malcolm Over Head of Estates
Chris Medcalf Estates Manager
Finance Partners
Joseph Day SAA, ROL, GRE, JCO
Maria Lim-Medcalf WMI, WMJ, SJH, BEL, RID
Rachel Lay HOW, RIV, STO
Gemma Singleton TIL, STC, LAT, SMI
Sarah Cushney COL, GRY, ORS, MBG, BUL
Central Processing
Cherie Hooker Central Processing Team Leader
Alex Brace-Wyman Central Processing Supervisor
Lucy Wood Central Processing Assistant
Sarah Ambler Central Processing Assistant
Julie Borg Central Processing Assistant
Angela Culling Central Processing Assistant
Elise Little Central Processing Assistant
Matt Rowe Central Processing Assistant
Data Protection
Cassie Taylor Head of Operations and Data Protection
Our People
Frequently asked questions
The Vine Schools Trust benefits greatly from having a central team, which provides crucial support and expertise across the entire Multi-Academy Trust. This centralised approach ensures consistency, efficiency, and high standards throughout all member schools.
Shared Resources: The central team allows for the pooling of resources, both financial and human, enabling schools to access specialised services that might be unaffordable individually.
Strategic Leadership: With a dedicated central team, the Trust can offer strategic direction and oversight, ensuring all schools work towards common goals and maintain the Trust’s vision.
Professional Development: Centralised training and development programmes help staff across all schools to enhance their skills and stay up-to-date with best practices in education.
Streamlined Operations: Administrative tasks such as finance, HR, and IT support are managed centrally, reducing the burden on individual schools and allowing them to focus on teaching and learning.
Quality Assurance: The central team can implement standardised quality assurance processes, helping to maintain and improve educational standards across all Trust schools.
By leveraging these benefits, the Vine Schools Trust’s central team plays a vital role in supporting and empowering its member schools to provide excellent education and opportunities for all pupils.