As we approach the end of this academic year, we bid farewell to our CEO of Mercia Learning Trust, Chris French, who will be retiring this summer.

Chris French has been an inspirational leader and dedicated educator, leaving an indelible mark on Mercia Learning Trust and the broader educational community.

With a career spanning 36 years in schools in Sheffield, Rotherham, and Wakefield, Chris's journey in education is a testament to his passion, commitment, and visionary leadership.

His career began in Nottingham, where he was inspired by his own teachers to pursue a path in education.

He studied geography at the University of Sheffield, a city he grew to love and where he decided to build his life and career. After completing his PGCE, Chris embarked on a teaching career that saw him rise through the ranks, from a passionate geography teacher to a successful headteacher, CEO of Brigantia Learning Trust, and eventually CEO of Mercia Learning Trust.

Throughout his career, Chris has been dedicated to improving the quality of education and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed.

His leadership at various schools, particularly those facing significant challenges, demonstrated his ability to drive positive change and achieve outstanding results.

A personal highlight in his career was when he took over a vulnerable 3-16 through school, and over time secured immense improvement when his leadership was recognised by Ofsted as outstanding, but more critically led to the creation of the only multi-academy trust in the north of the city.

As CEO of Mercia Learning Trust, Chris has been instrumental in fostering a culture of excellence, inclusion, and collaboration. He has focused on narrowing gaps between vulnerable groups and their peers, maximising children’s outcomes, and managing resources effectively.

His strategic vision has guided our trust through significant developments, including the successful partnership with Anns Grove Primary School and the completion of major capital projects.

Phil Smith, the Chair of our trust, said:

Chris is driven by what is best for the children we serve, and underneath Chris’s polite exterior, runs a rod of iron, he is uncompromising in his determination that all children deserve the very best chance in life.

Mercia Learning Trust has come a long way under Chris’s leadership and his term as CEO will be looked back on as pivotal in preparing us for the next phase of our collective journey. Chris will be missed and leaves an exceptional legacy.

Thank you, Chris, it now falls to the rest of us to ensure we continue with our mission to raise the quality of education for all children and make no excuses for demanding the very best for every child that crosses the doorways of our schools.

At our recent Mercia Learning Trust conference, Chris reflected on his career, sharing his love for teaching and the rewarding nature of working with children. His reflections highlighted the profound impact of education on social mobility and the importance of building strong partnerships and inclusive educational environments.

Anne Robson, our Trust Safeguarding Lead, who has worked with Chris for many years added:

He has, indeed, been an excellent colleague and leader; incisive yet managing to be tolerant of very different personalities. Above all – he has always wanted the best for every child.

As Chris retires, we welcome Neil Miley as the new CEO. Neil has already begun a comprehensive transition process, working closely with Chris to ensure continuity and build on the strong foundation established under Chris's leadership. Neil commented:

It has been an absolute pleasure to shadow Chris for the past few months. It is clear from every interaction that Chris is well respected not only by everyone in our trust, but also all external stakeholders. A real testament to his servant leadership is his continuous drive for improvement, not being afraid to move into challenging situations, always keeping the impact on our children at the forefront of all decisions.

Neil joins us from Dixons Academies Trust, one of the leading multi-academy trusts in the country.

The significant contribution to education Chris has made was recently recognised by the Department for Education with an invitation to the Buckingham Palace Garden Party in May.

Thank you, Chris, for your dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment to making a difference in the lives of countless students and educators.