Meet the Team

Steve Mitchell

Chief Executive Officer and Executive Headteacher of Parklands High School

I started my career in education over 20 years ago as a teacher of German and Russian in an 11 - 18 high school in Cumbria. I led the Modern Languages Department for several years before moving to Parklands High School in September 2009, when I was originally appointed as Assistant Headteacher with responsibility for the Language College, and later secured promotion to Deputy Headteacher for Achievement, working alongside the Deputy Headteacher for Teaching & Learning. In September 2018 I became headteacher of Parklands and, in collaboration with my dedicated colleagues and governors, continued to ensure Parklands went from strength to strength. I have experience of implementing a variety of initiatives to improve outcomes and have a track record of successfully managing underperformance of both departments and individuals, which has positively impacted the school community. I am passionate about providing a holistic approach to education and firmly believe in supporting our local community. In February 2023 we received approval from the Department for Education to form our own multi-academy trust, Aspirational Futures, which I am privileged to be able to lead as Chief Executive Officer, and in autumn 2023 I successfully passed the National Professional Qualification in Executive Leadership.

Carol Slater

Chief Finance and Operations Officer

I have worked in management roles within Education since 1992 and most recently was employed at Parklands High School for over 20 years as part of the Senior Leadership Team with responsibility for 25 support staff within 5 departments; cleaning, site, catering, IT network and reprographics. My main responsibilities included Health & Safety, premises and projects, together with management responsibility for the school IT, reprographics departments and the catering and cleaning teams. I am certified in IOSH Managing Safety for School Site Managers, Asbestos Management, Safeguarding, Safer Recruitment, Moving and Handling, Fire Prevention, Fire Warden/Marshall, Fire Safety for Schools, COSHH, Lone Working, Manual Handling, Food Allergy Awareness and Anaphylaxis and have a Higher National Certificate in Business Information Technology. I am currently mid way through a Postgraduate Level 7 (Masters degree) in Project Management which I hope to complete by July 2024. As Chief Operations Officer for Aspirational Futures I look forward to supporting both primary and secondary school staff and pupils through the many journeys and challenges we face together.

Outside of work my passion is to spend time with my family which includes 2 Daughters, 1 Son and 3 Grandchildren. My family members are split between the UK and New Zealand and I enjoy spending time on opposite sides of the world with them. My hobbies include playing the FlugelHorn and going to concerts and the theatre…and buying handbags!

Vicky Calvert

Human Resources Manager

I have worked at Parklands since September 2009 having had 20 years working in banking in various branch and managerial roles. My first role was as the exams officer then I moved into Human Resources and Payroll following the school's conversion to Academy status in 2012. I completed my L3 Associate CIPD qualification in 2015 and since then have been on various training and development roles, am currently working my way through the ACAS training suite and regularly attend employment law workshops to keep my knowledge current. I am a member of the Confederation of School Trusts and the Academy HR Managers Network. I have been involved in investigations, disciplinary meetings, capability meetings and TUPE transfers. I have had mediation training and provide advice and support to managers dealing with these issues and more. I am responsible for recruitment and new employment contracts, co-ordinating payroll, TUPE, policy management, staff absence management and general HR provision. I am currently working on a project to introduce a new online recruitment platform and an online HR system to ensure a smooth HR service provision to all the schools in the Trust and I also have a keen interest in employee well-being and mental health and it’s link to absence levels and staff retention.

Outside of work I enjoy travelling, interior design, the gym and generally being active. I have just worked with a landscape contractor and re-designed my garden and am really excited to see that come to life over the next few months.

Alan Dowsing

Trust Network Manager

I have a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, as well as a Master's Degree in Computer Networking. I previously worked for Lancashire County Council in educational IT support for 5 years, before moving on to Parklands High School where I was Network Manager for 7 years. I have experience in designing, implementing, and supporting computer networks in schools, and all the various devices that go with it. I am very aware of the role IT Services play within education, and the importance of my position within that. I am also accustomed to providing technical support to all ranges of user types, in many different environments, and have honed these skills over many years.

Outside of work I enjoy running, and following my beloved Blackpool FC.

Andrew Proctor

Primary Lead

I have worked in primary education in Lancashire for nearly 25 years and have been a Headteacher since 2012. I was appointed Headteacher at Highfield Community Primary School in 2015 and since that time I have worked tirelessly to improve the reputation of the school within the community. I am passionate about inclusion and giving every child, no matter what needs they may have, the opportunity to have a happy and successful education. I established an SEN unit for pupils with Speech, Language and Communication Needs and/or ASD which now educates 18 pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) from Chorley and the surrounding areas.

I am also the lead Headteacher in the Chorley Inclusion Hub. Working with an educational psychologist we have established the Chorley Inclusion Support Service. Assistant Educational Psychologists employed by CISS provide support to mainstream schools with the intention of improving inclusive practice. We have also arranged two successful inclusion conferences for staff from across the district.

Having recently completed the NPQEL through Teach First, I now have the knowledge to develop processes and systems that enable and encourage collaboration between staff within and across the primary schools in the MAT. I am looking forward to furthering the relationship between the schools and working with the rest of the central team to establish AFMAT as one of the best trusts in the area.

Outside of school, I am passionate about sport and I'm a season ticket holder at Preston North End. I also enjoy the outdoors – dog walking and cycling in particular and have a love of the natural world.

Andrea Jolly

Trust Designated Safeguarding Lead

Since 2012, I have been employed at Highfield Community Primary in multiple roles, including Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, Senior Learning Mentor, Wellbeing Coordinator for staff and pupils, and Schools Senior Mental Health Lead. These roles are interconnected, all founded on protecting children and young people from harm and supporting families in need. I have a qualification as a Children and Families Practice Manager.

Throughout my time at Highfield, I have built strong relationships with children and families to provide the best possible outcomes when they face challenges. If a child experiences one factor or a combination of barriers to learning, this may lead to low self-esteem, disruptive behaviour, or a negative attitude toward learning, which can result in the child not fulfilling their potential. As a Learning Mentor, I help the child develop strategies and skills to enable them to make positive choices and learn. I support pupils by providing a diverse range of learning opportunities. I work with pupils, families, school staff, and other professional agencies to help pupils develop their potential by removing barriers to learning, whether these barriers exist in school or at home.

I work closely with a variety of outside agencies and the local community to promote collaborative efforts. Additionally, I lead a cluster group for pastoral support leads and outreach workers from primary and secondary schools within the Chorley district. This group serves as a platform for sharing best practices, training events, and making direct links to Children's Social Care, along with providing peer supervision to support wellbeing and mental health.

I am passionate about my role and work flexibly to meet the needs of children and families, offering advice, support, and guidance while promoting positive care and parenting skills. I believe that safeguarding in school is vital and should be embedded as a whole school approach to ensure pupils are kept safe. I actively keep up to date with new legislation and updates, ensuring all staff are made aware of these changes. I truly value the sense of achievement that comes from supporting children and understand the immeasurable impact that education and nurturing have on young lives. My time in this post and the experience gained have reinforced my desire to help and support children, young people, and their families.