{"id":238041,"date":"2025-11-18T14:28:22","date_gmt":"2025-11-18T14:28:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/?p=238041"},"modified":"2025-11-25T11:08:01","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T11:08:01","slug":"movers-and-shakers-emat-e-act-glf-safe-aqa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/movers-and-shakers-emat-e-act-glf-safe-aqa\/","title":{"rendered":"Movers and shakers: EMAT, E-ACT, GLF, SAfE, AQA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This week\u2019s movers and shakers include a keen surfer, DJ manager, two runners and a leader who marks wedding anniversaries with his wife by getting remarried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This column is our fortnightly guide<\/a> to who is moving where in the schools community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are keen to hear about appointments at a senior level. Please send submissions for this section to news@schoolsweek.co.uk<\/a> with \u2018Movers and shakers\u2019 in the subject line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stephen Morales, chair at East Midlands Academy Trust<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Start date: October<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concurrent role: chief executive, Institute of School Business Leadership<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interesting fact: Stephen is a keen surfer but missed the best surf conditions in a decade to attend his interview as bursar at Watford Grammar School for Girls nearly 20 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sophie Kayani, director of external relations at E-ACT<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Start date: September<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previous role: Head of strategic partnerships, E-ACT<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interesting fact: Sophie used to manage DJs in the 90s, worked in Athens for a Greek shipping magnet family as an au pair and had to organise a piano to be shipped into the basement of a restaurant in Chelsea for Li Ka-shing, the Asian billionaire, to play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phil Humphreys, chief education officer at GLF Schools<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Start date: January, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previous role: Director of education, Lift Schools<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interesting fact: Each year on their wedding anniversary, Phil and his wife get remarried. A full ceremony with a wedding dress, the works. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019ve been remarried on a gondola in Venice, a Transylvanian castle with Vlad the Impaler overseeing proceedings and, during Covid, in a capsule on the London Eye with the vicar on Teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patrick Alexander, chief executive officer at Schools Alliance for Excellence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Start date: November<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previous role: Interim assistant director, Hackney Education<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interesting fact: Patrick had a tough day at the London marathon this year, after failing to spot a very low kerb just before the Cutty Sark. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alas, he did not get the time he wanted, but would like to make clear that he still finished ahead of John Terry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nick Stevens, chief operating officer at AQA exam board<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Start date: November<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previous role: Chief finance and corporate services officer, AQA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interesting fact: Nick\u2019s main running partner is a Jack Russell called Cookie<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liz Murray, SEND director Supporting Education Group<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Start date: September<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previous role: Director of SEND, Star Academies<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interesting fact: Liz\u2019s learning career began in Japan, where she taught English as a foreign language at a Tokyo conversation school after graduation. She then worked for a couple of years in the learning and development department of an investment bank in the city before returning to the UK with a teaching career firmly in her sights.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This week\u2019s movers and shakers include a keen surfer, DJ manager and a leader who marks wedding anniversaries with his wife by getting remarried<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":159,"featured_media":237779,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"post-theme":[3304],"class_list":["post-238041","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","post-theme-movers-and-shakers"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t