Oasis Community Learning multi-academy trust has appointed Helen Arya as its first chief education officer.
Ms Arya is currently the national director of learning and development at the trust, where she has worked for 13 years.
Oasis is one of the country’s largest MATs, with 53 schools nationwide.
Ms Arya has been a headteacher for 15 years and worked as a regional director for the trust, leading 10 academies in the North West of England.
She has also been involved with the National Institute for Teaching (NIoT), where she supported the establishment of the South and West campuses, as well as programme development and delivery.
The creation of the NIoT was first announced in 2021 as part of government efforts to boost teacher recruitment and training.
Ms Arya has also been part of the Department for Education fellowship programme and supported local authority improvement for several years.
Her appointment comes after John Barneby was appointed as chief executive officer of the trust last year.
Social mobility is ‘key driver’
Ms Arya, who is also deputy CEO at Oasis, said that social mobility is her “key driver”.
She added that “everybody can achieve their full potential” but only with a “robust, sustainable, school-led system”.
Ms Arya said she was excited to get started in the role and was “lucky enough to spend every day working with some of the most passionate and compassionate people in education - and I know that together we are going to do brilliant work”.
Reacting to the appointment, Mr Barneby said that Ms Arya is “an inspiring leader who makes change happen”.
“I am confident that she will drive forward our education function with speed and real clarity and I look forward to working closely with Helen to make sure that every Oasis pupil is given the best opportunity to flourish and reach their God-given potential,” he added.
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