Executive

Dr Fiona Hammans

PhD, BSc, PGCE, NPQH, PQSI, FRSA

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

After an early career in research science, Fiona began teaching, rapidly being promoted to headship in a large, secondary school in England, which was internationally focused, welcoming children and young people from all parts of the globe. This expanded to a small group including two primary schools, a nursery and the setup of the first ‘space specialism’ school in the UK. 

After headship, she took on a role with a multi-academy trust, as Director of New Projects and Chief Inspector for the group. This involved providing advice and training in preparation for Ofsted inspections, quality assurance, and project management for new schools and capital developments.

Fiona was delighted to join Abingdon Learning Trust in November 2018 as part-time CEO, and she continues her consultancy, founded in 2015, providing a range of services to schools, academies and MATs, both mainstream, AP/PRUs, independent sector and in the international sector. 

Fiona has served as a Member and Trustee of a large MAT based in the SW, has been a governance adviser to a group of independent special schools and is former Chair of Governors of a maintained primary school in Devon.

Throughout her senior school leadership roles she was an active member of the Association of School and College Leaders and served on its National Executive, served as Treasurer for three years and as Chair of Pay and Conditions Committee. 

Fiona has trained and practiced as an Ofsted inspector. She was an Examiner for the Masters in Learning and Teaching for Oxford University for a decade until 2020, and was an Honorary Norham Fellow of the University between 2012 and 2016.

 Zoe Bratt

BA (Hons)

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Zoe commenced her career working in the Engineering Sector within a training department of an international company.  The next move was into the Ceramic Industry managing school leavers who were applying for apprenticeships across the sectors.  This role also involved a time working as a HR Manager for a Pottery Company, whilst taking a lead role in writing the National Apprenticeship for Ceramic graduates.     

After a career break, Zoe entered the Education Sector, initially as a school governor, then as a Business Manager in pre-school education then relocated to Oxfordshire.     

Zoe has worked in Primary and Secondary Schools within the Maintained and Academy Sector since 2004 and is now the Chief Operating Officer with Abingdon Learning Trust.       

During the time with the Trust, Zoe has been the part of the leadership team at one of the Primary Schools, taking a leading role in moving the school through the transition from maintained to academy status and has been directly involved with the transition of the Secondary Schools into the Trust.     

Zoe has a proven track record with successful financial management and complementary audit reviews since working in the education sector.      

Zoe is continuing her career development both on the job and has recently completed a mini MBA.  

Outside of her career, Zoe was a Cub Scout Leader for many years and then a Group Scout Leader supporting the local community with many events.     

 Julie Tridgell

BA (Hons), PGCE

Director of Education (DoE)

Julie has been working in education since completing her BA Hons degree and PGCE at Durham University. Throughout her career Julie has worked in a variety of leadership roles in challenging schools and took up her role as Vice Principal at Banbury School in 2000 and subsequently her first headship at Carterton Community College in January 2004 followed by secondary headship in Swindon and latterly as a primary Executive Principal at Zouch Academy in Wiltshire. Having served as a Headteacher/Principal in several different authorities and in both the secondary and primary phases Julie has also contributed to wider educational provision throughout her career working closely with her peers on leadership development and coaching as well as a working collaboratively across schools and Head Teacher organisations including, on a national level, as a member of the Association of School Leaders Council. 

Since leaving full time school leadership Julie has continued to broaden and enhance her professional work and skills set as an educational consultant working on developing high performing schools. Her work has focussed on three key areas of work: strategic and rapid school improvement, leadership development, and establishing effective governance working alongside different MATs and Local Academy Boards. Julie’s consultancy work has taken place in mainstream schools – both primary and secondary, an all through school as well as special schools. In addition, Julie has also specialised in governance and has worked as Chair of Interim Executive Boards for schools that are in special measures.

Julie lives in Oxfordshire with her husband Gareth, and they have three grown up children. 

 Elissa Vigus

NPQEL, MA Ed, NASENCO, PGCE, BA (Hons)

Deputy Director of Education (DDoE)

Following 12 years of headship, Elissa has spent the last two years as CEO of a Multi Academy Trust, in Herefordshire encompassing primary and secondary settings. Elissa has focussed on collaborative working across the trust, particularly around how readiness for Year 7 can improve Key Stage 3 outcomes. This was the focus of her Masters in Education, which was completed in September 2024.

Elissa is passionate about inclusive education, and as an experienced SENDCo prior to becoming a headteacher, she has provided outreach support for SEND and SEMH needs. This work has been pivotal in moving schools from, the then Ofsted graded, Requires Improvement to Good, under her leadership.

During her work driving forward school improvement, Elissa has worked closely alongside leaders to support strategic and sustainable change through quality assurance and purposeful self-evaluation. This has included championing individual CPD for leaders, whilst also completing her own postgraduate studies.