Speakers

Appointed in 1998 to her first headship in a socially deprived school in Special Measures, Cathie was the youngest Headteacher in England and led the school to become Good in a year. Cathie was then Executive Headteacher of three schools, including Mount Street Academy, a double Outstanding National Teaching School. 

Cathie joined REAch2, the country’s largest primary-only Trust in 2012 as its first employee. She has overseen its growth to 65 schools, serving 23,000 children.  In that time the number of schools judged as Good or better (according to the previous framework) has risen from 4 schools in 2013 to 100% of REAch2 schools today.  Appointed as REAch2’s CEO in 2021, Cathie retains her passion for transforming children’s lives in environments of exceptional practice.

Cathie was awarded the honour of CBE in the King’s Birthday Honours list in June 2025 for services to Education.