Guided by the leading voices in education and research

Research Manager in the Evidence Synthesis Team at the Education Endowment Foundation

Dr Cat Jones works as a Research Manager in the Evidence Synthesis Team at the Education Endowment Foundation. She is also an Early Career Fellow at the University of Warwick's Institute of Advanced Study.

Cat has authored multiple peer-reviewed research papers on parental engagement in England. Her work on this topic has won several awards, including an Open Research Award 2025 for commitment to transparency and usability and 1st Prize for an early career presentation at the British Education Research Association Conference 2022.

She is a former Parliamentary Research Fellow, DfE Policy Fellow and Vice-President of Oxford University Student Union. Cat is also an experienced teacher and serves as Vice-Chair of Governors at a primary school in the North West. She holds a PhD Education, MA Social Science Research, MA Educational Leadership, PGCE, and BA Experimental Psychology.

HMI and Specialist Adviser

Kirsty Foulkes is one of His Majesty's Inspectors and a specialist adviser in the Schools and Early Education policy team. She is a qualified teacher, holds the National Professional Qualification for Headship and a Masters' degree in Education Leadership and Management. Kirsty has leadership and headship experience in a range of primary schools, including small schools and federations. She has worked as a school improvement adviser and local authority early years moderator. Kirsty has considerable experience in leadership, curriculum and school improvement and particular expertise in early years. Kirsty leads on maintained nursery, primary and independent school inspections as well as being a phase leader on ITE inspections. Kirsty is part of the West Midlands Enhanced Indy team.

CEO The Wulfruna Partnership, Executive Head Teacher of Bantock Primary School, Parent-Friendly Schools first Gold Award School

CEO of The Wulfruna Partnership since 2025 and over 30 years of dedicated service in education, including 13 years as a Headteacher in a large inner-city school with multiple barriers. She has a strong track record of transforming challenging schools into thriving educational environments. With expertise spanning Pedagogy, Finance, Mobility, EAL, Technology, Parental Engagement, Curriculum Development and an aptitude for designing bespoke inclusive learning environments. Successfully led strategic consulting projects for both private sector organisations and national education networks, driving innovation and excellence in education. Passionate about fostering a culture of continuous improvement and empowering educators to achieve their full potential.

CEO Broadleaf Partnership Trust

Claire has worked in education leadership for over 20 years, and served academy trusts for over a decade.  After working for two large national academy trusts, most recently as Deputy CEO, she is now CEO of Broadleaf Partnership Trust, a local trust in the West Midlands. She has also served as a governor and trustee in a number of schools.

Claire has developed and led multidisciplinary teams that have designed and implemented trust-wide strategies and large-scale change projects.   Above all else, she is a passionate believer in the power of partnership and collaboration; deploying a consultative approach as she shapes the vision for her trust and schools.

Claire is mother to three girls so reflects on the benefit of the home/school partnership through both lenses.

Strategic Lead Previously in Care, Children with a Social Worker & Kinship - Norfolk Virtual School

Harriet Tunnicliff is an Adviser at Norfolk Virtual School, providing strategic leadership for previously looked‑after children, children with a social worker, and those in kinship care. Harriet leads the Virtual School’s Trauma and Attachment Aware practice offer, advancing professional learning across education on the influence of trauma and attachment on children’s engagement and achievement. Drawing on her experience in primary education, she collaborates with schools and multi‑agency partners to strengthen provision and enhance educational outcomes. This includes leading projects with local and national partners designed to promote and share effective practice, improve support and aspirations for these children in Norfolk. As a parent to three wonderful children, Harriet’s personal experience has deeply shaped her commitment to strengthening relationships between families and school, recognising the vital role this partnership plays in supporting positive outcomes for children’s learning and development.

Chief of Staff EKC Schools Trust

Summer Macer is Chief of Staff (COO) for EKC Schools Trust, a medium‑sized multi‑academy trust proudly serving children and young people in coastal communities. Her background spans HR, organisational development and L&D across the public and private sectors. Today, her work sits at the intersection of people, operations and communication, focusing on the thoughtful choices that shape the experience of pupils, staff and families.

Wanting schools to remain communities of belonging at a time of change, she saw Parentkind’s Blueprint as both a learning opportunity and a clear signal of the culture the Trust stands for.

Summer is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and continues her love of learning through MBA study.

With EKC Schools Trust becoming the first trust in the country to achieve Parentkind Silver status, she has joined the Expert Reference Group, reflecting a shared commitment to partnership with families and strengthening and enhancing communities, which drives her work.

Head teacher John Grant School

Belinda has worked in special education for the past 22 years and is also the parent of a young adult with autism and complex SEMH needs who has navigated both mainstream and special education. She is currently head teacher of a complex needs school on the east coast of Norfolk that meets the diverse needs of 200 children and young adults from age 4 – 19. Belinda has championed parental engagement and empowerment throughout her leadership career within a variety of roles both in school and in wider collaborative forums.