Christopher Brislen

Background

About Christopher Brislen

Chris is the retired founding Chief Executive Officer of the St Bart's Multi-Academy Trust, based in North Staffordshire / Stoke-on-Trent and Cheshire East and Shropshire. He is passionate about education and improving the life chances of young people. He was a teacher for over 40 years and still loves his work. As a National Leader of Education (NLE) he led several schools out of Ofsted categories and has secured sustained school improvement. He was a very successful headteacher / executive headteacher for 19 years in nine different schools and has worked in several local authorities. His former base school (Belgrave St. Bartholomew's Academy) was a National Teaching School, BTSA,(Britannia Teaching School Alliance) and a National Support School. Belgrave is the operations centre for the St. Bart's Multi-Academy Trust, which currently has 22 academies in its chain and is expanding. The Trust employs over 900 staff and has over pupils on roll in its academies. The Trust is an approved DfE academy sponsor. Chris has significant experience of academy conversion. Chris has been the Chair of his local Headteacher's Association and has extensive experience at senior levels in education services. He has worked as an inspector for Ofsted and is a qualified leadership coach (CTI). He has worked as a mentor / trainer on the NPQH programme. Chris is a Lay Reader in the Church of England in the Dioceses of Lichfield and Chester. Chris is currently President of the Stoke NAHT branch and has been until recently Interim Principal of Whitchurch CE Junior Academy from April to November 2023 for the St. Bart's Academy Trust, leading the school successfully out of an Ofsted category to a "Good" rating. Chris is open to work in an advisory capacity as a School Improvement Partner or in an interim fixed term role as a school leader.