Our Lady of Walsingham Catholic Multi Academy Trust
Key Roles
Within the Trust there will be some defined roles for individual staff, and when these have been allocated, their names and details of their roles will appear here:
Chair of Directors – Andrew Herlihy
I am a proud Welshman ,born and raised in the small coastal town of Penarth , South Wales. After leaving school my first real job was a gravedigger, it being the proverbial “dead end“ job led me to explore real career alternatives. In 1983 I joined HMP Prison Service. Once I had completed basic training I was posted to HMP Liverpool. I trained as a physical education officer and subsequently posted to HMP Highpoint in 1988. Despite moving establishments on a number of occasions we as a family remained in the Bury St Edmunds area. I retired from the service after 35 years. During my career I was proud to have worked with every kind of prisoner in every kind of establishment; from those held in open conditions up to those serving in the high security estate including working with females and juveniles. I consider myself fortunate that this career proved to be my true vocation in life.
Since retirement I became part of the HMPPS National Assessment Team, assessing staff that wish to progress in the service and gain promotion.
I am married to my lovely wife Joanne and we have five children all of who benefitted from the fantastic Catholic education available in Bury St Edmunds. Our four grandchildren are also benefitting from the same fantastic Catholic education ,one in the OLOW MAT and three in SJB MAT.
I entered school governance as a Foundation Governor at St Benedict’s, progressing to the Chair’s role. I was part of the team that led St Bendict’s into the OLOW MAT and joined the Board of Directors as a result.
Rugby Union is a true passion of mine and I have been heavily involved in the local rugby club for several years in different roles including player, coach, DOR, honorary secretary and having a keen interest in maintaining the playing surfaces.
I like to try to keep fit and I am a regular gym attender.
As the newly appointed Chair of The Board of Directors of The OLOW MAT I look forwards to visiting the schools in the MAT and in doing my best to support teaching and learning within the MAT. I recognize the importance of fostering a Catholic family of schools and in ensuring the Catholicity of all our schools endures.
Chief Executive Officer - Clare Clark
After a career in commercial law, Clare completed a PGCE at the Institute of Education, University of London and a Masters in Education at Cambridge University. She has been a Headteacher/Executive Head in maintained, Anglican and Catholic primary schools in Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Suffolk. Clare has supported school as a seconded local authority advisory teacher in English and now coaches leaders in a range of NPQ programmes. As the Trust Primary Standards and Improvement Leader, she works with colleagues across Trust schools with a focus on supporting the Trust's vision of excellence.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer - Richard Stevenson
Richard joined the trust in November 2023, having previously been a member of the executive team of a large regional, post-16 educational group. Richard has many years' experience and extensive knowledge and background of leading a diverse range of professional service teams including Finance, IT and Estates within both the private and most recently, public sectors.
To contact any of the individuals above please use the contact page.
Local Governing Body Chair of Governors – please contact each school
Diocese of East Anglia Contact – Kate Pereira: Kate.Pereira@rcdea.org.uk