We’re pleased to announce that our founder and CEO Kate Brunt has been awarded an Honorary University Fellowship by the University of Worcester in recognition of her passion for inspiring learning and school improvement work across the country.

 

An Honorary University Fellowship is bestowed upon persons of prominence, whose outstanding achievements align very closely with the mission and ethos of the University.

 

Kate has received the award in recognition of her distinguished career as a National Leader of Education, including the significant contribution she has made to the region as Chief Executive Officer of the Rivers C of E Academy Trust.

 

Kate has an ethos of ‘always learning’ and is a school improvement partner for several MATs/SATs across the country. She is an Ofsted Inspector and has been a member of the West Midland’s Advisory Board and the Department for Education’s Headteacher Reference Group and is also a coach/mentor on the DfE’s Trust to Trust Development programme.

 

Kate’s vision for a culture of collaboration and her passion to create inspiring learning opportunities and improve life chances for all led, to the establishment of The Rivers CofE Academy Trust in 2014. Now with 16 good and outstanding primary, first, pre-school and nursery settings together with the Rivers Teaching Alliance, the trust has become a thriving primary specialist Multi Academy Trust.

 

In addition to her contribution as CEO, the Honorary Fellowship, has been awarded to Kate to signal the University of Worcester's profound appreciation for her invaluable collaboration with the School of Education and her unstinting support of Initial Teacher Education and strong commitment to the University’s work and values.

 

Kate said she felt especially honoured as “only a very small number of educationalists receive this award”.

 

Kate will join the University’s College of Fellows and use her expertise and experience in education to support the University with guest lecturing, among many other ways.

 

Kate would like to thank everyone for their support of her and the Rivers CofE Academy Trust over the years.

 

Well done Kate. You thoroughly deserve this!