Our Team

Stephen was appointed as the Interim Chief Executive of Learn Sheffield in late summer 2015, having previously chaired the working group that determined the approach that Sheffield would take to school improvement. Following a competitive recruitment process, he was appointed to the substantive Chief Executive role in May 2016. Before becoming involved with Learn Sheffield, Stephen was the Headteacher of Malin Bridge Primary School and had worked for 17 years in the primary sector. His previous schools were Ecclesfield Primary and Nook Lane Junior School.

Sam is the Deputy CEO for Learn Sheffield with responsibility for strategic, financial and operational management.

Sam is a qualified Public Finance Accountant and member of Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountancy (CIPFA), joining Learn Sheffield from Sheffield City Council in 2021. Sam has extensive experience in education finance in Sheffield, working in Finance Business Partner roles in the Children and Young people’s portfolio for over 15 years supporting Schools and Schools Services teams. Sam also has experience of private sector accountancy and audit, completing the first stages of her accountancy training in the private sector.

Sam is passionate about providing value for money services to schools to ensure that public sector funding provides maximum benefit for children and young people.