Gareth Stevens

Gareth Stevens has been Chief Executive of Inspiration Trust since March 2021. He joined the Trust in 2013 as Principal of Hethersett Academy and was subsequently appointed Secondary Director before becoming Chief Executive.

At Hethersett, Gareth led a sustained school turnaround. The academy secured record GCSE results, expanded significantly and was judged Outstanding by Ofsted in 2016. He also led improvement work in two further secondary schools, taking both from Special Measures to Good, with substantial improvements in standards and pupil outcomes.

As Chief Executive, Gareth leads Inspiration Trust's family of 18 primary, secondary and sixth-form academies across Norfolk and north Suffolk. Under his leadership, pupil outcomes have improved year on year for five consecutive years, helping to establish Inspiration as one of the country's most impactful multi-academy trusts. The Trust serves communities that include some of the highest levels of disadvantage in the country.

Gareth's leadership is grounded in high expectations, excellent teaching, a knowledge-rich curriculum and exceptional opportunities beyond the classroom. Inclusion is central to his work: a defining priority is to close the gap between pupil-premium qualifying pupils and their peers, while ensuring that pupils with SEND, care-experienced pupils and those who speak English as an additional language thrive.

A National Leader of Education, Gareth has served on a Department for Education Headteachers Reference Board. He is joint chair of the Department for Education's East of England KS3 Alliance and has been a trustee of STAR Academies since 2021.