Our Leadership Team
Forest of Dean Trust Leadership
Steve Brady - CEO
Steve's role in the Trust
As Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Steve is the Trust’s lead officer, providing strategic leadership and oversight across all academies. Steve works with all of our key stakeholders so that we achieve consistently high educational standards, use our resources effectively, and comply with our legal and moral obligations. Steve provides external coaching support to senior and executive leaders and is an active participant in local and regional networks, including the DfE, ESFA, and Local Authorities. He shares the trust's passion for helping our schools to thrive.
A bit about Steve
Since September 2024, Steve has focused exclusively on his role as CEO, working with staff across the Trust to shape strategy, remove barriers to success and support school improvement.
Before becoming CEO, Steve spent 14 years as Headteacher of Dene Magna School. Earlier in his career, he led a school out of special measures, worked as a Foundation Subjects Consultant for Gloucestershire Local Authority, and held leadership roles with the Gloucestershire Association of Secondary Headteachers and the Gloucestershire School Games. He began his teaching career as a Geography teacher and later became Head of Geography before moving into senior leadership.
Steve holds a BSc (Hons) in Geography, a PGCE, NPQH, PG Dip Ed, MPQEL, and a Level 7 Coaching and Mentoring qualification with ILM.
Janet Ray - Finance Director
Janet's role in the Trust
As Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Janet is the Trust’s senior finance lead, responsible for the strategic management, oversight, and sustainability of all financial operations. She ensures compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, provides financial guidance to the CEO, Executive Team, and Trust Board, oversees budgeting, reporting, and resource management, and leads the finance team to maintain transparency, efficiency, and value for money across all academies.
Janet is supported by our Finance Manager, Coralie.
A bit about Janet
Janet has worked for the Trust for several years and assisted with the transformation from a maintained school to an Academy conversion and, in recent years, various expansion projects to the growing Multi Academy trust it is today.
Gemma Meek - FODT Assistant Headteacher & Curriculum and Quality Assurance Lead
Gemma's role in the Trust
Gemma works with the CEO and Headteachers to ensure high-quality teaching, learning and curriculum provision across all Forest of Dean Trust schools. She leads curriculum reviews, coordinates subject deep dives, supports subject leaders, and helps schools demonstrate the impact of their curriculum on pupil outcomes.
She also oversees professional development, facilitates collaboration and resource sharing across the Trust, gathers feedback from pupils, parents and staff, and provides reports to Headteachers and Trustees. As Assistant Headteacher for the Trust, she is committed to developing the talent and potential of both staff and students, helping to deliver a strong and connected educational journey from nursery through to post-16 education.
A bit about Gemma
Gemma has worked for the Forest of Dean Trust since 2015, when she joined Dene Magna School as Head of English. She enjoyed developing staff, building a strong team, and ensuring students achieved the qualifications and skills needed for their next steps while enjoying their learning journey.
A former student of both Drybrook School and Dene Magna School, Gemma is passionate about education in the Forest of Dean and is proud to support local children and young people in accessing the best possible opportunities.
She holds a BA (Hons) in English Literature, a PGCE with Distinction, an MEd in Educational Leadership, and the NPQ in Leading Teacher Development.
Stephen Bourne - ICT Manager
Stephen's role in the Trust
Stephen is responsible for overseeing the Trust’s IT infrastructure, providing technical support to staff and students, and ensuring systems are secure, reliable, and aligned with the Trust’s educational goals. This includes leading and mentoring the IT team, developing and implementing IT policies, managing budgets and vendors, delivering training, and driving IT projects from planning to completion. Stephen also monitors emerging technologies and cybersecurity trends, recommends innovative solutions, and ensures operational continuity to support the Trust’s mission and objectives.
A bit about Stephen
Stephen joined the Trust in December 2023. He has over 25 years' experience working in ICT, primarily in the housing sector. Stephen has managed ICT teams for 15 years, leading teams of between 4 - 16. During that time, he has managed organisational changes big and small, and enjoys championing continual improvement.
Ben Lyons - Director of Primary Education/Outreach)
Ben’s role in the Trust
As director of primary education and school improvement outreach, Ben drives excellence across the Trust's primary schools, analysing outcomes, developing action plans, and celebrating successes. He leads Trust-wide networks, collaborates with the CEI abd Curriculum team, and represents FODT in regional school improvement initiatives, strengthening links with local authorities and RSC teams.
A bit about Ben
Ben has been the headteacher of Forest View Primary School since 2010. Under his leadership, Forest View has evolved from a local authority school under support interventions to a strong single academy trust and subsequently to a member of the Forest of Dean Trust. Ben has played a crucial role in supporting other schools across the South West to enhance their educational provision in an advisory and executive head capacity. He has an immense passion for the Cinderford community, which the school serves, and continues to find ways to work for and support this rural community through the work that the school undertakes. Ben now looks forward to supporting the development of the Forest of Dean Trust across all schools, enhancing provision and encouraging collaboration.
Our Headteachers
Declan Mooney – Dene Magna School & Sixth Form
As the new Headteacher of Dene Magna school, I am drawing together a breadth of educational experiences spanning over two decades. Having grown up in Northern Ireland, I graduated from Cardiff University with a degree in Chemistry and started my teaching career in a challenging Newport school. For the last 15 years, I have taught in the Forest of Dean and am committed to the local community, with personal ties through my children's education and residence in the area.
I was part of the Senior Leadership Team for over a decade at a local secondary school and during this time played a key role in moving a school from 'Special Measures' to achieving a 'Good' Ofsted rating in 2021. In this time, I saw the school transition through two trusts and have played an active role within the Athelstan Trust as it grew. I spent time seconded part-time at their ‘Outstanding’ flagship school implementing behaviour systems and in Pupil Premium monitoring. More recently, I have led cross-trust roles in attendance and safeguarding.
I am a strong advocate for social justice in education, maintaining high standards while being inclusive. I am an Ambassador for Teach First, having been selected as one of six senior leaders in the region to work on improving behaviour through training programmes across schools.
My vision for education is to lead a collaborative and inclusive school environment that fosters the maximum potential and enjoyment of all learners.
Thomas Henesey – Drybrook Primary School
As the Headteacher of Drybrook Primary School since September 2021, I am dedicated to developing and supporting the Trust's goals in the Forest of Dean. My career in education has primarily been centered in Gloucester, where I worked in Ofsted outstanding-rated schools, fostering my passion for inclusive, high-performing learning environments.
In addition to my role as Headteacher, I have previously served as an NCETM (National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics) Primary Mastery Specialist, working closely with schools across Gloucestershire to provide strategic guidance and promote best teaching practices. As an accredited Professional Development lead, my contributions have also shaped national guidance for the NCETM, further strengthening the Trust's positive impact in the region.
Furthermore, co-founding and speaking at the Research ED South-West conference highlights my dedication to professional growth and collaboration. I aim to empower staff and students throughout the Trust to reach their full potential through continuous support and our shared vision of educational excellence.
Ben Lyons – Forest View Primary School
I have been the head teacher of Forest View Primary School since 2010. Under my leadership, Forest View has evolved from a local authority school under support interventions to a strong single academy trust and subsequently to a member of the Forest of Dean Trust. I have played a crucial role in supporting other schools across the South West to enhance their educational provision in an advisory and executive head capacity. I have an immense passion for the Cinderford community, which the school serves, and I continue to find ways to work for and support this rural community through the work that the school undertakes. I now look forward to supporting the development of the Forest of Dean Trust across all schools, enhancing provision and encouraging collaboration.