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Vision Multi Academy Trust

Happy, Challenged, Successful and Proud

Contact

office@visionmat.com

Vision House, Higher Lane, Whitefield, Manchester, M45 7FX

0161 711 1540

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Central Team

Vision Multi Academy Trust central team is made up of highly experienced colleagues with a range of backgrounds in supporting schools. The team play a key role in the support and challenge across our schools. There are plans for the central administration and finance team to develop further in line with the Trust's growth plan. 

Donna Cartwright FISBL, Chief Operating Officer

Donna has worked in the education section for over 11 years having brought transferable skills and experience from the public housing sector. As COO, having been with the Trust since its formation in 2017, she is responsible for leading and managing the non-academic aspects of the Trust, providing dynamic leadership, strong management and clear strategic direction in HR, health and safety, governance, estate management, GDPR, procurement, academy conversion, IT and policy management.

She works closely with the CEO, Executive Headteacher, CFO, Headteachers and Board of Trustees to help ensure that the Trust achieves its short and long-term objectives in line with the Trust’s over-arching strategy.

Donna also provides a business consultancy and audit service to primary schools, supporting the delivery of effective and efficient business management functions.

She has been awarded CIPFA’s Level 7 in School Finance and Operational Leadership, is an accredited Strategic Practitioner and a Fellow of the Institute of School Business Leadership, Specialist Leader of Education, has a Diploma in Public Sector Asset Management and is also IOSH accredited in health and safety. 

Darren Cosgrove, Chief Finance Officer

Darren is a qualified accountant and has been working in education for the last nine years. He began his career as an apprentice at what is now Greater Manchester Academies Trust working within the finance team. His ambition was always to become a chartered accountant which he undertook in his own time and expense.

During his time at GMAT he was involved with several projects including conversion to a MAT, the opening of a new Primary School within the MAT & bringing payroll and cleaning in house. After seven years at GMAT he moved post to undertake a business manager position at St Patricks RC High School. This gave him a new challenge and a more holistic view on how schools are managed.

In November 2021, he was appointed as CFO of Vision Multi Academy Trust and since then has already played a significant role in the due diligence process in acquiring a new academy converter for the Trust. He is committed to aligning the financial interests to the pupil’s interest ensuring that every financial decision is a pupil centred decision.

Vivienne Layton, Governance Co-Ordinator

Vivienne has spent her career in administration in both the public and the private sector.  She has worked for the Local Authority in education and as a medical secretary/secretary for many years and now  works alongside the  central team to ensure that governance in the Trust is delivered effectively.

In a new role Vivienne has gained a sound understanding of our vision for developing governance,  She has brought with her a wealth of transferable skills and experience ensuring that we are able to not only continue to deliver good, sound governance but also continually improve best practice, evidenced in a number of new procedures she has recently introduced.

Vivienne manages the DFE’s GIAS online governance compliances/Business Interests Register/Attendance Register, information for Companies House together with the annual external governance review.  She looks after the constitutional items including Articles of Association, Terms of Reference, Scheme of Delegation, Governance Handbook, Code of Conduct and Annual Board Calendar ensuring that all are accurate and regularly reviewed.  Vivienne oversees policy management, has implemented annual Board Appraisals and deals with the recruitment, training and induction for Members, Trustees and members of the Local Governing Bodies; she also  arranges annual elections and minutes Committee and Board meetings for the Trust. 

Vivienne has a degree in Social Sciences from the University of Salford.

Dawn Wallace, Events and Building Manager at Vision House

Dawn joined Vision House in September 2021 as a part-time administrator and reception host. She has a background in publishing, media, creative writing, administration management, and corporate hospitality. Before 2020, she spent 10 years as the National Administration Manager for a facilities management company.

Dawn holds a merit in media techniques from a two-year scholarship and training course in communication, journalism, and broadcasting with Granada TV. She has over 50 years of experience, including significant time in vehicle magazine publications at Salford’s Media City, where she rose to National Promotions Manager. Dawn has also been a networking ambassador and part of the team that hosted VIP hospitality for the Manchester Commonwealth Games.

Her personal achievements include setting up the history trail on Salford Quays dock for the artwork piece “Casuals,” receiving an invitation to the opening of the BBC studios at Salford Media City and turning on the Christmas Lights at the Manchester Corn Exchange.

At Vision House, Dawn has created a welcoming hospitality hub for tenants, trainers, trusts, and visitors. She manages the health and safety, security, and wellbeing of Vision House and works towards improving the building's overall value and presentation. In April 2024, she helped transfer VMAT cleaning services in-house and audits all Vision Multi Academy Trust buildings to improve cleaning standards.