Meet the team
A Dedicated Central Team Working Behind the Scenes
Horizons Specialist Academy Trust benefits from a dedicated team of central staff who play a vital role in ensuring the smooth and effective running of both the Trust itself and its individual academies. Their responsibilities go beyond day-to-day administration, providing strategic, operational, and specialist support that allows each academy to focus on delivering high-quality education and care.
CEO - Rebecca Whelan
As CEO, Rebecca provides strategic and operational leadership across the organisation, setting a clear vision to secure sustained improvement and high-quality outcomes for all children and young people. She holds overall accountability for educational performance, safeguarding, financial sustainability, governance, and organisational growth. Rebecca leads the development and delivery of the trust’s strategic plan, working closely with the Board and senior leaders to drive excellence across all schools. Her leadership is rooted in inclusive practice, high expectations, and continuous improvement. A key focus of her role is ensuring consistently high-quality teaching and learning through robust quality assurance and evidence-informed practice. She also leads on talent development and succession planning, strengthening leadership capacity at all levels. Rebecca previously served as Deputy CEO from 2021 to 2025, with responsibility for school improvement, teaching and learning, and quality assurance. Prior to this, she held two successful headships, including Principal of Abbey Hill Academy, a specialist secondary school, and Principal of Green Gates Primary Academy. Rebecca began her career as an English Teacher and, in 2007, was nominated for a Teaching Award in recognition of her ability to inspire pupils to take risks with their learning and to build confidence, particularly among learners with additional needs. This early recognition reflects a consistent thread throughout her career: a commitment to inclusive, high-impact practice that enables all learners to thrive. She holds a BA (Hons) in English, a PGCE in Secondary English, and the National Professional Qualification for Executive Leadership (NPQEL).
Executive Principal - David Penny
David provides support and capacity to the Principals of the Trust's SEMH academies in particular, and quality assurance of school improvement to the Trust generally. David acts as a bridge between strategic leadership and operational delivery. He empowers Principals to lead effectively, while safeguarding the Trust’s commitment to continuous improvement and excellence across all its academies.
Caroline is the Trust's Head of Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Caroline serves as the Trust’s Head of Finance and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), holding overall responsibility for the strategic leadership and operational management of the Trust’s financial affairs. In this dual capacity, she oversees financial planning, budgeting, and reporting, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively to support the Trust’s mission and long-term sustainability.
Helen is the Trust's HR Manager.
Helen serves as the Trust’s Human Resources Manager, bringing a wealth of experience and dedication to her role. With an impressive career spanning 35 years in the educational sector, she has developed a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within schools and academies.
Carly is the Trust’s Safeguarding and Early Help lead.
As well as offering guidance and advice to academy designated safeguarding leads and LAC designated teachers across the Trust, ensuring that all academies understand and fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities, she also manages the Trust’s safeguarding and early help team. Carly and her team aim to deliver a best practice and forward thinking approach to safeguarding within the Trust, ensuring that all pupils, students and their families feel supported and safe.
Amir is the Trust's Head of Estates and IT
Amir has been working in Education and specifically Academies since 2005. Since 2010 Amir has managed ICT Departments and delivered the whole ICT solution for several multi million-pound new build schools. He started with Horizons Trust in 2016 and has overseen a number of large projects and ensured the smooth running of the Trust wide ICT systems.
Alison is the Trust's Governance Operations Manager and Data Protection Lead.
She is also Personal Assistant to Rebecca - CEO Alison worked as a Governance Officer for a Local Authority for 11 years and has a wide range of experience working with maintained schools and academies, both in the mainstream and special sectors. She joined Horizons Specialist Academy Trust in June 2013.