Alan has been headteacher of Sandringham School, St. Albans for 15 years and was previously headteacher at The Hemel Hempstead School. He studied Chemistry at Exeter University before completing a PGCE and entering the teaching profession. He has worked at all leadership levels in a range of schools prior to gaining headship. He has significant experience of working with governing bodies and has led major capital projects at Sandringham to improve the quality of educational facilities at the school.

Alan is a National Leader of Education and has worked closely with headteachers and senior staff at a number of secondary schools in this capacity to improve the quality of leadership and strategic planning. Alan has trained and served as an additional OFSTED inspector. He currently chairs Hertfordshire Schools Forum, the Alban Federation (ITT provider) and the Alban Teaching School Alliance and has previously chaired other local and Hertfordshire Headteacher groups. He also served as a member of the DfE Secondary Headteacher Reference Group for six years, supporting the DfE with guidance on education strategy.

He is proud to lead one of the first schools nationally to gain the coveted ‘World Class Schools’ mark and won the TES Headteacher of the Year Award in 2017. Most recently, Alan has helped form the Alban Academies Trust, a MAT serving schools in Hertfordshire. He is executive lead for the trust and responsible for the improvement in education across member schools. He has significant experience of school leadership and how to create an outstanding learning environment for all.