Andrew Celano

Chief Executive Officer and Accounting Officer

Andrew Celano is the Chief Executive Officer and Accounting Officer of the St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust, a group of nine Catholic schools in Hertfordshire and now growing to include schools in the London Borough of Enfield. He has led the Trust since 2021, when its first schools converted, and is responsible for the Catholic character, educational quality, financial performance and strategic direction of all its schools.

Since 2021 the Trust's schools have seen significant improvements, notably in Catholic Life, pupil outcomes, leadership development and financial performance. Ofsted has recognised the Trust's impact in each school it has inspected, for example recognising how “the energy, determination and tenacity of school leaders and the Trust are bringing about effective and sustained improvements for pupils”.  The Trust has used its scale to save or secure more than £5 million for its schools, through measures ranging from shared purchasing to capital grants. That money has been used to strengthen school budgets and improve facilities, so that it benefits pupils directly.

Andrew has placed Catholic Life at the centre of the Trust's work, bringing its schools together through shared chaplaincy, liturgy, and formation. He has also made the development of leaders a priority, so that every school has the strong leadership its pupils deserve. For Andrew, Catholic education is about helping every young person to flourish in mind, body and spirit.

Before leading the Trust, Andrew was Headteacher of St Mary's Catholic School, Bishop's Stortford, from 2014 to 2021. Under his leadership the school improved pupil outcomes, grew from 930 to 1,120 pupils, delivered a significant school redevelopment programme, improved its financial position significantly and secured judgements of outstanding in every area in its Section 48 inspection.

Andrew has twenty years of successful senior leadership experience in schools.  He holds a Master of Education from the University of Cambridge (Wolfson College), completed Forum Strategy's CEO programme in 2022 and has been selected for the School Trust CEO Programme, commissioned by the DfE and run by the National Institute of Teaching. 

 

Barbara O'Connor

Deputy Chief Executive Officer

Barbara O'Connor is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust. She joined the executive team in early 2025, having held executive leadership roles within the Trust since 2023, where she has been central to primary school improvement across its schools. Before that she was Executive Headteacher of St Joseph's, Waltham Cross, which secured outstanding outcomes in both its Ofsted and Section 48 inspections under her leadership.

With eighteen years of senior leadership experience, Barbara has served as SENCo, Deputy Headteacher, Headteacher and Executive Headteacher in schools across London, Wales, and Hertfordshire, supporting school improvement across many settings and local authorities. Inclusion and high-quality provision remain at the heart of her leadership and of the strategic development of the Trust.

 

Andrew Howard

Chief Finance Officer

Andy was initially appointed as the Finance Manager at St Mary's Catholic School, Bishop's Stortford. He was appointed as the Trust CFO in September 2021 and brings with him a wealth of experience in the Academy sector, primarily as a fully qualified Chartered Accountant working with commercial companies auditing within the Academy sector.

 

Michelle Keating

Primary School Improvement Executive Head

Michelle is Executive Headteacher at Sacred Heart, Ware. She also works directly for the Trust as part of the Executive on our School Improvement priorities and leads Health and Safety across the Trust.

 

Emma Overett

SEND Executive Lead

Emma Overett is responsible for the strategic leadership of SEND across all schools within the Trust. She leads the development and implementation of the Trust's SEND policy, ensuring it aligns with legal requirements and reflects best practices.