After 12 years of outstanding service as Headteacher of Jack Hunt School, Pamela Kilbey will retire from her post at the end of August. Ms Kilbey was instrumental in the establishment of Peterborough Keys Academies Trust in 2017 and has led its journey since. She steered our schools through the pandemic with distinction and leaves the Trust in a strong position for further consolidation, development and growth.

Dr Ian Young has been appointed to succeed Ms Kilbey as CEO of Peterborough Keys Academy Trust (PKAT) and will begin his role in September. After graduating from Queens University Belfast with an honours degree in Applied Mathematics and Physics, he went on to obtain a PhD in theoretical atomic physics. Having then trained as a secondary mathematics teacher, he has since had a deep and varied career in education. Since 2013, he has held the post of Head of Independent Schools with United Learning, a large national trust consisting of academies and independent schools.

Dr Young said “It is an honour to be appointed CEO for PKAT, with the opportunity to lead the further development of the Trust. Over the past few months I have had the opportunity to visit the schools and meet members of the community that PKAT serves. Those meetings have served to strengthen the excellent impression I had formed initially. I have been welcomed warmly and the vibrancy and ambition within the schools has come through very strongly. Such attributes are key in underpinning our vision of unlocking learning, potential and futures”.

Chair of Trustees, Claire Higgins, said “It was very clear from the outset that Dr Young is extremely passionate about educating young people not just academically but within the context of life skills and enrichment and the wealth of opportunities and life chances that this brings to young people. Combined with his wealth of experience within the education world and his broader business expertise, we are delighted to welcome Dr Young to PKAT. We believe he will lead the Trust to achieve great things and are very much looking forward to working with him”.