Paul Shanks
King's Lynn,United Kingdom
Summary
Dynamic professional with a strong foundation in team collaboration and diplomatic negotiation. Demonstrates excellent time management skills and conflict management abilities, ensuring effective resolution of challenges. Proficient in public speaking and data analytics, leveraging influential networking to drive successful outcomes. Committed to utilising these skills to achieve strategic objectives and foster organisational growth.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work history
Chief Executive Officer (previously Director of Education)
Eastern Multi Academy Trust
King’s Lynn, Norfolk
2017.09 - 2026.02
- Scope: 12 Academies, including Secondary | c3500 Pupils | c£26M Annual Budget
- Executive Mandate: Accountable to the Board for the strategic direction, educational standards, and financial sustainability of the Trust.
- Portfolio Transformation: Orchestrated a "Turnaround Strategy" that successfully moved 100% of schools to "Good" or "Better" status within 3 years.
- Strategic Expansion & Acquisition: Led the successful integration of several academies into the Trust; managed the end-to-end conversion process including robust due diligence and the TUPE transfer of staff members, ensuring zero disruption to educational delivery.
- Accountability Frameworks: Established a "high-trust/high-challenge" professional partnership model with Principals, using real-time data to trigger rapid-response support.
- Inclusion & SEND Leadership: Appointed and mentored Trust-wide SEND Leads, resulting in a significant additional funding and improvement in outcomes for vulnerable and disadvantaged learners.
- Fiscal Optimization: Reversed a historical structural deficit across a number of academies to achieve a sustainable revenue reserve through centralised procurement, finance, operations and HR, yielding a significant efficiency gain.
- Stakeholder Diplomacy: Acted as the primary liaison with the DfE and Regional Director, maintaining a 100% success rate in academy compliance and regulatory reviews.
Headteacher
Gaywood Primary School
2011.04 - 2017.08
- Scope: Oversight of 420 pupils and c50 staff
- Turnaround Leadership: Served as Headteacher in a Local Authority school causing concern, securing "Good" judgements by restructuring middle leadership and stabilising staffing.
- Curriculum Standardisation: Led a cross-school development networks to share best practices, resulting in a significant rise in attainment in both Phonics and KS2.
- Performance Culture: Implemented a robust teacher-development cycle focused on adaptive teaching and evidence-based pedagogy using the latest technology.
Deputy Senior School Improvement Advisor (East Midland & East of England)
National Strategies/DfE
2009.04 - 2011.03
- Scope: Oversight of the National Strategies Improving Schools Programme and design and delivery of the national Professional Development Programme
- Rapid Impact: Improvement in KS2 outcomes for targeted schools outstripped national improvement year-on-year.
- Data analysis: As the Regional Data Lead, I analysed and produced reports to the DfE, Senior Improvement Leads and Local Authorities to drive targeted improvement strategies.
Headteacher
Greyfriars Primary School
2003.09 - 2009.04
- Scope: Oversight of c350 pupils and c40 staff
- Turnaround Leadership: Served as Headteacher in a Local Authority school never judged Good, securing "Good" judgements by stabilising staffing and development professional development pathways.
- Curriculum Standardisation: Led a cross-school development networks to share best practices, resulting in a significant improvement in attainment in KS2.
- Technology Development: Secured funding to develop, lead and implement a Nintendo DS project to improve children’s analytical skills and wider learning through games such as Brain Gym.
Deputy Headteacher
St. Edmund’s Primary School
2000.01 - 2003.08
Class Teacher
West Winch Primary School
1999.01 - 1999.12
Class Teacher
Whitefriars Primary School
1997.09 - 1998.12
Education
Bachelor of Science (Hons.) QTS - Applied Biological Sciences with teaching
University of Ripon & York, St. John
YorkSkills
- Team player
- Diplomatic negotiation
- Excellent time management skills
- Conflict management
- Public speaking
- Data analytics
- Influential networking
Certification
- School Trust CEO Programme | DfE/National Institute of Teaching | September 2024 – September 2025
- Being the CEO | Forum Strategy | January 2020 – November 2021
- Designated Safeguarding Lead | June 2024
- National Professional Qualification for Headship | DfE 2003
Affiliations
- Carp Fishing
- Photography
- Technology
- York City FC
Timeline
Chief Executive Officer (previously Director of Education)
Eastern Multi Academy Trust
2017.09 - 2026.02
Headteacher
Gaywood Primary School
2011.04 - 2017.08
Deputy Senior School Improvement Advisor (East Midland & East of England)
National Strategies/DfE
2009.04 - 2011.03
Headteacher
Greyfriars Primary School
2003.09 - 2009.04
Deputy Headteacher
St. Edmund’s Primary School
2000.01 - 2003.08
Class Teacher
West Winch Primary School
1999.01 - 1999.12
Class Teacher
Whitefriars Primary School
1997.09 - 1998.12
Bachelor of Science (Hons.) QTS - Applied Biological Sciences with teaching
University of Ripon & York, St. John