Katherine Ryan

Katherine Ryan is Headteacher of Matthew Arnold School, Oxford. After graduating from Oxford University with a degree in zoology, she has pursued a career in education.

She has been Headteacher of Matthew Arnold School, Oxford since 2006 and, more recently, has led the formation of the Acer Trust, a Multi-Academy Trust in Oxfordshire. As Senior Executive Leader of the Trust, she is responsible for working collaboratively with the leaders of all the schools to ensure that the Trust is successful in its aim of Achieving Excellence for All.

Prior to 2006, Katherine was the Principal Adviser for Secondary School Improvement at Birmingham City Council. Her career includes advisory work in science education and education leadership in three Local Authorities, as well as teaching in a range of comprehensive schools across Oxfordshire and the West Midlands. She also worked in Higher Education as Science Education Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham.

She brings to the role of governor at Oxford Brookes University a lifelong commitment to improving education, an understanding of the effective governance of complex organisations and a particular interest in the progression to Higher Education for learners of all ages.