New CEO appointed as Reach South marks transformational success

Tom Leverage to drive next phase of growth

Reach South Academy Trust is delighted to announce the appointment of Tom Leverage as its new CEO, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the trust as it continues its mission to deliver inclusive, high-quality education across the Southwest.

Tom will succeed Dean Ashton OBE, the founding CEO of the 17-school trust. Since establishing Reach South in 2016, Dean has led the organisation from inception through significant growth and improvement. Today, 87.5% of the trust’s academies are rated “Good” or better by Ofsted, and outcomes for pupils have been transformed.

Other key highlights of Dean Ashton’s tenure include:

• In 2017 - the year that most of the trust’s primary schools joined - only 46% of pupils achieved expected standards at the end of Key Stage 2, compared to 61% nationally. By 2024, 64% of Reach South pupils met those standards, exceeding national figures.
• At High Street Primary, where 52% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, just 15% achieved expected standards in 2017. In 2024, that figure rose to 80%. Meanwhile, Springfields Academy, which joined the trust in special measures, is now rated ‘Good’ and holds the National Autism Society’s Advanced Specialist Award, retained since 2022. 
• Peak Academy joined the trust in 2022 while under special measures, with safeguarding identified as ineffective. Following a recent Ofsted inspection, Reach South became the first trust to successfully lead Peak Academy out of special measures, with safeguarding now assessed as secure.
• UTC Plymouth, which had just 80 students when it joined Reach South in 2018 under special measures, now serves over 600 students, is rated ‘Good’, and has achieved that transformation without compromising on inclusivity.
• The Trust has successfully secured funding from the DfE to carry out capital improvement projects across multiple sites. This includes a significant investment of £8.1 million at Millbay Academy, £1.1 million at Peak Academy, and £325,000 at SAIL. Additionally, the Trust is progressing with the development of a new Alternative Provision in Wiltshire and a new free school in Gloucester.

Tom Leverage will officially take up the post in September 2025. He joins Reach South after serving as CEO of Our Lady of the Magnificat Multi-Academy Trust, a family of 19 schools. A Cambridge graduate, Tom began his career with a PGCE from the University of East Anglia and has taught in, and led as deputy headteacher, headteacher and executive leader in a number of high-performing state and independent schools. This includes leading schools to Ofsted "outstanding" as well as overseeing the school improvement journey for schools that have been judged as inadequate by Ofsted, resulting in rapid and sustained improvements. 

Tom has held leadership roles in four academy trusts and is an accredited National Leader of Education. His school improvement expertise has led to secondments with two local authority improvement teams, and he sits on the Department for Education’s Regional Advisory Board for the West Midlands.

Dean Ashton OBE, Founding CEO, said:

“It has been an honour to serve as the founding CEO of Reach South and it has been an incredible nine years. We founded the trust on the belief that every child is entitled to an outstanding education, empowering them to succeed in a rapidly evolving world.

“Our focus has always been on enabling professional creativity and innovation to thrive, so schools can design curricula that are deeply relevant to their communities and rooted in our values.

“For us, social mobility means putting schools at the heart of thriving communities. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved — and I am confident Reach South will continue to grow under Tom’s leadership.”

Tom Leverage, CEO Designate, said:

“I am extremely proud to have been appointed to lead the Reach South family of schools through the next stage of their growth and development. I recognise that I will be joining a trust that is deeply committed to collaboration, inclusion, and educational excellence.

“It is clear to me that Reach South is a trust where its values are visible in every decision. It was founded by teachers, for children, with inclusivity and high expectations at its heart.

“This is a trust that is unapologetic in its pursuit of excellence. I look forward to working with the children, families, and staff who have already achieved so much — and to building on this exceptional foundation in the years ahead.

“As we look to the future, we will rise to the challenge outlined by the new government and continue to develop Reach South as a national example of best practice for inclusion in UK education. Through a relentless focus on improvement, we are committed to ensuring our workforce reflects the communities we serve and provides an exceptional education across our academies.

“As a collaborative group, we are stronger and more empowered; we can collectively raise the educational aspirations of our children and prepare tomorrow's adults.”

Marcus Agius CBE, Chair of Reach South Academy Trust, said:

“Dean Ashton’s leadership has had a profound impact on the life chances of thousands of young people. The progress our schools have made — from falling results to national excellence, from special measures to specialist recognition — is nothing short of transformational. That is why the contribution he has made was recognised by the award of an OBE in the New Year’s Honours List.

“I am equally proud of how, under Dean’s exemplary leadership, our schools supported their families during the pandemic — a time when the compassion, courage, and commitment of our staff shone through. On behalf of everyone at Reach South I want to say a heartfelt thank you to Dean for his remarkable tenure and to wish him a very happy retirement.

“Tom Leverage brings exactly the right mix of strategic insight and values-led leadership to continue this work. Under his guidance, I know Reach South will continue to be a national exemplar of what inclusive, community-rooted education can achieve.”

With its unique blend of mainstream and specialist academies, the Trust is well-positioned to meet the Department for Education’s inclusion agenda.