An architect of Ofsted’s new inspection framework has been recruited by a major multi-academy trust, where he will have oversight of its curriculum work.

Academies Enterprise Trust (AET) has recruited Matthew Purves as its director of education services from Ofsted, where he currently works as the inspectorate’s deputy director of schools. Prior to that he was its head of policy.

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Mr Purves was responsible for developing the current Ofsted framework, and he is an expert on curriculum, data and education strategy.

He will join the AET from April, reporting to chief executive Julian Drinkall. He will oversee the trust’s curriculum work, embedding its “Remarkable Lives” curriculum, which aims to leave “every child inspired to lead a Remarkable Life,” according to its website.

Ofsted expertise

And his role will also be to ensure that the trust academies comply with the Ofsted framework.

 “I am excited and delighted to be joining AET at a time when the trust has never been doing more to provide excellent education to thousands of children and young people,” Mr Purves said.

“I’m particularly excited to help build our Remarkable Lives curriculum, taking it to the next stage, and to work with staff to keep making AET one of the most exciting places to help educate children and young people in England.”

Mr Drinkall said: “2020 promises great things for AET and I am particularly delighted that Matthew Purves is joining the senior team, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise.

“He will be joined by our three new trouble-shooting executive directors of secondary education, each of whom will be responsible for driving further improvements in our secondary academies, supporting and challenging each school’s senior team to ensure that we are doing everything we possibly can to provide a remarkable education.”

AET has appointed Colin Sinclair from Anthem Schools Trust as executive director of secondary education for Essex. Chris Steed is also joining the trust from Oneschool Global, where he is regional principal with responsibility for eight schools.

And Nathan Thomas will join the trust as executive director of secondary education for the South West.  Nathan was appointed from within AET, where he has been an executive headteacher since September 2019.