Ambition Institute congratulates Tom Rees on new role as Trust CEO

Tom Rees, Executive Director of Programmes at Ambition Institute, will be moving on to take a new role as Chief Executive of Ormiston Academies Trust.

In his four years with Ambition, Tom has led our professional development programmes for more than 54,000 teachers and school leaders, through national delivery of the Early Career Framework and National Professional Qualifications, as well as Ambition’s own specialist programmes.

Tom has made a huge contribution to the sector during his 25 years in education, working across a range of roles including 10 years as a headteacher and seven years in executive roles.

This impact will continue in his new role at Ormiston, where he will lead 43 schools with more than 5,000 staff, serving 33,000 children and young people.

Hilary Spencer, Chief Executive of Ambition Institute, said: “Tom has made a huge contribution to the development of Ambition Institute over his four years here. Under his leadership, our programmes have helped tens of thousands of teachers and school leaders to keep getting better.

“We are of course sad to see him leaving Ambition, but we are delighted for him, and offer him our warmest congratulations on being appointed to the role.  All of us at Ambition look forward to seeing the impact Tom will have at Ormiston Academies Trust, continuing to work towards a vision that we all share: that every child has the opportunity to succeed, no matter what their background.”

Tom Rees said: “I am really excited to be joining Ormiston Academies Trust: an organisation with history, values and at its core, a focus on the power of education and family to transform lives. I am looking forward to working with staff across the trust and to serving the children and families of Ormiston’s schools.

“I am very proud of what we have achieved at Ambition over these last four years, and grateful for the opportunity to work in a different part of the education system and to learn from this experience. Professional development is at the heart of a system where teachers and leaders keep getting better, and where every child gets a chance to thrive.

“I’m looking forward to taking this experience back into a school trust and excited about getting to work at Ormiston ahead of next academic year.”

Tom will be starting his new role at Ormiston this summer in August.

All of us at Ambition Institute share congratulations to Tom for his achievement and gratitude for his ongoing work at Ambition.