Yahoo News Inspirational school CEO who helped transform Plymouth's All Saints Academy has changed the lives of so many
A school CEO who helped transform a troubled Plymouth school has been recognised for her years of dedication. Moira Marder has been instrumental in transforming the lives of many students, many of who are from disadvantaged backgrounds during her time as CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust.
The trust is a family of 16 schools across Devon with over 13,500 students. Moira has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the King’s Birthday Honours list for her outstanding services to education.
The selection process for the OBE involves a special committee whose decisions are reviewed by the Prime Minister and finally approved by the King. OBEs are awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions in their field, and Moira's recognition is a testament to her impactful career in education.
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Moira is a lifelong educator who has brought her extensive expertise and experience to the Ted Wragg Trust, which recently celebrated its tenth anniversary.
Raised in London, Moira began her career as a History teacher at Feltham Community College in West London. In 2007, she moved to the South West, serving as Deputy Headteacher at St James School in Exeter and later becoming Headteacher in 2011. Under her leadership, St James transformed from one of the lowest-performing schools in the country to one of the top-performing schools in Devon.
Moira took inspiration from her experience of the London Challenge to support other struggling schools in Exeter in their mission to improve outcomes for young people in their communities, driven by her belief in the power of local schools working together to be the best they can be. In 2013, she became the founding CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust, established out of a desire to find local solutions for Devon schools rather than relying on a national trust from further afield.
A passionate advocate for disadvantaged students, Moira was instrumental in the Trust's expansion into Plymouth in 2020 to support schools in some of the most deprived areas. One such school, All Saints Academy Plymouth, achieved a 'Good' rating from Ofsted for the first time ever in its history last year.
Under Moira's leadership, the Ted Wragg Trust has consistently improved the performance of its schools. The impact of Moira's work means that thousands of children across the South West of England have got a better deal. In the last ten years, the Ted Wragg Trust has taken on a number of schools who rated Requires Improvement by Ofsted and/or in Special Measures. All schools that have been inspected by Ofsted since joining the trust have moved to Good.
Improved exam results across the Trust have enabled more students to pursue their preferred next steps, whether in further education, university, apprenticeships, or the workforce. Last year, four Trust schools featured in the Top 10 schools in Devon for progress, and Lipson Academy was the top-performing non-selective school in Plymouth. In addition, three Trust schools, Marine Academy Primary, Lipson Academy and St Luke’s Church of England School were commended for the strong results achieved by Disadvantaged Students.
Not content with transforming lives of students within her own Trust, Moira believes in system generosity and in her limited 'free time' she serves as a Member of Uffculme Academy Trust (another local Trust) and is Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Devon.
Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust, said: "I am overwhelmed but delighted to receive this honour. I continue to believe fiercely in the role education has to play in transforming young people’s futures, no matter what their background.
"I will maintain an unrelenting focus on making our schools the best they can be, as I want every child to be able to go to their local school and receive an excellent education. I feel beyond grateful to serve the communities and young people across our schools and am inspired every day by the wonderful people I get to work alongside.
“School should be a gateway to children living lives full of opportunity, especially for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. It is an honour in itself to play such a central role in the education of Devon’s children.”
