About Us
Chair of Directors – David Bermingham
David has worked for over 35 years in the transport and logistics industry and has held senior leadership roles, Managing Director and CEO, within PLC, private equity backed and not for profit organisations. He has led several business turnarounds, managed large scale M&A integrations and has successfully developed businesses year on year. David is now focused on applying his experience in a more support and advisory capacity and brings with him extensive experience in strategic planning, commercial and change management. David has a Combined Honours degree from the University of Aston in Transport Planning & Operation and Political Studies and is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) David is a member of the Board of Directors of the CILT and serves on their Audit, Risk and Finance committee and Nominations Committee. David is married with four grown-up daughters and his main leisure pursuits are archery and hill walking. David is Chairman of his local archery club and is a licensed archery coach. David is also a qualified Hill and Moorland walk leader.
Inspire Director – Sybil Hanson (DDE)
Sybil Hanson achieved a Mathematics degree from Manchester University and went on to have a teaching career from 1961 and came to Coventry in 1972 where she spent 25 years at Blue Coat CE School, initially as Head of Mathematics and then appointed Deputy Head in 1977. Sybil retired from teaching in 1997 and became a Diocesan Board of Education member as well as being involved within school governance since 1997 in a variety of settings. Sybil represents the DBE on both Coventry and Warwickshire School Forums, and also Chairs Coventry Schools Forum. She also represents the DBE as a co-opted member on Coventry City Council’s Education & Children’s Services Scrutiny Board 2. Sybil is a member of the Cathedral Community and regularly worships there.
Inspire Director – Mark Gore
Joined the Education Department of Warwickshire County Council as Head of Education Planning. In 2006 he was appointed to lead on Schools and Education within the new Directorate of Children and Young People, a post he held until his retirement from the County Council in December 2012. Was for a short time Interim Chief Executive of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire. Was for a number of years a Governor and Chair of Governors of a non-maintained special school for the deaf, and is currently a Trustee of a Youth and Community Centre in Rugby
Inspire Director – Lisa Hayes
Lisa Hayes is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Personal Development (CIPD) with a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resources Management. As a HR professional, Lisa has a wealth of experience working in both the private and public sector and has held senior positions for Randstad, a global leader in HR services and recruitment. Lisa currently works in a HR position for a Russell Group University covering all aspects of operational HR and is a qualified Mediator. Lisa was a school governor for six years, prior to becoming a Director of Inspire Education Trust and is a mother to three children. She is passionate about helping to create a learning environment in which our children thrive and are able to reach their full potential.
Inspire Director – Jane Durkin
Before retiring as Head of Operations of a Multi Academy Trust, Jane had worked for 30 years in education leading teams and developing strategic direction. Throughout her career Jane was heavily involved with the Institute of School Business Leaders (ISBL) volunteering her services at a national level. Working with a variety of ISBL’s partners as part of focus groups, round table discussions she was instrumental in developing and promoting the role of school business management including developing professional standards and in partnership with CIPD a professional HR qualification specific to education. Jane was also a Director of Trust in Birmingham and chaired the Finance Committee as well as serving on ISBL’s Events Committee and Editorial Committee. Jane has a passion for young people and education and strongly believes that all children deserve the best education and opportunities available to them.
Inspire Director – Charlotte Marten
A graduate of the University of Birmingham, I also have a PGCE and an MA in Educational Leadership. I taught in secondary schools in England and Jersey, retiring in 2019 after thirteen years as Headteacher of Rugby High School. I have been a school governor for ten years and am currently the Chair of Governors at Blue Coat Church of England School and Music College in addition to serving on the boards of five charities. I strongly believe in the power of education to transform children’s lives. I am committed to ensuring that the children who attend our schools are enabled to flourish and grow into adults who are intent on making a positive contribution to society.
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Headteacher of Blue Coat School
At Blue Coat Church of England School, our vision is “Living life in all its fullness”. We exist to equip our students to live life in all its fullness by providing excellent education which is distinctively Christian and inclusive of all. We aim to provide a broad & ambitious curriculum that provides all students with the opportunity to flourish academically and achieve their God given potential.
In John 10:10 in the Bible, we hear of Jesus saying that ‘Life in all its fullness’ is found in Him. It is God’s desire to see us flourishing in abundant Kingdom living – so that inspires everything we are and all we do at Blue Coat.
We want all our children and staff to live an abundant life; academic success is important yet we recognise that personal and spiritual development are a priority and our role as educators is to support the development of the whole child.
Our vision ‘Life in all its fullness’ inspires and shapes our resulting school values that are at the heart of a Blue Coat education. These are Care, Hard Work, Respect, Integrity and Servanthood, working Together for the good of all individuals, the school and wider communities. We always look for opportunities to recognise and reinforce our school values through all aspects of school life.
As a Church of England school, we recognise that we are part of a rich history, delivering high quality education to the places and people where it is most needed. In that respect, we exist to serve both the Christian community of Coventry and the surrounding area, and our local geographical community.
The Church of England Vision for Education is ‘Deeply Christian, Serving the Common Good’. The Christian ethos at Blue Coat allows students and staff to pursue the big questions of life, whilst allowing for considerable diversity of opinion and freedom of expression: a ‘complex yet generous’ model.
Our school is one which is fully inclusive, truly diverse and about the whole person. It is a challenge to all of us to make the most of every experience and opportunity presented to us, and to ‘fan into flame’ giftings of students as these reveal themselves.
We know that not all staff and pupils will be followers of the Christian faith, yet there is an expectation that all members of the school community are sympathetic and respectful of the place of individual faith in personal development. Our values therefore reflect the distinctiveness of the Christian faith and the Kingdom of God, yet can be applied by all stakeholders, no matter their spiritual or cultural background.
Our curriculum is both rich and challenging and delivered by a dedicated, enthusiastic and experienced staff. We pride ourselves on the breadth and variety of our extra-curricular provision with Music, Drama and Sport playing a pivotal role in the wider educational experience we provide and demonstrating the importance of ‘Togetherness’ in our school community.
With our strong ethos, high expectations and excellent examination results, Blue Coat is a place where children thrive, and learn to live and experience life in all its fullness. We look forward to welcoming you to our school.

CEO of Inspire Education Trust
It is my pleasure to welcome you to Blue Coat Church of England School and Music College.
Our school is a member of the Inspire Multi-Academy Trust. The other schools in the Trust are: Walsgrave CofE Academy, Clifford Bridge Academy, Hearsall Community Academy, Stockingford Academy and Whittle Academy
Blue Coat is a Church of England school and to this end we try to ensure that there is a Christian distinctiveness in all we do set around a clear vision of “Living life in all its fullness”. At the heart of this are the values of Care, Hard Work, Respect, Integrity and Servanthood, working Together for the good of all individuals, the school and wider communities.
We are all positive about the autonomy and independence that comes with our schools being a group of academies working together. The schools are accountable to a ‘Board of Directors’ and the ‘Local Governing Body’.
At Inspire Education Trust we are passionate about making a difference to the lives of our students. They are at the heart of everything we do and we strive to inspire all learners, and want all our schools to be the best they can be and for each and every child, to discover the skills, abilities, talents and interests that lie within them.
Our schools have a desire to question, change and innovate to ensure that what they provide enables our children to become successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens.
We believe in working in partnership, enabling us to ensure all children and students achieve their full potential. Our schools know the impact that working collaboratively can bring.
At the same time, we recognise the importance for each school to retain and promote their individual identity. Every school has its own context and challenges. This is why we encourage our member schools to lead and manage in a way that preserves that individual identity and responds to the specific needs of their children and community.
The combination of autonomy and collaboration across key areas of leadership and management, underpinned by shared values and best practice is what makes our schools special.
We want to work in partnership with parents and carers and will provide regular opportunities for you to come into school. We have an open door policy and all problems and concerns will be promptly dealt with.
Both of my children attended Blue Coat so I know what a special place it is. I now hope to see your children when I am in school to share and celebrate with them their hard work, efforts and achievements.