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Chief Finance Operations Officer - CFOO

Silotte

Tara Barrett

Tara has over 14 years of experience in School Business Management. She previously served as the School Business Manager at a large secondary school with a sixth form in East London. Additionally, she worked for a Multi Academy Trust (MAT) in Havering, where she held the position of Director of Operations. Before joining the MAT, Tara progressed from a Finance Administrator to the School Business Manager at a mainstream all-boys secondary school. Her experience spans both primary and secondary education, as the MAT included an infant and junior school.

Tara played a crucial role in developing the core functions of the MAT and implementing systems and processes that supported all schools within the Trust. She possesses strong knowledge of Health and Safety as well as Estate Management. Through various funding streams, Tara secured over £32 million for the schools within the Trust to enhance their buildings and learning environments. A notable achievement was the refurbishment of a Grade 2* listed building and the construction of a state-of-the-art sports hall, which had a total project cost of £21.5 million funded through the Priority Schools Building Programme phase 2. Tara was instrumental in the successful delivery of these projects, ensuring that decisions were made in the best interests of the schools, that Headteachers received full support, and that impacts on learning were minimised.

Tara has experience working with a range of Financial Management Systems and has participated in implementation groups for new systems. She is adept at reporting to Trustees and Governors, providing necessary facts and evidence to all stakeholders.

With a wealth of leadership experience, Tara has successfully led both projects and teams. She understands the importance of teamwork, striving to bring out the best in individuals and developing them to support the school community effectively.