Meet the team
chief executive officer
Nicole McCartney
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Nicole McCartney has been working in education since 1999, as a school leader since 2003, and in the academies programme since 2007 in both small, local trusts and large, national multi-academy trusts. She was designated a National Leader of Education in 2014 and has a wealth of school improvement experience gained through academy leadership, Executive Principalships and Executive roles within Multi-Academy Trusts. She is on a number of national advisory boards, and has supported a number of multi academy trusts in developing their operational models.
Since Nicole joined Creative Education Trust in September 2018, she has designed and implemented our Leadership Development Programme, lead on our ambitious curriculum development and assessment work and as our Director of Education from 2020, revised our model of educational delivery.
Nicole was appointed as Chief Executive Officer in April 2025.
human resources team
The Human Resources Team at Creative Education Trust provides professional, pragmatic and solutions-focused support to our schools on all people-related matters. It is responsible for the delivery of our People Strategy, which helps to make each of our academies a great place to work and Creative Education Trust an employer of choice for teaching and non-teaching professionals.
Our experienced Director of Human Resources and regional HR Business Partners help Principals and Head Teachers create the right environment to attract, engage and retain a high-performing workforce in order to deliver an excellent education to Creative Education Trust students. Our Recruitment Manager supports Creative Education Trust schools to recruit successfully and cost-effectively in a competitive employment environment.
The work of the Human Resources Team covers the entire employee life-cycle, from recruitment to employee relations, pay and recognition, diversity and equality of opportunity, and well-being. The Creative Education Trust Human Resources Team works closely with our Education Team to design and deliver high-quality training and development initiatives to our leaders and staff to increase skills, develop competencies and grow confidence.
Victoria Tricarico
DIRECTOR OF HR
Victoria Tricarico rejoined Creative Education Trust as Director of Human Resources in August 2023. Victoria previously held this position at the Trust until 2019, when she joined the Competition and Markets Authority as Human Resources Director. At the CMA, she was responsible for formulating effective HR strategies and delivering a best-in-class HR service.
Prior to working at Creative Education Trust, Victoria was Head of People & Change at the London Borough of Haringey, and for six years before that she led the HR function at ARK Schools. Victoria has a wealth of experience in the Education sector including recruitment, talent-spotting and staff development, as well as in the more transactional aspects of HR including restructuring and industrial relations.
Victoria is passionate about ensuring that the Trust continues to be a great place to work by providing a positive, productive and fulfilling work experience for employees.
Vanda Roy
HEAD OF HR BUSINESS PARTNERING
Vanda joined the Trust in October 2017 and works with our Academies in Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes, as well as providing support to Head Office. Vanda previously has had over 12 years experience of working in the NHS and Higher Education before joining the Trust. She completed her MA in HR Management in 2011.
Vanda provides operational support to Creative Education Trust schools as well as supporting the Director of HR in developing the trust-wide HR Strategies.
Sarah Catchpole
HEAD OF RECRUITMENT
Sarah Catchpole is the Head of Recruitment at Creative Education Trust. Sarah plays a crucial role in ensuring that the trust's network of schools are well-resourced with high-quality colleagues.
In her role, Sarah works in partnership with schools across the trust to attract top-quality education and head office staff. She is responsible for increasing brand awareness and building relationships with key external partners to ensure a steady pipeline of talented candidates. Sarah delivers expert advice on all aspects of attraction, selection, and onboarding, ensuring that the trust's schools are staffed with passionate and skilled educators and support staff.
Before joining Creative Education Trust, Sarah was the Head of Leadership Recruitment at Hourglass Education, where she supported schools, multi-academy trusts, and local authorities by placing top leadership talent. She offered a full executive search recruitment solution and interim leadership solutions for senior leadership requirements. Sarah has extensive experience in Education Recruitment, supporting schools in finding quality hires for the past decade.