Clare Flintoff, Founder and CEO of ASSET 2015-2025

Driven by this vision, Clare initiated a meeting with other schools across Ipswich to explore the possibility of collaboration with a bold, forward thinking vision, firmly rooted in Social Justice. Her compelling vision led to the formation of the Ipswich Primary Academy Trust (IPAT), initially with Clare as executive principal, alongside The Beeches and The Oaks Primary Schools. Recognising the need for dedicated leadership, she resigned from her post at St. Helen’s to become the trust’s first CEO.

Over the subsequent 10 years, under Clare’s leadership, the trust changed its name to ASSET Education, standing for A Suffolk Schools Education Trust, to reflect its expanded reach beyond Ipswich. The trust has grown significantly, now comprising 15 schools and 3,500 pupils. ASSET Education has earned a reputation for innovation, excellence, and humanity. The trust’s strap line, “Nurturing Humanity,” reflects Clare’s values, which permeate the entire organisation. 

In 2019 Clare sought funding to take a group of staff from across ASSET to the Netherlands, to understand how its reputation as one of the best places in the world for wellbeing could inform an approach that would ensure people at ASSET could thrive. The Complete Human Strategy was the approach developed from that trip, which now shapes the way that we work together and saw ASSET recognised in 2024 as Wellbeing Trust of the Year.

Even when running a growing trust, Clare has always sought to shape the system, sitting on the Ipswich Opportunity Area Partnership Board, and then the DfE East of England Advisory Board, as well as shaping the local CEO Network. In the last year she has also taken a role as Director of Schools of Tomorrow. Her focus has always extended beyond immediate needs; consistently looking to leverage innovative opportunities and approaches to create lasting benefits for all children within ASSET and across Suffolk. Clare's involvement always goes beyond mere attendance at meetings; she is always deeply engaged, leading working groups, shaping conferences, taking ownership to drive ideas forward, and actively shaping direction.

Clare hands over leadership of ASSET to Jackie Bircham, after two years of working closely together and alongside Phil Palmer as Deputy CEO to shape a new strategy to lead ASSET into it's next decade. Clare will be working as a RISE Adviser for the DfE, continuing her work with Schools of Tomorrow, and possibly even fitting in time to develop her work as a painter!