Mark Davis
Director of Education
Mark trained as a teacher in key stage 2/3 with a specialism in science. As well as teaching Mark’s roles included advising schools on health and PSHE, wring publications and delivering training. He has also been a phase leader and deputy head, with 10 years as headteacher in both local authority and Academy Trusts. The last 5 years Mark was headteacher at a CofE school in the Diocese of Lichfield, before taking up role as DDE on 1st September 2023.
email: [email protected]
Matthew Welton
Deputy Director of Education
Matthew has twenty years’ experience working in primary school education. During this time Matthew has been the subject lead for Science, and the RE and collective worship lead in school, successfully leading two outstanding church school inspections. Matthew has also served as a head teacher for over a decade in a three form entry, inner city school of over 46 different languages. During this time he has had the pleasure of leading three good Ofsted inspections, as well as a school building project. Matthew has completed his SIAMS inspector training as is the SIAMS lead for the Diocese.
Matthew can be contact Monday – Thursday at [email protected]
Brian Ball
Schools Estates Officer
Brian joined the team in June 2022. He has worked in Education for over 10 years largely in the charitable sector in Estates and Building management.
Email: [email protected]
Paula Lloyd
Business Manager
Joining the Diocesan team in 2002 Paula co-ordinates the administrative support to the Board of Education. Managing and co-ordinating the DBE office, She is the main point of contact for most queries. These include diary management for the DDE and any Service Agreement organisation issues.
Paula can be contacted Monday – Thursday at [email protected]
Heather Fawcett
Administrative Assistant
Joining the Education Department in 2004 Heather provides administrative support to the team including administration relating to the appointment and resignation of foundation governors and trustees along with the issuing of sales invoices and tracking payment.
Heather can be contacted Monday – Wednesday at [email protected]
Tamsyn Ashton
Christian Distinctiveness Adviser (part time)
Tamsyn joined the CDA team in September 2026 and brings over 25 years’ experience in primary education. She has worked in a range of roles, including in a Specialist Resource Provision for children with autism and has held leadership responsibilities including Early Years, RE, PSHE and Maths. She is passionate about helping children and adults to flourish and has a particular love of music, songs and creative approaches to make worship engaging and meaningful for children. Tamsyn continues to work in school, keeping her closely connected to the realities of everyday school life.Outside work, Tamsyn enjoys spending time with her family, musical theatre and being involved in her local church, where she runs the children’s choir. She also enjoys walks with Cardi, her Old English Bulldog.
Tamsyn can be contacted Monday – Wednesday at [email protected]
Charmian Gamble
Christian Distinctiveness Adviser
Charmian has a degree in Human Biology from the University of Oxford Brookes and a PGCE from Homerton College, Cambridge. She has worked for over 20 years in primary education, mainly in Church schools, in a variety of rural and urban settings. She has been Science lead, Literacy lead and Deputy Head, and has led on Christian Distinctiveness, RE and Collective Worship. She has a certificate in Theology from Trinity College in Bristol, and is passionate about the difference a Christian Vision and ethos can make to a school’s community and a child’s education. She joined the team in 2023 as CDA.
Email: [email protected]
Lynsay Jennings
Character Education Lead, CDA and Governance Officer
Lynsay graduated with a BA in Primary Education and has over fifteen years teaching experience across the Primary age range. This includes over eight years’ experience as a SENCO and as a Designated Safeguarding Officer. She has considerable experience of offering pastoral support and supervision for staff. She has led on Christian Distinctiveness, RE and Collective Worship through successful SIAMs inspections. Lynsay is passionate about promoting positive mental-health and well-being, enabling all to flourish. Lynsay joined the team in 2019 as a CDA with a focus on ‘Christian Character Education’.
Email: [email protected]
Revd Lee Plummer
Christian Distinctiveness Adviser
Lee joined the team of CDAs in September 2026. He is a trained youth worker, teacher and priest. Having started his career supporting young people in the south west of England in a variety of settings he went on to complete a PGCE at Birmingham University and began teaching Religious Studies in 2001 and becoming a Head of Department soon after. He spent 4 years living in China working for an NGO and returned to take up training for ministry, being ordained in 2010 at Lichfield Cathedral. Since then he has served as a priest in the Lichfield Diocese and the last 6 years as a Fulltime teacher and Chaplain for 5-18 years olds.
email: [email protected]
Helen Robertson
Christian Distinctiveness Adviser (part time)
Having taught in Birmingham for 10 years, before moving to St Michael’s Lichfield as Deputy Head and then became its Head. In the Summer 2024, she stepped away after 25 years, in order to have more time with family and to pursue hobbies. Helen joined the education team in 2024 as a Christian Distinctiveness Advisor on a part time basis.
Helen can be contacted Monday – Wednesday morning at [email protected]