Rachel Hargreaves is the CEO of Ascent Academies’ Trust, a six-school specialist MAT in the North East and North Yorkshire. In her twenty-eight years in education, Rachel has worked across the sector in special schools, a mainstream secondary school with resourced SEN provision and all age mainstream and specialist Multi Academy Trusts. Rachel has been a headteacher/executive headteacher for 15 years and took up the post of CEO in January 2025.
Rachel also supports schools across the North-East in her role as Regional Lead for Whole School SEND, a Department for Education funded project to deliver upon the Universal SEND Services. In her role as Regional Lead for the North, Rachel supports schools and Local Authorities in improving their effectiveness in meeting the needs of pupils with SEND and providing professional development to school leaders and colleagues.
Rachel has a National Professional Qualification in Headship and Executive Headship, an MSC in Leadership and Organisational Change and is an accredited Coach. Rachel is committed to improving the quality of provision for all children and young people with SEND and developing the professional practice of colleagues in all settings. Rachel is a Trustee of Challenge Partners and is the Senior Partner for the North East Special Hub, a Challenge Partners Hub of 11 schools from Tyneside to Ripon.
