Nichole Burley-Burton

Nichole Burley-Burton

Head of Human Resources & Culture

I am a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD with an MA in Human Resource Management, and I bring over 15 years' HR experience across education, the arts, the humanitarian sector and retail. Most recently, I spent eight years as Associate Director: People and Head of Inclusion and Access at The HarrisonParrott Group and its charity, the HarrisonParrott Foundation. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, I led HR, Operations, IT, Estates and Health and Safety across an international arts group spanning London, Germany, France, Spain, Amsterdam and China. Before that, I was Second in HR at City of London Academy, Southwark, where the HR team was central to its growth from a single secondary school into a multi-academy trust, supporting each new primary, secondary school and sixth form as it joined.

I joined Sancta Familia Catholic Academy Trust as Head of HR and Culture in September 2025 and am a member of the Trust's Executive Team. I have the privilege of leading HR across our schools and of building the Trust's central HR function. Every day, I am inspired by our staff's dedication and the difference they make for the children and young people we serve.

I firmly believe that our people are at the heart of everything we do, and that when staff are valued, supported and treated with dignity, children and young people thrive. I have shaped a Trust-wide HR policy framework, rooted in our Trust values, so that each colleague is treated with fairness and consistency, whichever school they serve in. Truly hearing the voices of our people matters deeply, which is why we introduced staff, pupil and family surveys, so that everyone in our community is listened to and helps shape our decisions. We are also enhancing our benefits to recognise our staff as whole people, supporting their wellbeing and their lives beyond work. I am passionate about creating cultures where staff can grow, develop and flourish in their vocation, and where HR is approachable, fair and always in service to our community.