Prince Albert Community Trust are delighted to welcome Phillipa Sherlock Lewis, who has served as Deputy CEO for several years as our new CEO. Phillipa's extensive career in education, coupled with her passion for community development, has made her an invaluable asset and the perfect successor.
Phillipa has dedicated over two decades to the field of education, holding various leadership positions across the City of Birmingham. Her experience and expertise have taken PACT from strength to strength since co-founding the Trust in 2015.
As Deputy CEO, Phillipa played a central role in defining the Trust's strategic course. Her visionary thinking, strong leadership, and commitment to fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture have earned her recognition among stakeholders and colleagues alike.
Beyond her responsibilities within the Trust, Phillipa actively participates in local educational networks, collaborating with other educational institutions to share best practices and drive innovation. She is an advocate for partnerships and consistently seeks opportunities to collaborate with community organisations and stakeholders to create impactful, sustainable initiatives that benefit students and their families.
As we embark on this new chapter at PACT, we are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. We remain committed to providing the highest quality education to our students, and we look forward to continuing to work with our communities to achieve this shared vision.
On her appointment as CEO, Phillipa Sherlock Lewis said “I am truly honoured and excited to take on the role of CEO at PACT. It's a privilege to lead an organisation dedicated to high quality education and community development, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with our incredible team to make a positive impact on the lives of our students and their families”.
As the academic year draws to a close, I am delighted to address you all as, from September, the new Chair of the Trust Board, and share exciting news about our upcoming journey together. Furthermore, I take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support, and to extend a warm welcome to our newly appointed CEO.
First and foremost, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to our incredible pupils/students, you are the heartbeat of our educational community. Your insatiable curiosity, boundless energy, and relentless pursuit of knowledge inspire us all. Throughout the year, you have shown incredible resilience, adaptability, and determination in the face of challenges. Your achievements, big and small, are a testament to your hard work, and we couldn't be prouder of each and every one of you!
Leaving PACT
Even as I begin to write this blog, I can feel a swell of emotion. With exception of Allah Almighty, everything begins and must have an end. My time at PACT is almost complete. It has been a privilege and an honour to lead Prince Albert Primary as its Headteacher and then the PACT as CEO. It felt surreal sitting on an aeroplane having been offered a job in Dubai. Since saying yes, I am awash with emotion, reflection and it has to be said, anticipation of loss of one of the great loves of my life – this job. It is a decision I didn’t have to make, a job I didn’t have to leave, so why? Why at this crucial stage of the Trust’s development; with PA High only in its second year, with schools about to join am I walking away. Why am I leaving the communities I have served for nearly 25 years at a time of great challenge? And why indeed is the move to a prestigious fee paying school half way around the world? All good, perfectly reasonable questions that I have been grappling with for many months and not just to have answers when they are inevitably asked by friends and colleagues.
It is with mixed emotions that we announce the departure of Sajid Gulzar from his position as CEO of Prince Albert Community Trust. After more than 26 years of serving children across Birmingham and 14 dedicated years of service at PACT Sajid has decided to take on an exciting new role in Dubai with Kings’ Education.