A well-known North-East education boss has called time on a career spanning over 50 years.

Andy Brown OBE is the Chief Executive Officer of Ad Astra Academy Trust which he founded in 2015. It has since grown and now has ten primary schools under its umbrella across Teesside, County Durham and Hartlepool – all of which are rated “good” by Ofsted.

Born in Darlington, Mr Brown’s teaching career started in Leeds in 1975. He then taught in Marske, Guisborough, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool before being headteacher of West View Primary School in Hartlepool for 21 years.

Accredited as a National Leader of Education and former Ofsted Inspector, the married father of two children and four grandchildren has been a regular visitor to Downing Street for meetings with Prime Ministers. He received a Silver Award at the Teaching Awards Headteacher of the Year in England and Wales in 2015.

He has also played a pivotal role in setting national education policy over the years as Chair of the Government’s Primary Headteacher’s Reference Group.

Mr Brown will retire in August 2027, and the process is already under way to find his successor

Mr Brown said: “I am very fortunate to have worked for such a long time, and I’ve met many wonderful people over the years.

“Being a teacher and working in education provides an opportunity to influence young people and set them on the right pathway in life and this is what has given me the most satisfaction.

“I’m very proud of all of the schools I have been involved with over the years; the people, the children and communities that they serve, and I am going to miss this incredibly, but I am looking forward to supporting my successor as they start their role.”

In retirement, the avid Darlington FC supporter said that he is looking forward to spending more time with his family and playing more golf and tennis.

Richenda Broad, chair of Ad Astra Academy Trust, said: “Andy Brown set up Ad Astra Academy Trust following a very successful career as headteacher of West View Primary School. The principles he established at West View became those of Ad Astra.

“Andy has an easy style of working alongside colleagues to ensure that the experience of children in Ad Astra schools is the best it can be for them rooted in school improvement.

“Under Andy’s stewardship, Ad Astra has developed as a group of schools who are very different in their diversity, community and at times approach to learning. What they have in common is their commitment to the core principles that underpin the Trust. That is Andy’s legacy and is something that as Trust we are determined to retain and build on.

“He will be missed by not just Ad Astra, and on a personal basis by me, but the whole school community in the North-East and Teesside in particular.”

The ten primary schools within Ad Astra are Barnard Grove, Brougham, West Park and West View in Hartlepool, Crooksbarn and Rosebrook in Stockton-on-Tees, Ayresome and Sunnyside in Middlesbrough and Deaf Hill and Kelloe in County Durham.

Ad Astra Academy Trust provides education for over 3,500 pupils and has over 500 employees.

Recruitment has begun to find a new Chief Executive Officer. For more details, visit www.adastraschools.org/ceo-recruitment/