Schools boss shortlisted for prestigious national education leadership prize
The boss of an education trust with four schools in Sheffield has been nominated for a top award.
Rowena Hackwood, chief executive officer of Astrea Academy Trust, has been shortlisted for the Multi-Academy Trust Leader award in the EducationInvestor Power List.
Since becoming CEO in 2020, Ms Hackwood has overseen a period of progress across all of the trust’s 26 schools, including Sheffield's Astrea, Byron Wood Primary, Hatfield and Hartley Brook Primary.
All Astrea schools are rated ‘Good’ or higher by Ofsted, demonstrating consistent improvement amid changing inspection frameworks. In recent years, the trust’s GCSE results, particularly in English and Maths at grade 4 and above, have improved significantly, while primary SATs outcomes have almost doubled since 2022.
Ms Hackwood said: “I am very pleased to have been recognised by the EducationInvestor Power List. At Astrea, we believe that every child deserves an excellent education, regardless of their background. Our success is the result of the brilliance and dedication of our staff, leaders and governors across all 26 schools, who have worked together around a shared vision of excellence. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved so far and excited about what comes next for Astrea.”
The trust’s progress has attracted national acclaim, including Large Trust of the Year and Most Improved Trust of the Year at the 2026 nEdEx Awards. Schools within the trust continue to receive positive Ofsted judgments and recognition for their achievements.
Beyond her role at Astrea, Hackwood contributes widely within the education sector. She holds positions on the Confederation of School Trusts’ Policy Advisory Council, serves as a Non-Executive Director on Pearson’s Education and Qualifications Committee, and is Vice Chair and Chair Elect of the Queen Street Group. Additionally, she leads in sports governance as chair of Volleyball England and East Midlands Netball.
The EducationInvestor Awards ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, 2nd December.