Graham Clifford (NPQEL) is the Chief Executive Officer of Epping Forest Schools Partnership Trust, leading a multi-academy trust of 16 schools and a regional SCITT. A former primary and secondary headteacher, Graham has extensive experience across settings ranging from primary and secondary schools to an all-age SLD/PMLD special school and pupil referral units. 

He holds an NPQEL, NPQH, and is completing the MAT CEO Programme with the National Institute of Teaching. Recognised as an outward-facing system leader, Graham chairs the West Essex Schools Sports Partnership, serves on the Saffron Teaching School Hub board, and collaborates with partners like Google to pioneer inclusive classroom practice and PedTech innovation across the trust. Under his executive leadership, the trust has embedded operational alignment, strategic assurance frameworks, and responsible, trust-wide AI integration to reduce workload and enhance educational outcomes. 

Outside of his executive career, Graham is an award-winning published poet with an MA in Creative Writing who co-edits a London poetry magazine.