Camden Learning is delighted to announce the appointment of Julie Lewis as its new Chief Executive. Julie will take up the role on 22 February 2027.
Julie joins from Ealing Council, where she is currently Director of Learning, Standards and School Partnerships. She has played a leading role in developing wide-ranging education services and Ealing Learning Partnership – a distinctive approach to school collaboration and improvement, bringing together 85 schools across the borough to deliver the best possible outcomes for children.
Her work in Ealing has centred on a simple but powerful belief: schools achieve more when they work together, share their expertise and take collective responsibility for the children and communities they serve.
Over the years, Julie has helped to establish professional learning communities, peer-to-peer improvement networks and opportunities for school leaders to work together on shared priorities. The approach has encouraged schools to move beyond traditional competitive relationships and build a culture of trust, mutual support and continuous improvement.
For Julie, the starting point is always understanding what is working well and why, looking at school improvement through the experience of children and young people.
Building on what makes Camden special
Julie is particularly excited about joining Camden Learning because of our distinctive history and position as a school-led organisation.
Julie said:
I think it was a very courageous act to establish a school-led organisation like Camden Learning. It has a unique mandate to be innovative and respond with agility to the changing needs of children, communities and schools.
I’m excited by the investment around Camden Learning and the opportunities created through local employers, partnerships, and higher education establishments such as UCL and the Crick Institute. Being in such a central London location, with all of those connections, creates amazing opportunities for schools and young people.
Listening, learning and looking ahead
Julie is clear that her first priority will be to understand Camden Learning and the people who make the partnership work.
She said:
My first few months will be about understanding and shining a light on what’s working and why. I’m looking forward to gathering as much information as I can and meeting as many people as possible to find out what’s really valued and what is sustainable.
Her ambition is to identify and build on the things that make Camden Learning successful, strengthening the professional capacity and collective expertise across the partnership.
She added:
I’m excited to distil what’s brilliant about Camden Learning, work with partners to make it even better and help set it up for the next ten years.
Dame Jane Roberts, Chair of Camden Learning, said:
We are delighted to welcome Julie to Camden Learning. She brings a wealth of experience, a strong belief in the power of collaboration and a clear understanding of how school partnerships can create better opportunities for children and young people.
We are looking forward to working with Julie, our schools and partners as we build on everything that has been achieved and look ahead to the future
A career in education
Julie began her career as an English teacher then Head of Faculty in secondary schools in Milton Keynes before moving into national education improvement work through the National Strategies.
She subsequently took on senior advisory roles in Ealing, where she focused on connecting schools, developing professional learning communities and creating opportunities for leaders and their teams to work together around shared priorities.
Her experience has given her a strong interest in how effective partnerships can support school improvement, develop leadership and ensure that all children benefit from the expertise and opportunities available across their local area.
Julie will join Camden Learning on 22 February 2027. We look forward to welcoming her to the Camden Learning community.
