Stamford School Strengthens Sporting Leadership with Appointment of Jo Hackett

Stamford School has announced the appointment of Jo Hackett as its new Director of Sport. Jo will take up the role in September 2026.

Jo joins Stamford with more than two decades of senior leadership experience across independent and state-funded education, alongside a strong national profile in school sport strategy. She is currently Director of Sport for the Loughborough Schools Foundation, where she leads the integration of sport across multiple schools and oversees the delivery of a unified and highly successful sports provision.

During her seven years at Loughborough Schools, Jo played a central role in aligning sporting vision, facilities and performance pathways across the Foundation. She also led the development of a highly successful partnership with Loughborough University, strengthening access to expertise, facilities and performance insight. Alongside this work, she established a clear strategic direction and developed excellence across a number of sports.

Commenting on her appointment, Jo said she was “absolutely thrilled to be joining Stamford School”, describing the role as “a return to my roots”. She added that she was looking forward to building on “the already strong sporting ethos and culture within the school”, working closely with a “strong staff body” to further enhance opportunities for students.

Prior to her time at Loughborough, Jo spent ten years as Director of Sport at Northampton High School, where she led the development of a progressive and inclusive sports programme. She has also worked nationally as the first Consultant Teacher for Sport and Physical Education for the Girls’ Day School Trust, supporting schools with curriculum design, staff development, and strategic planning.

In September 2025, Jo was appointed to the Rugby Football Union National Schools Board, contributing to the strategic direction of rugby in schools across the UK. In addition to her senior leadership roles, Jo remains actively involved in performance sport as a Performance Netball Coach within the Under 14 Northants Storm pathway and as a governor at a local primary school.

Jo’s appointment reflects Stamford School’s long-term commitment to sport as a central pillar of education, wellbeing and personal development, combining high-quality participation with performance pathways and strong external partnerships.