misbehaving pupils could go for a period of isolation from their peers. In April 2007, Brennan was appointed as Headteacher of Barr Beacon School, which was also in Special Measures at the time. By 2011, the school was rated Good by Ofsted and since 2014 has been rated Outstanding. Brennan was again praised in the reports. "The Headteacher is relentless in her pursuit for excellence and has brought about significant improvements in the quality of teaching and learning, and the achievement and behaviour of pupils." In 2017, Brennan was appointed as CEO of Matrix Academy Trust. The Trust currently sponsors five schools across the Midlands, holding over 5,500 students. Both Etone College and Bloxwich Academy have improved from Inadequate to Good ratings under her leadership with Matrix Academy Trust. Her Majesty's Chief Inspector for Ofsted at the time, Sir Michael Wilshaw, praised Brennan in a letter from 2015 regarding Etone College. "Your determined and highly effective leadership, and strong support from senior leaders and the governing body, have played a key part in bringing about rapid changes with the college." Other work in Education Brennan contributed to the 2005 Steer Report (Chaired by Sir Alan Steer) on Social Behaviour and Discipline for the Department for Education. She attended five meetings and visited 10 Downing Street for the sixth meeting to discuss the group's findings with the Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Education and the Minister for Schools. The group subscribed to six core beliefs in the report, including how "school leaders have a critical role in establishing high standards of learning, teaching and behaviour." In 2006 and between 2015 and 2022, Brennan was designated as a National Leader of Education. She was re-elected to the West Midlands Regional Schools Commissioners Headteacher Board in 2017, which consists of a group of academy leaders to help shape the future of schools within the region. In 2004, Brennan also gained national attention when she uncovered pupils in school were using Rosary beads as a prop for drug dealing. She recognised they were being used in this way and subsequently banned them while she was at Hillcrest School. Honours Brennan has over 45 years of experience working in Education. She was awarded Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in Her Majesty the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2005, for her services to education. In 2012, Brennan was awarded a Fellowship