Governance
Effective governance helps us deliver the best possible outcomes for our pupils, staff, and communities.
Our governance structure provides a clear framework for leadership, accountability, and decision-making across the Trust. Through the collective work of our Members, Trustees, Committees and Executive Leaders, we ensure effective oversight and strategic direction for all our academies.
Our Trustees
Michael Knight – Chair of the Board – Michael is Chief Information Security Officer at The University of Manchester and brings a wealth of experience in strategic oversight, digital transformation, data, cyber security, change and risk management.
Stephen Gallagher – Stephen has many years governance experience and in the past he has been the Chair of Governors at other schools within the borough. He is a solicitor specialising in employment law. This gives him experience with HR matters, workforce planning, and legal risk management and performance management/ improvement.
Andrew Kent – (Independent) A confident and pro-active leader with extensive experience of managing large-scale projects while devising effective strategic planning and delivering outcomes within timescales and budgets and has extensive experience of working at Board level in educational, health, and voluntary sector organisations.
Michelle Sault – Michelle is the former headteacher of a specialist biophilic school for pupils aged 11–16 with communication and interaction needs. Experienced in leading mental health initiatives, including contributing to the Department for Education’s national rollout. Skilled in inclusive practice, with extensive experience supporting children and young people with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Mark Utley – (Independent) – Mark is a professional Chartered Management Accountant working for a global technology company who specialise in helping organisations across different industry sectors with digital transformation, technological decarbonisation, cyber risk management and outsourcing. Mark specialises in the Financial Services sector and will use his extensive experience of corporate governance and risk management to bring value to the academy in support of its strategic aims.
Gemma Astin-France – Gemma is a Project Director at the Department for Education (DfE), working on condition led School Rebuilding Projects within the departments Education Estates Directorate. She has over 15 years’ experience working at the DfE, covering a breadth of responsibilities and remits from school improvement, policy design and implementation, project delivery and crisis management. Recognised for strong programme management capability including risks and issues management; budget control; stakeholder management.
Lesley Bailey – Lesley was formerly a civil servant working in the Department of Education and worked in the Standards and Effectiveness Unit of the government, effecting many changes on the education agenda. Lesley is Education Ambassador for the Prince’s Trust and is passionate about supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Our Trust Board Register of Business Interest includes for each of our trust’s members serving at any point over the past 12 months, their full names, date of appointment, date they stepped down (where applicable), and relevant business and pecuniary interests including governance roles in other educational institutions and also their attendance at meetings – HCAT Register of Business Interest