Trustees

Chair: Trevor Sutcliffe
Area of expertise: Education

Biography:

Trevor has worked in schools since graduating as a qualified mathematics teacher. He has
held senior leadership positions, including carrying the role of Chief Executive Officer for
two different Multi-Academy Trusts.

Trevor is very experienced in supporting schools in their improvement journey and has
worked in all phases of education for two large local authorities and, currently, as an
independent advisor. He has an excellent track record through this work, resulting in
stronger leadership at all levels, better outcomes for children and improved inspection
grades.

Improving outcomes for disadvantaged children is key to Trevor’s work in his current role as
a Director of Challenging Education. He supports and challenges leaders in school to
consider how they can amend their current practice to help raise attainment, and therefore
improve life chances, for this crucial group of children.

 

Elaine Huttley
Area of expertise: HR & Law

 

Biography:

Elaine has worked as an employment lawyer for over a decade; She is fully familiar with all aspects of employment legislation and regularly provide strategic HR advice to clients including in relation to day to day issues, strategic/project work and contentious/litigious matters. On a daily basis Elaine will consider and analyse documentation to provide strategic, risk assessed advice. In addition Elaine regularly works as a team with colleagues internally, and with clients' HR and/or senior management teams. In addition she will also undertake business development activities as an integral part of her role.

LLB Honours in Law from the University of Warwick;
Commendation in the Legal Practice Course from Nottingham Law School;
Qualified as a solicitor and admitted to the roll in September 2005;
Member of Law Society;
Member of the Employment Lawyers Association;
Associate member of CIPD

Gill Martin
Area of expertise: Education

Biography:

Gill is a Modern Language graduate and since completing her PGCE has worked in secondary education in various pastoral and academic roles including Curriculum Area Leader for MFL, Head of Year and House Learning Manager. When she was promoted to the Senior Leadership Team, she had whole school responsibility for Data, Reporting and Assessment as well as line management responsibility for academic departments within the school. She is very proficient in the analysis and use of data and recognises the importance of using data to benchmark and measure improvement within the classroom and beyond.

In 2013 Gill became the Director of the National Forest Teaching Schools and in this role, has successfully developed partnerships with schools in the local area, promoting collaborative working in the areas of Initial Teacher Education and Professional Development for all staff, primary and secondary, teaching and support staff. She is also responsible for NQT and second year teacher development and is regularly involved in school to school support work in the local area.

In 2013 Gill successfully sought accreditation for her school to become a SCITT and as SCITT Director has successfully developed partnerships and built a team to lead on an ITE programme which will hopefully support the national agenda relating to the recruitment and retention of teachers.

Gill is a trained Ofsted Inspector for both school and ITE inspections.

BA Honours in German with French (2:2); PGCE.

 

 

Dr Sarah Hardman Charles
Area of expertise: Education & CPD

Biography:

I have worked at the University of Derby since 2006. In 2016, I was promoted to the role of Deputy Head of Department, within the Institute of Education, with responsibility for leading all of the Provider Led Primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) and Early Years Teacher Training (EYTT). As a result, I have responsibility for programme design, budget management, leadership/management of a team of 23 staff, Quality Assurance, and play a lead role in Ofsted inspections. In addition to my managerial role, I still teach on a range of modules on the Core PGCE, School Direct, BEd, MEdu programmes and Doctoral programmes.

Having taught in the Primary Sector for over ten years, within Burton-on-Trent, I have previous experience of teaching all primary age phases, leading a range of curriculum subjects including Literacy, Senior Management responsibilities, school governance, delivery of CPD and School Improvement.

Drawing on both past and present experiences in the classroom, I aim to motivate the next generation of classroom practitioners and leaders to strive for excellence in their chosen profession. I am forward thinking and proactive in course design to ensure the different ITE programmes meets the demands of the teaching profession and to best equip newly qualified teachers for longevity in the profession.

I am currently involved with the Opportunity Area for Derby City, working to ensure that education provision within the City ensures that children have the best possible life chances to support social mobility. School Improvement and leadership is a key focus of this work.

In terms of research interests, my doctoral research explored stakeholder attitudes towards students, with dyslexia, studying on ITE programmes. My current research explores ITE student preparedness to addressed homophobic bullying in the primary and secondary school. I also have a keen interest in gender issues and Learning Beyond the Classroom.

Andrew Bailey
Area of expertise: Strategy and Marketing

Biography:

Andrew has extensive experience of helping businesses and people achieve revenue and profit growth through a combination of Strategy, Marketing, Pricing and commercial management. He considers himself a practitioner first and so knows what works and what doesn’t in real situations.

After a corporate career spanning 20 years across many business functions and leading at senior levels he started his own business. Andrew works with many businesses from Corporate Multi-Nationals (Molson Coors, Aggregate Ind., Cott, STG (UK) to SMEs, private and public sector (East Midlands Development Agency, Advantage West Midlands, Dept. Business Innovation and Skills) in a range of industries from consumer goods, construction, drinks and tobacco to online retailing, IT, printing, leisure, professional services and education.

He has published an e-book on Amazon, is writing his second book on Pricing, Value and Negotiating and is asked to contribute to other publications. His knowledge, tools and techniques are available through a published on line mentoring Programme. He regularly speaks at events and seminars on Pricing, Value and Negotiating. Holding an MBA from Nottingham Business School, Andrew is also a guest lecturer at the Business School amongst others and teaches to undergraduates, business students and company executives on the Executive Education Programme. He has been recognised and awarded Fellowships of a number of business organisations including the Chartered Inst. of Marketing, the Institute of Directors and Chartered Management Institute. In addition he is a qualified mentor and coach, Non-Executive Director and he is also a judge for the IoD ‘Director of the Year Awards’.

James Knight
Area of expertise: Community and Co-operatives

Biography:

As a member and Community Officer for Central England Co-operative I work within the community supporting our Members and Community within our trading area. I support our Member Groups to ensure they are running smoothly and have everything they need to run. Our Member Groups are local events that take place to help support our community in Social and Education activity that align with the Co-operative Values and Principles. I work and support Community Groups and Schools in Co-operative Education in topics such as Healthy Choices, Fairtrade and Ethics. I have worked for Central England Co-operative for over 22 years and feel that the Co-operative Business Model is a fairer and more ethical way to trade.

In my personal life I am very involved with the community where I live. I am currently Chair of Governors at the local infant School and Vice-Chair at the local Junior School. I am also Vice-Chair of my local grassroots football club.

 

Trustee: Andrew Lobley
Area of expertise: Business

 

Biography:

Andrew has spent all of this professional career in the water industry, working for three different water companies in roles spanning Operations, Engineering, Drinking Water Quality, Asset Management and Regulation.  He is currently Operations Director for South Staffs Water and Cambridge Water overseeing the delivery of clean, safe water to nearly 2 million customers.

Originally from Yorkshire, Andrew holds a degree in Geographical Science and in 2009 achieved a PhD in Civil Engineering from Swansea University.

  

Walsall FC Foundation are an organisation Trustee

Their expertise is in the local community and many of their programs of work provide support to the children and families that are part of our school community. Currently the representative attending the board is Joe Roberts and her bio can be found below.

Trustee: Joe Roberts
Area of expertise: Education

 

I have been working at Walsall FC Foundation for 8 years, I am currently the Manager for Education, within this role I oversee all our programmes that run within Primary Schools which include; our School Partners Agreement, Cyrille Regis Legacy Trust Strike a Change, Assist to Achieve, Kids Cup and Premier League Primary Stars. Within the Education department I manage a team of 12 staff on a weekly basis, running regular CPD and Training. Managing funding bids and the finances of the department also fall within my jobs roles. Additionally to this I am also responsible for writing impact reports for programme funders.

Prior to becoming Education Manager I was the foundations Premier League Primary Stars Co-ordinator and previous to this I was a PE lead within schools for 5 years. While working at Walsall FC Foundation I have also coached within the Academy and Development Programmes throughout my time here completing qualifications and coaching badges within the world of football.