The Department for Education has announced the winners of the second elections to its headteacher boards.
The eight boards are made up headteachers and senior leaders from academies, who advise regional school commissioners on key decisions, including on school takeovers.
The winners are as follows…
North of England
RSC: Janet Renou
Elected
Zoe Carr (WISE Academies)
Chris Clarke (Lunesdale Learning Trust)
Nick Hurn (Trinity Catholic Trust)
Lesley Powell (North East Learning Trust)
Lancashire and West Yorkshore
RSC: Vicky Beer
Elected
Julie Bradley (Tauheedul Education Trust)
Karen Bramwell (Forward As One Church of England Multi Academy Trust)
Royston Halford (The Rowan Learning Trust)
Duncan Jacques (Exceed Academies Trust)
East Midlands and the Humber
RSC: John Edwards
Elected
Peter Bell (Community Inclusive Trust)
Anne Martin (QEGSMAT)
Roisin Paul (Chorus Education Trust)
Paul Stone (Discovery Schools Academy Trust)
West Midlands
RSC: Christine Quinn
Elected
Dame Mo Brennan (Matrix Academy Trust)
Mike Donoghue (John Taylor MAT)
Sinead Smith (Holy Spirit Catholic Multi Academy)
Margaret Yates (All Saints Catholic Collegiate)
South West England
RSC: Lisa Mannall
Elected
Sally Apps (Cabot Learning Federation)
Suzanne Flack (The Redstart Learning Partnership)
Paul Jones (Retired from First Federation Trust Academy)
Steve Savory (Gloucestershire Learning Alliance)
North east London and south east England
RSC: Sue Baldwin
Elected
Brian Conway (St. John the Baptist Catholic MAT)
Caroline Derbyshire (Saffron Academy Trust)
Karen Kerridge (Benflet Schools Trust)
Nardeep Sharma (Thrive Partnership Academy Trust)
North west London and south central England
RSC: Martin Post
Elected
Sarah Bennett (Inspiring Futures Through Learning)
Dame Sue Bourne (Retired from The Avenue School – Special Needs Academy Trust)
Tom Rees (Northampton Primary Academy Trust)
Claire Robins (Sir John Lawes Academies Trust)
South London and south-east England
RSC: Dominic Herrington
Elected
Sir Andrew Carter (South Farnham Educational Trust)
Jon Chaloner (GLF Schools)
Paula Farrow (Nexus Education Schools Trust)
Justin Smith (The Primary First Trust)
Surprised to see Matrix Academy Trust in the above list. It was ordered to review its governance after an investigation by the Education and Skills Funding Agency. https://schoolsweek.co.uk/matrix-academy-trust-ordered-to-review-governance-after-esfa-investigation/
In the circumstances, should Dame Mo Brennan give up her place on the HB board for West Midlands?
It’s important to remember that HB boards contain appointed members as well as elected ones. These are appointed by RSCs. Although there are rules about conflicts of interest there’s a suspicion that relationships between RSCs and appointed members can become a little too cosy.
When Tim Coulson was RSC for the East of England and North East London he rejected a bid from a diocesan MAT to take over the predecessor school of Great Yarmouth Charter Academy in favour of Inspiration Trust whose CEO, Dame Rachel de Souza was an appointed member of his HB board. He also agreed for Inspiration to set up a free school which now wants to merge with GY Charter. Coulson has just been appointed chair of governors at GY Charter.
Fears of impartiality might be unfounded but actions such as those described above raise concerns about the composition of HB boards and their non-partisanship. http://www.localschoolsnetwork.org.uk/2017/09/schools-commissioner-who-approved-takeover-of-yarmouth-academy-by-inspiration-trust-now-sits-as-its-chair-of-governors
Let’s hope the DfE updates its RSC list a little more quickly than previously. It’s still listing some RSCs who have resigned. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/schools-commissioners-group/about#