Trust governance

Term of office: 1 October 2024 - 30 September 2028

Al is a Co-opted Trustee - appointed by the Board

Having qualified and practiced as a Chartered Accountant for six years, and then undertaken number one commercial finance roles for five years, Al became a management consultant. In that position Al provides strategic, financial and, most of all, change management support to local public services such as Councils, Health agencies and some Government departments.

As a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales and with experience from practice and commerce, Al hopes he will bring to the Trust Board expertise in strategic, operational and technical finance.

Most relevantly perhaps, for the past 15 years Al has been professionally supporting local public service agencies to improve outcomes for citizens and achieve financial sustainability. This has been across a range of fields, and most relevant for the Trust being: SEND & High Needs, children’s social care, adult social care and health services.

As well as having supported 30 local areas to deliver change in SEND and supporting at a regional level (including the North East Regional Improvement and Innovation Alliance) Al has some involvement at a national level, and led his employer’s successful bid to become a delivery partner to DfE’s SEND&AP Programme, which will provide an understanding of both the strategic and frontline landscape, as well as some networks, which can be helpful in furthering the Trust’s ambitions.

Al is a member of the Trust Board's Resources & Audit & Risk Committee. 

Term of office: 3 October 2022 - 2 October 2026 

Anna is a Co-opted Trustee - appointed by the Board

Anna is a senior official in the Department for Education and, following an internal reorganisation, moved to work in the newly established Yorkshire and The Humber’s Regions Group where she is the Head of Delivery for North Yorkshire, Humberside and the Programme Management Office, having previously being based in the North region.  

Anna has worked on academies delivery for over 6 years with the aim to help raise education standards and develop MAT capacity within the regions.

She has extensive knowledge and experience of working with the education sector having worked for the Department for over 20 years and, as well as working on delivery, has worked on various policies including teachers’ pay and conditions, teacher supply and initial teacher training.  

Anna is a member of the Trust Board's Standards Committee.

Term of office: 3 March 2025 - 2 March 2029

Bridget is a Member appointed Trustee

Bridget is a former education professional with considerable experience in school improvement, leadership and governance. 

Bridget’s career is based on teaching experience in secondary and primary schools prior to being Headteacher of two primary schools in which she brought about rapid school improvement.  Following this she was a Local Authority School Adviser holding roles within its Inclusion and Primary Teams as a DfE Accredited School Improvement Partner,  Senior Primary Adviser and Education Development Adviser.   In addition to providing challenge and support to schools, Bridget led county wide initiatives to support children’s personal, social, health education working with a range of wider partners, locally and nationally. 

Bridget is personable, credible and experienced in leading and working within Governing Boards. She is respected for her strategic understanding of school improvement and governance in providing highly effective strategic school leadership and direction, having the ability to inspire and lead governors to fulfil their roles well and improve provision and outcomes for children.  These qualities have led her to be appointed as Chair of two Interim Executive Boards and to support the work of a Local Authority Governance Service.

Bridget has a genuine enjoyment in engaging with schools combined with the drive to secure the best possible leadership and provision so that children and young people can flourish at school.

Term of office: 1 February 2025 - 31 January 2029

Chris is a Member appointed Trustee

Chris has been Strategic Manager for Provision and Performance within a Local Authority since 2019, having responsibility for planning the support and interventions required to ensure effective provision to improve the outcomes of all children and young people within a strong culture of safeguarding.  Within the Local Authority, Chris strategically leads on national initiatives which reflect upon seeking solutions to emerging challenges within education and SEND.

Previously, Chris was a Headteacher for eight years and prior to this was a primary teacher for 16 years.

Chris is also an Ofsted Inspector working with schools within the primary phase and across the region which continues to strengthen his knowledge and skills.

In addition to his current work as Strategic Manager within a Local Authority and as a serving Ofsted Inspector, Chris leads on initiatives with the Department for Education which are facilitating opportunities to explore the effectiveness of both SEND provision (SEND & AP Change Programme) and the use of Alternative Provision (Delivering Better Value) across county.

Term of office: 12 July 2025 - 11 July 2029

Colin is a Member appointed Trustee

Colin has been a governor for over 29 years, including more than 18 years at Abbey Hill (Vice Chair for 2 years and Chair for 4), Chair of Stockton Borough First Federation from its formation until its conversion to Horizons Specialist Academy Trust (7 years) and Chair of the Trust at its formation in 2013 until 2017 (4 years).  Additionally, he was a governor of Ash Trees Special Primary School for 3 years.

Colin graduated in Metallurgy and worked worldwide in production, processing, computerised production planning, business development and commercial management roles until early retirement from the position of Sales and Marketing Director of a multinational multi million turnover engineering contracting company with 500+ employees. 

His charitable activities include 15 years in the Round Table organisation in several continents and 4 years in Rotary International, plus numerous years as a director of charitable trusts providing work for people with learning difficulties.

Colin is the Chair of the Trust Board’s Standards Committee and is also a member of the Resources & Audit & Risk Committee.

Chair of the Board of Trustees

Term of office: 1 September 2023 - 31 August 2027

David is a Co-opted Trustee - appointed by the Board

David is a highly experienced and well respected education professional who has unrivalled experience and expertise in supporting school leaders and trustees in the development of effective governance models.

David brings over 40 years of experience in the education sector to his work and this includes extensive headship experience, a range of senior management roles in local government, a national advisory role in the DfE's BSF programme and consultancy and leadership roles in the private sector. He also worked with the MoD for two years on supporting the transition of service children. 

He has Qualified Teacher Status and is a graduate of the University of Warwick. He was an Ofsted inspector for 13 years. David was selected as the NGA’s Outstanding Clerk of the Year in 2015 and was a member of Sir David Carter's expert group that developed the DfE's Competency Framework for Governance. He also helped to develop the DfE's framework for school/academy clerks. Latterly in his career, David provided governance support to a number of Multi Academy Trusts in the north east of England.

David is a member of the Trust Board’s Resources & Audit & Risk Committee and the Standards Committee.

Term of office: 1 September 2025 - 31 August 2029

David is a Member appointed Trustee

David has worked in local government for 38 years, spending the last 18 of these with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council until his recent retirement.

David is a CIPFA qualified accountant and was Senior Finance Manager in Stockton responsible for finance associated with a broad range of areas including Children’s, Adults and Community Services.  He’s worked in the field of schools and associated education funding for the last 24 years. Since its inception and until recently David had been the finance lead on Stockton’s Schools’ Forum.

David has experience of working with a host of stakeholders and partners including academies, companies, other LAs and the ESFA. In terms of school governance, he’s served as a member of the Interim Executive Board at Thornaby Community School and has provided governor training.

David is keen to give back to those areas he's valued working with over his career. David is particularly enthusiastic about supporting children with learning difficulties and disabilities to gain the best outcomes possible in preparation for adulthood.

David is the Chair of the Trust Board's Resources & Audit & Risk Committee. 

Term of office: 16 December 2022 - 15 December 2026

Baxi is a Member appointed Trustee

Baxi has been a Member appointed Director since 2014. After completing medical training over 20 years ago, he specialised in mental health and is currently working as a Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinical Director in Tees Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust which is a leading Mental Health Trust in the area. He has experience in research, medical education and clinical psychiatry. He is passionate about use of technology and data as tools to improve efficiency and overall productivity.

Baxi is a member of the Trust Board’s Resources & Audit & Risk Committee 

Term of office: 12 July 2025 - 11 July 2029

Maurice is a Member appointed Trustee

Maurice is the previous Chair of the Board of Trustees and prior to this was Vice Chair at the Trust's inception in 2013.  He has been involved in the governance of the Trust’s academies/schools for over 28 years.  Maurice is also the Lead Safeguarding Director for the Trust. 

Prior to retirement, Maurice was a senior police officer directly responsible for 300 staff and a £10m+ budget.

He is a former Trustee of North England Children’s Cancer Research Fund and also of Tees Country Products and Tees Country Products Enterprises.  He is a current Director of La Bastille Ltd.

Speaking about the Trust, Maurice is very clear in his vision that the Trust can continue to deliver the best possible education to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities across the Tees Valley, to help them maximise their potential and realise their aspirations.

As well as Vice Chair of the Trust Board, Maurice is a member of the Resources & Audit & Risk Committee and the Standards Committee, and is also the Lead Trustee for Safeguarding/Child Protection.

New CEO