Trustees
(also known as Directors)
Our Board of Trustees are responsible for setting the strategic direction of the Trust, holding operational leaders to account, ensuring high standards of performance, regulatory compliance and financial probity. As Trustees, they must ensure that they comply with the charity law requirements that govern the Trust. Our Trustees have been chosen for their diverse range of expertise in both education and business and demonstrate a high level of commitment to the trust.
Andy Baker
Trustee & Chair of the Board
Andy has been a senior leader in four secondary schools and has recently retired as the Headteacher of a large grammar school. Andy has also worked in school improvement for a local authority and has been both an accredited School Improvement Partner and a School Inspector. In his spare time Andy is an accomplished ceramicist with work displayed in many local homes and galleries.
Leanne Symonds
Trustee & Vice Chair of the Board
Leanne has extensive senior leadership experience and since 2012 has been Headteacher of two large secondary schools. Leanne has significant experience of strategic planning, project management and primary education partnership development. Leanne joined the Ringwood Academy as Headteacher in September 2016 and is a National Leader of Education.
Jo Perry
Trustee
Jo is the former CEO of the Trust and continues to work for the Trust on a flexible and part time basis to provide capacity in this period of Trust growth. Jo has extensive senior leadership experience and as a Headteacher has taken several schools from Ofsted Special Measures to Good and Outstanding. As a National Leader of Education, Jo provides strategic leadership support to a number schools both locally and regionally.
Laurence Keane
Trustee
Laurie spent 34 years in military and civil aviation, before founding his own aviation training company providing technical skills training, multi-crew co-operation, and communication skills training to budding professional pilots. He has a keen interest in lifelong learning and recently completed a Bachelor of Laws honours degree with the Open University. Laurie spent 10 years as a foundation governor in voluntary aided schools before joining the Trust as a director. He is also a Local Leader of Governance (LLG).
David Hallsworth
Trustee
David is currently the Headteacher of Parkstone Grammar School having held leadership roles within education for many years. He was formally the Chair of Governors at the Quay School, overseeing its transition to academy status. David also worked in an advisory role to the Borough of Poole during the “change of age” transfer process.
Kate Carter
Trustee
Kate Carter is the CEO of TEACH, a local Multi Academy Trust. She was previously a Headteacher for both a junior and infants school. Kate has taught for many years in the Poole and Bournemouth area and is a specialist in English and literacy. She has worked on many English development initiatives, nationally and locally and is a Local Leader of Education.
Sarah Watkins
Trustee
Sarah Watkins is a co-founder of Complete, a company that delivers leadership development to large organisations. She has a background in nursing and medical sales and is the mother of four grown up boys. Sarah brings a depth of experience in running a business and also offers her perspective as a parent of an autistic son. Enabling children to reach their potential despite their circumstances is what motivates Sarah as a Trustee.
Mark Bickford
Trustee
Mark Bickford is a veteran of business lending at Barclays and Lloyds banks and is now Chief Investment Officer at Social and Sustainable Capital, an organisation that helps charities and social enterprises deliver sustainable solutions to social issues.
Nathan Wilkins
Trustee
Nathan grew up in the South West before moving to Wales to study at university where he qualified as chartered accountant. Work then took him to London for a hectic 20 years working across finance, sales, delivering major programs and ultimately leadership. Recently Nathan has moved back to South West to marry and start a family. In social time he owns a property company and, when he can make time, is an avid sportsman.
John White
Chief Executive Officer
John is CEO and Accounting Officer for the Trust. He has extensive experience of school leadership in secondary, special and alternative provision settings. He is involved in school improvement in a variety of settings, both across the Trust and externally. John is a Local Leader of Education and also works for Ofsted, carrying out inspections of secondary, special and alternative provision schools.