Trustees
(also known as Directors)
Our Board of Trustees are responsible for setting the strategic direction of the Trust, holding operational leaders to account, and 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. Trustees are also directors of the company and are registered on Companies House as such. Our Trustees have been chosen for their diverse range of expertise in both education and business.
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.
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.
Andy Clough
Trustee
Andy is a Public Sector Industry leader at Microsoft and has spent the last 26 years in similar roles at various IT companies. He succeeded through the apprenticeship route into industry and very much values diversity and alternative ways for young people to gain experience and progress in their educational and working lives.
Alan Bennett
Trustee
Alan has extensive leadership experience at international (Nato HQ Brussels; British Embassy, Washington DC) and national (Royal Navy commands; CEO The Royal College of Surgeons) level. With a deep understanding of managing change in diverse and complex organisations, coupled with the identification and mitigation of strategic risk, he brings a lifelong appreciation of how to get the best from both individuals and teams however demanding the circumstances. Enabling organisations so that individuals can make the most of their opportunities is what inspires him to be part of the Delta Educational Trust.
Gerard Wherity
Trustee
Before joining Delta, Gerard was a governor at a Bournemouth primary school. Most of his working life was spent as an Actuary at an insurance company, although he spent a few years as a secondary school teacher. He is partly retired, but still practises acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine
Angela England-Holland
Trustee
Angela is a Barrister with twenty years practice experience and has also been a local school governor in recent years. She has always worked for the public during her legal career, both locally and further afield. During those years she has dealt with many child welfare issues, whilst more latterly specialising in financial and corporate matters. Angela feels strongly that all children no matter their background or abilities should have access to a good quality education that provides them with a wide variety of opportunities, enriching educational experiences and sparks a love of lifelong learning.