Members and Trustees

 Members: 

Dame Reena Keeble: Appointed on 12^th June 2017

Dame Reena was an NLE and was a successful primary Head teacher for 22 years achieving three “Outstanding” Ofsted judgments in London. She achieved her doctorate in Educational Leadership in 2006 and was honoured with a DBE in recognition of her services to education in 2011. Dame Reena chaired the DfE Primary Heads’ Reference Group for five years and led and chaired a national review of effective primary teaching on behalf of the Teaching Schools Council. Dame Reena is now happily retired but continues to mentor and support school leaders on a pro- bono basis.

Martin Barnes: The Diocese of York Educational Trust appointment. Appointed 24th November 2020

Career Civil Servant – Operations, Systems, Organisational Development and HR. Director at National School of Government, Cabinet Office. Director, Development and Operations at Leadership Foundation for Higher Education. Subsequently national and international leadership development consultant focused on government to government institutional strengthening. Programmes. Currently Director, Diocese of York Educational Trust and Member HOPE Learning Trust, York.

Nigel Sinclair: The Leeds Diocesan Board of Finance appointment. Chair. Appointed on 12^th June 2017

Nigel is the Team Rector of four churches in West Leeds.  He has been a member of the Diocesan Board of Education (Ripon & Leeds, now ‘Leeds’) for over ten years and is part of their School Organisation Sub-Group.  He has been a school governor of seven primary schools (2 as Chair) and one secondary school (which converted to Academy status) over a twenty-year period and is presently a Member of two other Multi Academy Trusts.  His first degree was in Public Administration (which included a placement year working with Northumberland Education Authority) and he holds an MA in Religious Education from York St John. 

Jenny Carpenter: University of York St John appointment. Appointed on 12^th June 2017

Currently School Partnerships Lead within the School of Education, Language and Psychology, Jenny leads mentor development and training for partnership schools. She teaches on the primary PGCE programmes and supervises research students on Foundation Degrees and Masters in Education programmes. Previous to her appointment at York St John University she taught in primary and middle schools in Yorkshire. She was a governor for 12 years in a local primary school and enjoys keeping up to date with educational policy and development.  

Jim Brown: Elevate appointment Appointed on 12^th June 2017

Jim is currently Chair of governors at two primary schools. He has 30 years’ experience of being a successful businessman.  Jim has significant experience of the business world as a director of various companies and a successful self-employed project manager since 1989.  Until recently, Jim was a trustee of Queen Mary’s School, Thirsk, an independent school catering for ages 2 – 16.

Trustees: 

Rev Nigel Sinclair: The Leeds Diocesan Board of Education appointment. Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Portrait – see above.

Alison Smith: Diocese of York appointment. Safeguarding Trustee

 Alison has worked in education for the past 20 years. She is highly committed to supporting the development of educational provision which allows pupils to flourish both ‘academically and personally’, and provision which ensures pupils develop a life-long ‘love of learning’.

Alison is currently the Assistant Director of Education for the Diocese of York Education Team (effectiveness). Alison provides a role which focusses upon monitoring the overall effectiveness and performance of all 125 schools across the Diocese of York locality, working in collaboration with key partners.  Alison also provides support and training for school leaders.

Prior to joining the Diocese of York Education Team, Alison worked for North Yorkshire Children and Young People’s Service for 16 years, beginning as a Primary School Teacher, and then as an Advanced Skills Teacher who supported teaching colleagues to develop their practice across a variety of schools and settings across North Yorkshire and then as a Primary Headteacher for 9 years.

On a more personal note, Alison is married and has a very loveable (if a little excitable) dog named ‘Jasper’. She is a VW Campervan fanatic and enjoys the great outdoors!

John Brear: Member appointment. Chair of Elevate's Audit, Risk and Resources Committee

John is a chartered accountant with 41 years’ experience.  He is a partner at Brown Butler Chartered Accountants. John has particular expertise in the IT (including software) and medical sectors.  He has numerous IT and software businesses, with turnovers of £50m-plus, among his clients and he also advises many medical practitioners and dentists on issues such as changes to NHS superannuation, contracts and incorporation.

 David Blanchfield: Member appointment.

 David has worked in HR for the Civil Service for the last 13 years.  He has provided HR consultancy support to government departments. He is an HR specialist in pay and reward policy development to support organisational reform and workforce efficiency.

Dr Liz Foster: Member appointment.

Elizabeth has worked in ITE for the majority of her career. Following posts in secondary school teaching and management she moved into a university department of education, supporting both initial teacher training and higher degree programmes at masters and doctoral level. As an active researcher she was principal investigator on major research projects in work-based, adult learning. She subsequently moved into consultancy work in Initial Teacher Training holding a sequence of initial teacher training, teacher CPD and evaluation contracts with government departments and agencies, schools and Initial Teacher Training providers. In these roles she worked nationally and regionally providing challenge, advice, and guidance, and developing methodologies, tools and guidance to support evaluation and training.  Elizabeth has worked as an Ofsted Additional Inspector, and a civil servant with DfE. She has run two companies providing consultancy services in ITT.

Graham Shaw: Member appointment. Chair of the Standards Committee

Graham is one of the country’s foremost legal authorities in the education sector having advised in this field since 1999. He was also one of the first lawyers in the country to advise on the academies programme following its launch by the Labour government in 2002. Since then he has advised extensively on sponsored and school converter academies across all phases and types of provision including primary, secondary, all-through, special, alternative and hospital provision, Church academies, co-operative academies, schemes with PFI and/or BSF arrangements and Multi Academy Trusts (“MATs”). He has also advised extensively on academy transfers between MATs, the conversion of Single Academy Trusts (“SATs”) into MATs and the merger of SATs and MATs.

 Graham’s experience also spans an extensive range of MATs including for any combination of primary, secondary, special, alternative and hospital provision, Church and non-Church academies where he has advised on their academy conversions and transfers and their operational and strategic requirements.

 Graham also advises maintained schools and individual academies on their legal requirements and has advised on free schools, studio schools, schools PFI and university student accommodation, having also advised universities, further education and sixth form colleges and independent schools.

 Graham lives in Harrogate with his wife and children and attends St John's Church in Bilton, Harrogate.

Alison Wilson: Member appointment. 

Alison Wilson is a deputy director at the Department for Education and currently leads its Vulnerable Children Unit as part of the Department’s COVID response function. Prior to this she led the Department’s Opportunity Area Programme, worked in the Regional School Commissioners Office; on school funding reform; and reform to the system for supporting children with special educational needs. Alison also served as a governor for almost 3 years at Topcliffe CE Primary school.

 Keri Standen: Member appointment

Working as a Safeguarding consultant, Keri provides organisations with advice, compliance support and training. She has worked with many schools across Yorkshire and the North East and have a good understanding of the diverse needs of the schools and their pupils. Having supported staff across most sectors including, education, charity sector, Churches and faith groups and commercial organisations Keri has a diverse experience of the challenges facing organisations supporting children and young people. Also, having supported many Church schools over the years, she am keen to follow the development of the Trust and how this supports the ethos of Church of England Schools across the diocese. 

Keri has knowledge and skills to support the development and expansion of the Trust. She has been a governor for 5 years and 3 of those as Chair of Governors, and supported her school becoming an Academy and followed with interest the developments and growth within the Academy agenda.

Nigel Ashley: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

 Nigel has been a Head teacher for 13 years of 2 schools. He is an NLE.  He was previously the Head teacher at Meadowside and led the school from ‘Requires Improvement’ to ‘Outstanding’. He also lead his previous school from ‘Good’ to ‘Outstanding.’  As an NLE, he has supported many schools. Meadowside Academy is the lead school for North Star teaching school. 

 North Star is working in partnership with Leeds Trinity University to offer early years and primary training places on the School Direct programme.

Register of Interests

Members:

Trustees:

Committees for 2020-2021:

Elevate Audit, Risk & Resources Committee

Including Pay Review Committee :

 John Brear, David Blanchfield, Alison Wilson and CEO

Chair: John Brear

In attendance: CFO: James Bromiley and Finance Manager: Rebecca Clarke,

Clerk: Dianne Mousley

Elevate Standards Committee:

Keri Standen, Dr Liz Foster, Graham Shaw and CEO

Chair: Graham Shaw

In attendance: School Improvement Team Member    

Clerk: Dianne Mousley

Head Teacher Partnership Board:

 Head teachers, CEO and School Improvement Team Members

In attendance:

Chair of Governors Board:

 Chairs of LGBs, CEO and a Trustee.

Chair: Jessica Mudd (MCG Cof E primary school)

In attendance:  Clerk: Dianne Mousley

Church School Scrutiny Committee:

 Rev Nigel Sinclair (Leeds Trustee), Alison Smith (York Trustee), CEO,

Foundation governors and Head teachers of C of E Academies.

Chair: Rev Nigel Sinclair

In attendance:  Clerk: Dianne Mousley

CEO Performance Management Review and Pay Committee:

 Chair of Trustees, Chair Audit & Resources and Chair of Standards.

Head Teacher’s Performance Review:

 CEO and Chair of LGB.

Member of Elevate’s School Development Team

Trustees Attendance: