Elevate Multi Academy Trust

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.

Andrew Smith

The Diocese of York Educational Trust appointment. Appointed 16th June 2022

Andrew is the Diocesan Director of Education for the Diocese of York. He is a qualified teacher with over 30 years’ experience in primary education and, prior to this role, was the Headteacher of a voluntary aided church school for over ten years, securing good and outstanding judgements in both Ofsted and SIAMS inspections. Andrew has worked successfully in a number of collaborative partnerships, including within Teaching Schools and with schools overseas, particularly focusing on developing effective school leadership and shared curriculum development.

Andrew currently represents the Diocese of York Educational Trust (DYET) as a corporate Member on Multi Academy Trusts and is a director of DBE Services, a consortia of several Church of England dioceses in the north of England. He is also a Trustee and Council member of the National Society, the body which oversees the work of Church Schools in England and Wales. 

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

Ethos Trustees.

The Leeds Diocesan Board of Education Appointment.

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. 

Diocese of York Appointment

John Brear

Chair of the Board of Trustees

Finance link Trustee

Member Appointment

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.

Iain Spittal

Vice Chair

H&S and Whistleblowing link Trustee

Member appointment

Iain served for almost thirty two years as a police officer, during his career he worked in all ranks from Constable to Chief Constable. He amassed significant experience across the breadth of operational policing, including critical decision making in “Life at risk” incidents. This included both strategic firearms and public order command.

 Iain significant gained praise from Her Majesties Inspectorate of Constabulary for his role in leading whole organisational improvement across his last force. Taking the organisation from one which was failing to one which had clarity of purpose, a clear program of organisational improvement and a real commitment to improve the quality of service it provided to the communities served. At the same time recovering significant budget over spends to a balanced position which was capable of supporting further improvements.

 As a Chief officer Iain led the embedding of the Police Code of Ethics on behalf of the College of Policing and National Police Chiefs Council.

 Iain retired from policing in December 2017, since that time he has continued to serve the public, as a volunteer, with a specific focus on improving the opportunities for young people. He volunteers for the Prince’s Trust in a number of operational roles and supports its senior leaders across the north of England. Iain also mentors a number of Head Teachers in order to develop their leadership and strategic skills.

Iain is married with two grown up children. His pastimes include cycling, being a qualified ride leader for British Cycling. He also enjoys woodworking, walking and generally enjoying the outdoors.

 Hannah Stenton

Member Appointment

Hannah has over 10 years’ experience in the Financial Services industry. She has a background in marketing, brand management, customer research, customer/ colleague experience and systems thinking (end to end process improvement). Her specialty is identifying issues and then finding robust solutions to make things better that work for colleagues, customers as well as the business.

Hannah is currently the Engagement Lead for Finance Globally at Aviva, striving to make Finance an engaging, fun and inclusive function for 4,000 people globally to work. She is responsible for bringing the company strategy alive and making it relevant for the teams to make sure they feel passionate about driving this forward. She leads the Diversity and Inclusion agenda which comprises of 3 main areas; key metrics, education, recruitment, retention and promotion. Hannah also looks after the development agenda including activities such co-ordinating mentoring programmes and development sessions.

What Hannah loves most at work  is leadership and culture change combined with communications to build engagement to make Aviva a great place to work – last year she increased the Colleague Engagement score of Aviva by 11% on the Voice of Aviva survey though a wide range of activities.

Outside of work Hannah is her a country girl, who even has her own flock of pedigree Blue Faced Leicester Sheep – her sheep even met the Queen!

Member Appointment

Keri Standen

Safeguarding link Trustee

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 is 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.

Keri has worked with children and young people for over 18 years, 11 of those working for North Yorkshire county council. She has always supported   vulnerable and disadvantaged children throughout her career and is passionate about ensuring equality of opportunities, especially within education. As a   result, Safeguarding and Inclusion are her areas of knowledge and expertise.

Keri is a national trainer for the NSPCC.

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.

North Star is working in partnership with Red Kite Teaching School Hub to offer early years and primary training places on the School Direct programme.