Governance is a key element of the leadership and management of the Griffin Schools Trust (GST) itself and of the schools individually and collectively. Please click here to see our Governance Structure.

The Trust (itself accountable to DfE) is the body to whom schools are directly accountable. It delegates autonomy to each Local Governing Board/Body (LGB) or School Improvement Board (SIB) according to the Scheme of Delegation.

The Trust Board is made up of experts in UK and international education as well as private sector professionals with a wide range of commercial experience and expertise. In keeping with our vision we also place an emphasis on attracting Trustees who have backgrounds and networks in Sport and the Arts. The Board acts as guardian to the Trust vision, and ensures that progress towards its fulfilment is underpinned with the highest standards of compliance with our regulators so that public funding is very well-used.

Serving as a governor in a GST school requires a commitment to the seven principles of public life and to a code of conduct which puts the school and its pupils at the centre. GST governors meet formally every thirteen weeks (i.e. once every school term) and much of the real work is done between these meetings, through Working Groups and individual contributions to the school’s life according to each governor’s skills and the needs of the school.

The role is very different from that of a governor in a Local Authority school, recognising that the Head is the school’s Chief Executive and the Board is there to advise, support and challenge through appropriate channels and to evidence the impact that governance is having on the school’s progress. As in the world of non-executive directors, GST governors are expected to bring their skills to bear and to work in co-operation and collaboration with the staff team, the whole Local Governing Body and the Trust to bring about rapid and sustained improvement for the pupils they serve.

The Trust is responsible for the appointment, performance management and professional development of the Heads, though the LGB’s work has a vital role to play in highlighting and evidencing the impact that the Head and governors are making through their termly meetings. Through their work in and for the school, governors come to know the school community and to be well-informed about its performance, able to talk about it confidently and accurately to the Trust, to Ofsted, to parents and to interested local groups.

We very much appreciate the work that governors do and the part they play in the success of the schools they serve and indeed of the Trust. We hope that governors find reward in the impact they make on young lives and their individual experience of the living reality of the GST motto: Proud Traditions Wide Horizons High Achievement.

The Nicholas Chamberlaine Improvement Board is:

Mark Bland
Charlotte Foulston
Sue-Ellen Lamb
Ron Pillay
Anne Powell – Chair

Mark Bland

Mark has more than twenty years experience of teaching and leadership in secondary schools, predominantly in London. An experienced Head and school improver, he is passionate about developing a curriculum and pedagogy that ensures that every child’s potential can be discovered and fulfilled. His expertise in using timetabling as a strategic lever in school improvement and a basis for innovative partnership working is an important driver of progress as well as a popular training course for senior staff across GST. Mark is driven to develop and coach staff to work together for sustainable improvement and believes that every child in the school community should be encouraged and supported to fulfil their potential and achieve their dreams.

Charlotte Foulston

Charlotte has had over 19 years of experience in education, both inner city London and south Wales, and has a deep understanding that quality teaching and learning, and putting the pupils at the heart of every initiative, is the way to support progress, achievement and, ultimately, improve children’s life chances.

Sue-Ellen Lamb

Sue-Ellen has been working in education for the past 10 years where she found her love and passion for teaching in the Early Years. She firmly believes that teaching and learning needs to be at its best in this key phase in order to give children the best start possible in their education. Sue-Ellen quickly moved through leadership roles such as Nursery Manager, Reception Teacher, Early Years lead, before gaining experience in upper school as Assistant Head across the primary phase. Her current post as Head of School, enables her passion for ensuring that children at Race Leys are offered a wide range of experiences and opportunities, whilst raising aspirations and achievement, is at the heart of all decisions made.

Ron Pillay

Ronald Pillay brings over 20 years of experience in teaching and leadership, in a variety of contexts in the UK and internationally. As an experienced senior leader, he is passionate about improving the life chances of all young people, irrespective of their backgrounds. His expertise is in driving improvement through teaching and learning, curriculum development, coaching, mentoring, and middle leadership development, while holding firm to the belief that the child is at the centre of everything we do.

Anne Powell

Chair

Anne is a music graduate who found her vocation in teaching in the least affluent communities in East London. As a primary Head and then Executive Head, Anne has led and supported rapid and sustainable improvement journeys in several GST schools, primary and secondary. Her leadership saw two long-term underperforming schools speed from special measures to confidently outstanding. The first GST Head to become the CEO on the strength of her record, Anne presides over the further realisation of the Trust’s vision. She is driven by a belief that good exam outcomes are the corollary of a great education and not its sole focus.

Tracey Headley – Clerk
tracey.headley@nicholaschamberlaine-gst.org
02476 312308

To contact the Chair:
E-mails for the attention of the Chair of Governors can be sent to the clerk (above), post can be sent to Nicholas Chamberlaine School, Bulkington Road, Bedworth, Warwickshire CV12 9EA