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 North Warwickshire Improvement Board is:

Mark Bland
Carrie Clare
Justin Creasey
Charlotte Foulston
Alex Ladbury
Kevin Lamb
Sue-Ellen Lamb
Ron Pillay
Anne Powell – Chair
Alison Ramsay

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.

Carrie Clare

Executive Head of Park Lane and Race Leys

Carrie joined Park Lane Primary & Nursery School as Head in April 2018. After starting her teaching career in 1998 she quickly progressed through Senior Leadership. As school partnerships grew, Carrie became Executive Head of a federation of schools and the founder of a small Multi- Academy Trust. Carrie has a strong belief that the children should be at the heart of all decisions made by school leaders. She recognises that children only get one chance at Primary Education and this inspires her vision and values. Carrie believes that school to school support and strong partnerships are essential to maximise the educational opportunities for children and communities.
 

Justin Creasey

Justin has leadership experience in primary and secondary schools as a Head, Executive Head and School Improver. A maths specialist, he has a keen interest in pedagogy and curriculum innovation and since joining GST, he has worked with schools to make sustainable step changes in outcomes and to speed their journeys to Griffin Great.

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.

Alex Ladbury

Alex has had a fast-paced, exciting career: joining the Park Lane Family in 2014 as a class teacher and swiftly progressing through the Senior Leadership Team to her most recent role of Head of School in January 2020. Alex enables every child to succeed and firmly believes that every child has the right to a first-class education, no matter the boundaries, through her specialism of Special Educational Needs. Alex has a strong belief that children should be at the heart of all decisions, providing rich, enthralling learning opportunities to further embed this culture across the school. As a GST Leader, Alex highlights the importance of developing talent at all levels through a coaching and mentoring approach, and strongly values the opinions of all – Children, Parents and Colleagues.

Kevin Lamb

Kevin is an experienced school Governor who has served as a local Governor and as a member of the North Warwickshire Board. Kevin is committed to ensuring that the pupils in a Griffin school receive a rich and varied curriculum. His knowledge of the business sector brings experience and expertise to his role as a Governor.

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.

Alison Ramsay

Alison is a modern foreign languages graduate who has a passion for leading ambitious school communities and opening up the world to its students. As an experienced Secondary Head, Executive Head and School Improver, Alison has developed teams, mentored new leaders and supported schools through significant periods of change. Her belief in championing every young person, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, is at the heart of everything she does. Alison is an advocate for promoting sports and arts provision, and celebrating the achievements of young people in these areas.

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