An introduction to Leading Edge Academies Partnership

2021

Members

Our Members have ultimate control over the Trust and are signatories of the Articles of Association (which sets out the Trust’s charitable objects and governance structure) and have the power to amend the Articles of Association. They also have the power to appoint Trustees and remove any or all serving Trustees. The Members meet twice per year and the Board of Trustees provide the following information to ensure they are informed of the performance of the Trust: • The audited accounts; • An annual report on the educational performance of academies within the Trust; • An annual review of the effectiveness and impact of the Trust Board; and • Any further information required by the Members. Our Trustees are accountable for the performance of all Academies within the Trust and as such, must: • Ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction; • Hold the CEO and executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the Academies and their pupils and the performance management of staff; and • Oversee the financial performance of the Trust, ensuring financial probity and value for money.

Our current Members are: Mrs J Eason (Chair) Mrs S Davey Mr D Elliott Mr J Field Mrs S Brownlow (Askel Veur)

Trustees

Jackie Eason Governor Consultant and Chair of the Trust Board Appointed August 2018

Jackie has been involved with school governance since 2001 and provided professional governance consultancy and training since 2013. This has included working with the National Governance Association as a consultant trainer and being a designated NLG since 2015. Jackie has undertaken governance deployments in a wide range of settings, including chairing interim executive boards, chairing maintained schools and establishing trust boards for Multi Trusts.

Jackie is currently chair of a small maintained primary school and also chair of a MAT. Both are in . Jackie also undertakes a number of external reviews of governance for MATs and maintained schools across the South West. Jackie’s strengths are in providing support and challenge, particularly when governance becomes tricky. Jackie also works with the Bikeability Trust and British Cycling, promoting cycling across all ages, particularly for children. Jackie is the Regional Governance Lead for Cornwall, Devon, Torbay and Plymouth and can be contacted on [email protected].

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David Sharp Vice-Chair of the Trust Board (Appointed September 2020) Appointed August 2019 Born and educated in Nottingham, David trained and worked as a mechanical engineer before setting up and running a small plastic engineering company. David has lived in Cornwall for 19 years and loves it, especially the golf courses.

Gary Anderson Trustee (Askel Veur) Appointed April 2019

Gary has recently retired after a career spanning over 35 years in a number of professional roles in education, all of which he enjoyed and is pleased to draw on in contributing to the Leading Edge Academies Partnership MAT. Gary qualified as a specialist Teacher of the Deaf in 1982 and started out as a classroom teacher in a residential special school for the deaf. This was followed by working as a Teacher in Charge of a Hearing-Impaired Unit, then as an Assistant Headteacher in a comprehensive school and then a LA Specialist Advisory Teacher in Hampshire. After that he was Head of Surrey’s Physical and Sensory Support Service; a large countywide service supporting families and education settings for children and young people with a hearing visual, multi-sensory or physical impairment from pre-school to post 16, including professional oversight for the 7 Resource Bases for Hearing Impairment. For the last ten years of his career, Gary was Principal Consultant for Inclusion and SEN, within the commissioned School Effectiveness Service in Surrey’s Joint Venture with Babcock 4S. He was the School Improvement Manager for Surrey’s 23 special schools and 6 Primary/Medical PRUs. Additionally, he had oversight of school improvement relating to Inclusion and SEN within Surrey’s mainstream primary and secondary schools. His team provided a range of support to schools including SEND, Safeguarding, PSHE and Healthy Schools. He led a countywide strategy: ‘Inclusive Values at the Heart of School Effectiveness’ with Professor Tony Booth, co-author of the Index for Inclusion to promote the greater inclusion of all pupils, parents, staff and governors in the development of their schools. He was also an Ofsted Inspector until July 2018. Gary is passionate about inclusion and committed to working in partnership with all to ensure that all members of a school’s community are valued and welcomed equally. In 2018 Gary moved to Goldsithney with his partner, who is a Team Vicar in the beautiful Mounts Bay Benefice, which is quite a contrast to life at their previous parish of St John’s Waterloo!

Guy Chappell Trustee Appointed October 2019

Guy is an experienced CEO with extensive board room experience as both a CEO and Trustee. He has worked in both the commercial, voluntary and public sector. He has twenty- two years’ experience of working within education strategic leadership and management, policy and practice development, change, resource and administration management. He has a degree in Economics and Politics and a Masters Degree in Leadership and Change Management in Education. Guy is currently the CEO of The Special Partnership Trust and is committed to ensuring that the Special Partnership Trust creates the best possible opportunities and environment for every learner in Cornwall to aspire and maximise their potential. He has contributed to developing leading policy and practice in the field of Special Education and is a proud father of three.

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Canon Perran Gay Trustee (Askel Veur) Appointed August 2018

Perran is the Chaplain to the (the resident Church of parish priest who serves the islands). Perran is a former secondary school teacher and also has experience of adult education and clergy training through his work with Exeter Universtiy and the Diocese of Truro, having led the Education Department at Truro Cathedral for seven years. Perran has been a governor of four church and community primary schools and a member of the governing body and audit committee of the University of St Mark and St John, Plymouth.

Jane Osborne Trustee (Askel Veur) Appointed August 2018

Jane has extensive experience as a Governor having been Chair of both primary and secondary schools, but began by chairing Pre-School Playgroup. Now retired after working in the family farming business, Jane has also spent time in banking and estate agency. Jane is active in the Penlee Cluster of Churches, treasurer and organising Paul Luncheon Club for the elderly and helping with the Cluster Children's Summer Holiday Club. She enjoys Zumba, exercise and the outdoors, especially keeping up with her five grandsons.

Paul Taylor-McCartney Trustee Appointed May 2020 Paul Taylor-McCartney was born in the Midlands and has an extensive background in education. He is currently an Assistant Programme Manager for the Cornwall SCITT and associate lecturer for Bath Spa’s PGCE and SCITT provision. Prior to moving to Cornwall, he was Head of Secondary Teacher Education for the University of Warwick, overseeing the strategic and operational leadership of a range of PGCEs and related programmes, including its flagship International PGCE. This followed a long and distinguished career as teacher of English and Drama, in which time as an assistant principal of the RSA Academy (Sandwell), he launched and led the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. He has long been committed to quality assurance and governance, holding several external examiner roles in both ITE and Creative Writing, as well as acting as Chair of Governors for an inner-city London school for three years, leading them to a highly successful first inspection. Paul is also a doctoral researcher with Leicester University, following a part- time PhD in English (Creative Writing) and expected to graduate in 2021. He regularly presents at local, regional and national conferences related to his research and teaching interests.

Robin Webb Trustee Appointed August 2018 Robin has run a small business in Penzance and St Ives for thirty years. Robin joined the governing body of over fifteen years ago, of which he was Chair for ten years before becoming Vice-Chair of the Trust Board from August 2018 to September 2020. Now retired, Robin likes most sports and gardening.

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Executive Team

Kelley Butcher Chief Executive Officer and Executive Principal (Primary)

As the CEO of the Leading Edge Academies Partnership, Kelley’s role is to ensure that the Trust remains outward facing and offers an excellent, world-class, values based education for all pupils in the Leading Edge academies. During her 24 years of working in education, Kelley has enjoyed a range of roles including primary teaching, consultancy work and being a primary headteacher in West Cornwall. Outside work, Kelley loves learning new things, spending time with her family and enjoying the beautiful Cornish environment- whether running, walking, cycling, watching cricket or lazing on the beach!

David Teasdale Chief Operating Officer As Chief Operating Officer David’s role is to oversee Finance, HR, Premises, IT strategy and Community partnerships in all academies across the Trust, as well as being Chief Finance Officer and Data Protection Officer. David has many years’ experience in senior leadership roles in a range of sectors. He has a particular passion for working in values-based organisations and communities. Having adopted two children in 2018, David has first-hand experience of how important a caring and supportive school environment is for young people and their families. In his spare time, David enjoys playing games with his partner and children and trying not to get beaten at Rummikub. He enjoys spending time outside, walking his two dogs and growing fruit and veg.

Laura Sadler Executive Assistant and Clerk to the Trust Board Laura has worked for a variety of organisations, both in the public and private sectors, including 8 years’ experience of working at two Worcestershire based independent boarding schools at pre-prep, prep and secondary level, in the role of Personal Assistant to the Headteacher. As a trained HR professional, Laura is fully CIPD qualified and has a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management. Laura moved from Herefordshire to Cornwall in August 2018 and joined the Trust in the role of Executive Assistant in September 2018. In her current role, Laura provides administrative support to the CEO, COO and wider Executive Team and has been Clerk to the Trust Board since March 2019. Outside the office, Laura is a keen cyclist and runner, who also enjoys walking and loves to play the piano.

Les Hall Executive Principal (Secondary), Mounts Bay Academy (Mounts Bay Academy was the inaugural member of the Trust in August 2018) Les was raised in Yorkshire and moved to Cornwall in 2000. As Principal at Mounts Bay Academy he is passionate about preparing young people for the world as it exists now. Les has an MA in Fine Art, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching. This is alongside being an Apple Distinguished Educator, highlights his interest in technology for learning and teaching.

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Rachel Gibb Headteacher, (sponsored by Leading Edge Academies Partnership in January 2019) Rachel is an experienced and knowledgeable senior leader who has built her career in education through her work for five different local authorities over 23 years. Rachel grew up in Portsmouth, reading Music at Royal Holloway, London University and gaining her secondary PGCE at the Institute of Education. She is dedicated to lifelong learning and professional growth, having completed a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership and Management with the Open University and achieving the National Professional Qualification for Headteachers, again at the Institute of Education. Rachel takes up the leadership of Five Islands Academy following her four years as Headteacher at a Church of England comprehensive school in Surrey. One of the hallmarks of her leadership is the ambitious vision she has for the staff and students around her. Rachel firmly believes in the positive power of education to transform the lives of young people. Rachel feels very privileged to become a part of the community of Scilly. Along with her husband Mike and their adult daughters and son-in-law, Rachel fully intends to thoroughly enjoy the beauty of the islands and all they have to offer.

Rob Hamshar Interim Headteacher at St Hilary School (sponsored by Leading Edge Academies Partnership in April 2019)

Rob’s teaching career started with 12 years in and around south west London, before joining the leadership team at St Hilary, and after 9 years there he could not be prouder of his place of work! As Head of St Hilary, Rob believes passionately that it is their role to uncover and nurture each child’s individual qualities and deliver a curriculum which ensures all can become the ‘Best they Can Be’ and ready for their exciting futures. Out of school Rob loves nothing more than spending time with his young and energetic family, walking the Cornish coast and trying to stand up on his very forgiving surfboard!

Adam Anderson Principal, Ludgvan School (sponsored by Leading Edge Academies Partnership in April 2019) Adam began teaching at Ludgvan as an NQT in 2006. He has taught in all year groups from Year 1 to Year 6 and became the Principal in May 2018 and completed his NPQH in 2020. In his spare time, Adam enjoys CrossFit and spending time with his family, having taken a break from rowing after 15 years as a competitive gig rower. He was the Captain of the Falmouth Gig First Team winning the World Championships on numerous occasions.

Ben Eddy Acting Headteacher, (rebrokered and joined Leading Edge Academies Partnership on 1 May 2019) Ben is a proud Cornishman who is a fan of all sports, particularly rugby. Before teaching he was a semi-professional rugby player who played for a number of clubs; mainly for the ‘Pirates’ where he played over two hundred and fifty first team games. Ben studied at the College of St Mark and St John in Plymouth (Exeter University) where he completed a Bachelor of Education Honours degree in Physical Education with Information Technology. He has been a senior leader for over ten years with a particular focus on behaviour and attendance, and previously ran the Student Services team at Mounts Bay Academy. Ben has also worked for the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) as a lead practitioner in Applied Learning.

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Josh McDonald Josh began his Headship at St Buryan Academy in 2018 and has taught in every year group

He is passionate about raising the aspirations of the children at St Buryan and in West Cornwall, allowing them to dream big and to achieve what they aspire to. He is a big advocate of using the outdoors and our local environment to inspire learning; as well as providing children with the ambitions to 'shatter the glass ceiling'.

Away from school Josh is a keen footballer and loves spending time with his young family exploring Cornwall's hidden treasures.