Board of Directors and Members

Sir Michael Griffiths was Headteacher of Northampton School for Boys from 2001 to 2013. The school was the first converter academy - a large state comprehensive that admits girls to the sixth form. The school is a Teaching School and has an outstanding record, not only for academic performance but also the breadth and quality of its extracurricular provision.

Sir Michael was Head of Science in two Wolverhampton comprehensive schools. He was an examiner for GCE O-level and A-level Biology. After a period as Senior Lecturer in Science Education at Sheffield Hallam University, he was appointed as Science Adviser and Ofsted Inspector in Sefton LEA before returning to the school sector. Sir Michael is a National Leader of Education and a Fellow of the RSA. He served as President of the Association for School and College Leaders in 2012-13.

Awarded a knighthood in the 2014 New Year's Honours List, Sir Michael has also been a member of UCAS Council, represented ASCL on the HMC Universities committee and is Chair of the National Science Learning Centres' steering group. In 2014 he was elected by his peers to be a member of the Head Teacher Board for North West London and South Central - a region covering nearly 30 Local Authorities - advising the Regional Schools Commissioner. He acts as an educational consultant to an academy group.

Sir Michael is involved with a range of educational organisations, including the DfE Headteacher Board, AQA, STEM Learning, NMPAT and a range of schools, both state and independent.

Colin is a former Head of Business Engagement at HSBC bank. Colin has a BSc in
General Chemistry and a PhD in Organic Chemistry and has previously worked
for British Steel (as was), and then at HSBC for 27 years, in an IT capacity, before
taking voluntary retirement in January 2016.

Colin's employment experience covered all IT/Business Engagement related
issues resulting from banking activity in the UK, Europe and the Middle East. He
was elected as Chair of Governors for Windsor High School in 2005 and was a
founding Member of Windsor Academy Trust when it was first formed in 2011,
and was the Chair of the Board of Directors until until 2019. He is also Chair of
Halesowen Athletics and Cycling Club.

Andrew is a Chartered Civil Engineer by profession and has spent most of his working life in local government managing transportation projects, much of it at a senior level. He was elected as Governor of Windsor High School and Sixth Form in 2005 and became a Member of the Trust in 2013. He became Chair of the Board of Directors in March 2018.

His main areas of expertise are strategic management/thinking, business planning and organisational change.

Frances Child is the Head of the Department of Teacher Education in the School of Education where she teaches on the PGDipEd (QTS) Modern Languages programmes, supervises MA Teaching Studies students and contributes to mentor development in the University of Birmingham. 

Frances chairs the Teacher Education Strategy Group, working with head teachers, MAT CEOs and the Birmingham Education Partnership to ensure a strategic response to teacher recruitment, development and retention across the region. The Department of Teacher Education is proud to recruit and train primary and secondary teachers who go on to transform the lives of young people across the West Midlands and beyond.

She also works closely with colleagues in the University of Birmingham School (where she held the post of Vice Principal during its establishment phase) to develop the role of the first secondary University Training School. The School, which opened in September 2015, seeks to bring pupils together from different social and cultural backgrounds to create an environment that reflects the diversity of Birmingham and provides opportunities for everyone to excel. 

Heath is an inspirational and dedicated Chief Executive, with experience in
leadership development and education policy in both the public and not-for-profit
sectors.

Heath is currently the Chief Executive of the British School in the Netherlands. He is
the former Chief Director of the Schools of King Edward VI Foundation in
Birmingham and the King Edward VI Academy Trust and had oversight of nine
secondary schools (two independent and seven academies). Previously Heath was
Chief Executive of The Future Leaders Trust for nine years and Deputy Schools
Commissioner for the Department of Education for seven years. Heath was an
English teacher and Assistant Housemaster in Sevenoaks School and a teacher at
Bennett Memorial School. He graduated with a first in English Language and
Literature at Oxford University, before going on to do a PGCE at Sheffield University.

Julie is a professionally qualified accountant and coach. She worked within the
public transport industry for many years and latterly as an Executive Board
member with responsibility for a range of corporate functions.

Julie is now Chair of Derbyshire Community Health Trust and a non-executive
director at George Eliot NHS Trust and Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
Integrated Care Board.

Calum is a commercially driven professional with a track record of delivering growth in a variety of sectors that include corporate, not for profit and membership organisations. Experienced in strategy, operations and financial control, he is a believer in creating synergy generating relationships and developing cross sector networks, understanding needs and delivering beyond expectations.

He has represented a number of charitable organisations that include sectors such as the Arts, Education and the Armed Forces.

Karen has recently retired from the post of Chief Executive of the Quantock Education Trust, a small but ambitious trust based in Bridgwater in Somerset. Originally known as the Haygrove Academy Trust, the Quantock Education Trust was founded by Karen and the governors of Haygrove School where she served as headteacher for 11 years.

During her 39 years in education, Karen has taught French, German and PE across schools in Hampshire, Berkshire, Surrey and Somerset, holding posts as a subject leader and senior leader, before becoming a headteacher. She also spent three years as Key Stage 3 Strategy manager in North Somerset, leading a team of consultants in delivering the National Strategy, developing networks for professional development, promoting programmes for effective teaching and providing school improvement advisory support for the secondary schools in North Somerset.

Karen’s extensive senior leadership experience has shown significant success in raising standards and developing a culture for continuous school improvement, academic success and personal development. As a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching, Karen is passionate about teaching, particularly in the areas of modern foreign languages, the development of learning culture and global citizenship.

Karen has now relocated to Worcestershire, enjoying taking on grandparent responsibilities and also developing new and existing hobbies and interests, including playing netball again. As well as being a director for the Windsor Academy Trust, Karen is also involved in a governance capacity with the EIL  (Experiment in International Living UK).    

Paul Benge (now retired) has over 35 years experience in Local Authority Finance including management of £100m+ budgets. Has history of delivering required budget reductions and balanced outturns  through comprehensive   monitoring , effective communication and  good working relationships with senior managers and members. Played a key part in carrying out consultation with the public and hard to reach groups, on proposed budget changes.

Developed demand management approach to looking at effective use of resources.

Has school finance knowledge in both Local Authority and Academy settings. Sat on Local Authority School Management Team and delivered cash savings on school contract.

Is currently treasurer of Local Tennis Club and  Chairman of the Patient Panel at the local GP surgery. He enjoys Tennis, Golf and Walking  and is very hands on in supporting the family with Childcare for his 4 grandchildren.

Professor and Head of the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, Queen’s University Belfast @QUBSSESW @QUBelfast

 Professor Daniel Muijs was the Dean of the School of Education and Society at the Academica University of Applied Sciences. Previously he was Head of Research at Ofsted.

During his time in Southampton, Professor Muijs was Associate Dean Research and Enterprise for the Faculty of Social, Human and Mathematical Sciences and Professor of Education at Southampton Education School.

Previously he worked at the University of Manchester as Chair of Pedagogy and Teacher Development at the University of Manchester, School of Education, as Chair of School Leadership and Management at the University of Newcastle and as senior at Warwick Institute of Education. He is an acknowledged expert in the field of Educational and Teacher Effectiveness; Educational Leadership and Quantitative Research Methods in Education. He is co-editor of the journal ‘School Effectiveness and School Improvement’. He has published widely in the areas of educational effectiveness, leadership and research methods, and has conducted research for government agencies (DCSF, NCSL, QCA), Charitable Trusts (Gatsby) and Research Councils (ESRC).

Daniel holds a PhD in Social Sciences from the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium), an MSc in Managerial Economics (Catholic University of Leuven) and a BA in Communication Sciences (Catholic University of Leuven)

Dr. Waheed Oseni is a Chartered Facilities Manager and Construction Manager with expertise in sustainable construction, project management, and facilities management. Holding a Ph.D. in Construction Management and Economics from London South Bank University, he is a Senior Lecturer and Course Leader in Construction Project Management at the University of West London. Dr. Oseni brings over six years of higher education teaching experience and a strong track record in research, leadership, and innovation within the construction sector.

Andrew is an experienced HR Director with over 25 years of expertise across Financial Services, Technology, and Logistics.  He is currently the HR Director of Coventry Building Society, where he leads the people-related aspects of the acquisition and integration of the Co-operative Bank.  In addition to his role at Coventry Building Society, Andrew contributes his knowledge and experience as a member of the Board of Financial Services Skills Commission.

A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, Andrew is committed to ensuring that organisations offer challenging and rewarding work opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds.  He is dedicated to creating cultures that enable everyone to thrive and reach their full potential.

Andrew is CIPD qualified and holds a Master's degree in HR Management.  Outside of work, he is married and a father of two children, aged 13 and 15. 

Rachel Allmark is the current Director of Operations for the College of Arts and Law, University of Birmingham, having progressed from the role of Deputy Director of Operations in 2020.  Rachel provides strategic leadership in driving the College strategy, overseeing resource, budget management and aligning operational objectives with institutional priorities. 

Rachel has been an active leader on several student-focused transformation projects, including the Digital Education Strategy, strategic change management, workforce planning and has been actively involved with the development and implementation of the College people and culture strategy, which has contributed to her nearly 20 years of experience in leadership roles within the UK Higher Education sector. 

Rachel holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership and Management in Higher Education and has undertaken a wealth of professional development courses including Executive Coaching with the Members of University Executive Board and is an award nominee and winner for professional services excellence. 

Qualifications

• Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership and management in Higher Education.

• CMI Level 5 Diploma in Management, Chartered Management Institute 

Gemma brings a wealth of experience to the Board of Directors as an experienced NHS senior leader with over 20 years of strategic and operational expertise in workforce transformation, organisational development, and large-scale system change. With a proven track record in leading complex programmes across HR, service redesign, recruitment and retention, and health and wellbeing, Gemma brings a values-driven approach grounded in integrity, compassion, and inclusion. Gemma’s work has consistently focused on improving outcomes, reducing inequality, and supporting long-term sustainability across health and care systems—principles that closely align with values of the Windsor Academy Trust (WAT) in its commitment to unlocking student’s academic and personal potential.

Qualifications

CIPD Post Graduate Certificate in Personnel Practice 

CIPD Post Graduate Certificate in Leadership & Management

CIPD Post Graduate Diploma in HR Management

Post Graduate Certificate in Strategic Workforce Planning 

CMI L7 Leadership Coaching and Mentoring