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 recently is 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 most recently 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 UK, Europe and the Middle East. He was elected as Chair of Governors for Windsor High School in 2005 and became a Member of Windsor Academy Trust in 2011 upon its incorporation. Colin has recently stepped down as Chair of the Board of Directors. 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. 

After gaining a HND in Computer Studies from North Staffordshire Polytechnic Anne spent over 30 years working for BT PLC in a variety of roles including IT, Service Management, Process development and Improvement, and People Management, developing a reputation for adapting her skills within new areas of the organisation. Most recently Anne moved into business improvement roles and in her last role, she focused on processes and systems within the security sector. 

Anne retired from BT in November 2020 and is now continuing her personal interests of neighbourhood improvement in Selly Oak, where she lives, as a Trustee with Selly Oak Community Development Trust Ltd  and as a committee member of  Community Partnership for Selly Oak. Anne is a keen embroiderer and recently became a Trustee of The Embroiderers' Guild as well as being Chair of a local embroidery group - Birmingham Embroidery and Textile Art. These are in addition to continuing her support of Windsor Academy Trust as a Trustee, and now Chair of the Board. 

Anne studied for an MBA from the Open University graduating in 2001 and more recently, for personal development and satisfaction, achieved City and Guilds Level 3 Certificate and Diploma in Creative Embroidery.

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 number of corporate functions.

Julie now runs Elevate Coaching, alongside which she is also a non-executive board member and Vice Chair of an acute hospital trust and a community trust, and the Chair of a charity that provides housing and care for older people.

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).    

Partner in Criminal Law Practice Lister Brady of 54 Foregate Street, Worcester.

Qualified in 2000 as a Solicitor having attended De Montfort University with a Commendation. Belinda qualified as a  Higher Courts Advocate in 2009 giving her rights of audience to appear in the higher Courts.  She has appeared in Magistrates Courts, the Crown Court and  also the Court of Appeal.

Belinda has experience across all areas of law having spent several years both Prosecuting for the Crown Prosecution Service and defending.   She has also appeared in many prison law adjudications representing the rights of those serving custodial sentences.

With her knowledge of both the Magistrates and the Crown Courts, Belinda can easily adapt between her current cases of possession of offensive weapons alongside the more serious matters of drug conspiracy and sexual crimes.  Belinda is a prominent and well known figure in all the Worcestershire courts.

To relax Belinda enjoys running, squash and skiing.   She is also  a keen golfer having  recently won the Warwickshire Law Society Golf Competition at Maxstoke Park, Warwickshire. 

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)

Mick Donovan joined the University of Worcester from the University of Warwick in 1999 with a strong background in coaching and teaching. At Worcester he has pioneered the Learning Through Sport programme and the International Centre for Inclusive Sport that have both received international recognition. The University received the 'Internationalisation' award in the Guardian HE Awards for developing inclusive sport /education globally.

He is the co-founder of the Worcester Wolves Basketball Club and is currently Managing Director. He is the co-founder and a Director of the Severn Stars Netball Super league franchise.

Mick played a leading role in the creation and development of the University of Worcester Arena and has played a significant role in developing international links with partners ranging from Valencia Basket, World Academy of Sport, Tsukuba University (Tokyo), International Paralympic committee to Beijing Sports University and the General Administration of Sport, China.

Mick has delivered keynote lectures with a focus on coach education, inclusive sport and 'Learning Through sport' at conferences around the world.

He is currently working collaboratively to develop the University of Worcester centre in Dudley and, in Worcester, working towards developing the world's first indoor inclusive cricket and education centre in partnership with ECB.

As Pro Vice Chancellor Partnerships at University of Worcester, Mick currently has an oversight of the arrangements for partnership management at University level. He also leads on the development and delivery of University transformative educational partnerships.

Key projects have included:

• Hosted senior delegation seminars: The General Administration of Sport China
• Leading member and Co-founder of European Basketball Research and International Basketball Language Camps
• University of Worcester Arena Campaign Committee member
• Pioneer of the University of Worcester and Worcester Wolves Basketball Programme
• Creation and implementation of the Learning Through Sport initiative; regional and national
• Member of the organising committee for the European Wheelchair Basketball Championships 2015

Qualifications

• MA Sport Culture & Society
• BEd Physical Education
• Senior Basketball Coach