New appointments to our Board of Trustees and Education Advisory Group

New appointments to our Board of Trustees and Education Advisory Group

Challenge Partners is proudly practitioner-led and we are delighted to celebrate new appointees from the partnership to our Board and Education Advisory Group, alongside three new business trustees.

Gary Lewis, CEO of Lighthouse School Partnership, has joined the Board of Trustees following partnership elections during the summer term. He was appointed alongside three trustees identified through an open recruitment process, designed to boost skills in areas that will support Challenge Partners’ ongoing development:

  • Candice Lott - a former teacher, entrepreneur and digital transformation expert
  • Luci Ingram - who brings expertise as General Counsel for a FTSE 250 company 
  • Pav Bansal - a digital transformation expert

 

We are also delighted to welcome new members who have put themselves forward to serve on the Education Advisory Group:

  • Shiraz Khan, Headteacher, Islamia Primary School
  • Paul Watson, CEO, Preston Hedges Academy Trust
  • Chris Wheeler, Principal, Monkton Combe School
  • Steve Kneller, Deputy CEO, Royal Wootton Bassett Academy Trust
  • Toby Sutherland, Headteacher, St. Clement Danes
  • Jemima Rhys Evans, Research School Lead, Charles Dickens Primary School
  • Dr Vanessa Ogden, CEO, Mulberry Schools Trust (from January 2023)

 

Thanks also to the following colleagues who will continue to serve on the group next year:

  • Elliot Costas Walker, Director of Learning, Forward as One CE MAT
  • Stephen Deadman, Headteacher, The Children’s Hospital School
  • Jayne Jardine MBE, CEO, Brent specialist Academy Trust
  • Nicola Forster, Headteacher, North Primary School
  • Liz Laws, Headteacher, Pickhurst Infant Academy
  • Sufian Sadiq, Director, Teaching School, Chiltern Learning Trust

 

We would like to say a huge thank you to our practitioner colleagues who have served on the group for a number of years and are now stepping down:

  • Dr Josie Valentine OBE, CEO, Danes Educational Trust
  •  Rob Carpenter, CEO Inspire Partnership
  • George Croxford, CEO Royal Wootton Bassett Academy Trust
  • James Greenwood, Headteacher, Manor Leas Junior School
  • Jayne Keller, Headteacher, Sherwell Valley Primary School
  • Carolyn Robson CBE, CEO, The Mead Trust

 

The Education Advisory Group (EAG) is a group of school and trust leaders in our partnership, who support and challenge us to inform our development. This group meets regularly and our trustee, Vijita Patel will attend the meetings as an observer to provide an important link between the EAG and our Board of Trustees.
 

We are looking for more practitioners to join our Board of Trustees

We are still seeking nominations from the partnership for colleagues from an ethnic minority background and/or with lived experience of educational disadvantage to further strengthen our Board of Trustees. Is this you? Or is there someone you could ‘tap on the shoulder’ for this exciting opportunity? Candidates should be committed to our mission and willing to contribute their time and expertise to steering Challenge Partners’ ongoing improvement and development. No board experience is necessary and training is provided, making this a great CPD opportunity.

If you would like to nominate yourself/someone else and/or find out more, please get in touch with dr.kate.chhatwal@challengepartners.org.