Trustees
The Trustees set the vision, ethos and strategic direction of the trust. They hold executive leaders to account and oversee the financial performance of the trust.
The board of trustees manages the business of the academy trust and may exercise all the powers of the trust in compliance with its charitable objects, company and charity law.
Christopher Watt was a founding Member of Tove Learning Trust and is Chair of Trustees. Chris has extensive experience of being a governor for over 20 years at Sponne, with 11 years being Chair of Governors. He has seen the school through foundation, trust and then academy status. Chris was previously Chair of Governors for 5 years at a primary school. Chris is an active trustee representative on many of the local governing bodies and leads the Chairs of Governors group across the MAT.
Business Experience
- 15 years as director and shareholder of a privately owned corporate finance company. Role included business recovery and restructuring, HR, debt recovery and premises management.
- 5 years as a business recovery specialist.
Tove Learning Trust
- CEO of the MAT leading 8 secondary and 3 primary schools across Northamptonshire, Milton Keynes and a regional hub in the West Midlands.
- Previously CEO of Grace Academy Trust from 2014-2019, leading 3 secondary schools across the West Midlands. Grace Academy merged with Tove Learning Trust in April 2019.
- Leads the strategic vision, growth and development of the trust; collaborating with other academies who share our aims and values.
- Proven track record of school improvement: drives improved outcomes for pupils striving for good or outstanding ratings
- Executive Headteacher at Sponne School, an outstanding academy.
Outcomes at Tove Learning Trust
- Led a team of School Improvement Directors to facilitate improvements in teaching and learning in maths and science, with improved GCSE and A level exam results and P8 scores improving year on year.
- Improved governance structures within academy schools, improving challenge and accountability.
- Implemented core service support to increase financial stability and legal compliance.
Outcomes at Grace Academy
- Improved teaching and learning standards significantly along with student outcomes; all 3 have made strong improvement.
- MAT was performing poorly and it was at risk of closing in 2015 by the DfE.
- Implemented an organisational restructure; appointed key leaders; remodelled the central team; effective structures put in place; financial responsibility and accountability established.
- Student numbers have improved strongly and local reputation of academies have strengthened.
- Supported challenging communities e.g. all have around 55% Pupil premium.
- One Academy had the Secretary of State visit in September 2015 as it was the most improved in the Birmingham area.
NLE Experience
- NLE work at leadership level, Maths & English support through NSS (National Support School) at Coventry. Impact was that leadership improved in 2013-14, Maths results significantly improved and English went up.
- Worked with two other secondary schools in Northants long term – one for around a year with leadership and Maths support. All had positive impact with improvements in standards; both were through brokering arrangements with the LA.
- Continuing school improvement work with a range of schools demonstrating improvement.
- Consultancy work on Pupil Premium Reviews for schools within the region.
Business Experience
- 24 years’ experience of working in the UK property market
- 17 years specialising in industrial and logistics development
- Currently employed by SEGRO, a FTSE 100 listed property REIT
- Experience of developing complex logistics, manufacturing and R&D facilities, as well as co-ordinating planning promotion and the delivery of enabling infrastructure for strategic employment sites.
Leadership and Voluntary Experience
- Career Ready Mentor at Grace Academy, Coventry
- Councillor in Northamptonshire
Professional Memberships
- Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
School Experience
- Governor at Primary school level for 10 years.
- Governor at Sponne since 2009. Previously Vice-Chair of Governors at Sponne from 2015 to 2017.
- Chair of Water Hall Primary School Academy Improvement Board.
- Member of TLT Pay and Performance Committee, including oversight of Headteacher Performance Management.
- Headteacher recruitment and selection.
- Safeguarding and safer recruitment experience.
Business Experience
- Works for the NHS supporting children with speech and language difficulties.
Secondary School Experience
- 2018-date: Rushden Academy; Chair of Governors.
- 2012-17: Sponne School governor; chair of Students & Personnel Committee.
Primary School Experience
- Primary School Governor for 8 years including Chair of Governors for 2 years.
- Previously member of various Governing body sub-committees.
- Working with Diocesan Board of Education with regard to church related priorities.
- Recruitment and selection of Headteachers & Senior Leaders.
Education
- BA Hons in Law from University College London, 1987-90.
- Chester Law School 1990-91.
- Qualified and practicing Solicitor since 1993.
Business
- Commercial real estate solicitor, based in Birmingham, having trained at Eversheds and also spent 6 years at Gowlings.
- Since 2001 I have been a Partner at Gateley, a nationwide commercial legal practice. From 2002 until 2011 I headed up the real estate department and was a main Board Member throughout this time.
- Gateley was the first legal firm in the UK to float on the UK Stock Exchange in 2016 and I was part of the internal advisory team dealing with the floatation and the fundamental changes from an owner managed, to a publicly funded, business. I remain a shareholder in the business.
- I have also spent 2 years working in industry.
Leadership and Volunteering
- I have managed and been responsible for teams of up to 100 professionals including overall responsibility for financial management and performance of these.
- Mentoring and training of individuals at junior and senior levels for over 25 years.
- Coach of junior rugby team at Shipston-on-Stour for 6 years having undertaken various RFU training courses.
Business Experience
- 20 years of experience working for major hospitality and retail brands as a COO and CHRO.
- Founded and sold a business in the energy efficiency sector.
- Worked with start up and growing businesses, charities and not for profits and coached CEOs, board management and senior leadership.
- Speak publicly to groups of business owners on all aspects of strategic and commercial HR.
- Currently working as a people consultant across mid tier organisations.
Leadership & Voluntary Experience
- Led large diverse teams of people both UK and internationally.
- Previously have been a school governor for a trust in Buckingham.
- Volunteered to fund raise for women in poverty across Asia and Africa.
- Qualifications in prince 2 project management, counselling, coaching and mentoring.
Personal Interest
- Yoga, rugby, health and wellbeing initiatives and participation in UK Equality and diversity events.
Business Experience
- A change and project management professional, responsible for technology, regulatory and operational development
- 10 Years of technical and leadership experience within finance and technology
- Deputy director of an international youth empowerment charity
- Champion of Mental Health and diversity & inclusion within technology and financial sector
Leadership and Voluntary Community Experience
- Senior Leadership of the International Youth Federation
- Rugby coach and youth mentor
Professional Memberships
- Change Management Practitioner (APMG International)
Business Experience
- Chief Information Officer & member of Senior Leadership team at Haas F1 Team
- Responsible for global IT and digital platforms, people, budgets and operations
- 20 years technical and leadership experience in various forms of international motorsport
- Chair and attend multiple core business operational committees for strategy, finance, direction and governance
- Champion of STEM in schools, diversity & inclusion within technology sector and sustainability
Leadership and Voluntary Community Experience
- Trustee of SSNAP (Supporting Sick Newborn and their Parents)
- Scouts group volunteer
- Educational panel member & occasional speaker
- Advisory council member for several global technology companies
Professional Memberships
- Fellow of the British Computing Society (BCS)
Business Experience
- 16 years of experience driving growth for major consumer brands and incubating new business models
- Held senior leadership roles in Consumer Goods and Healthcare, leading Sales & Marketing teams
- Led the development of strategic growth initiatives and long-term business planning
- Advisory roles for startups and active investor, supporting businesses championing for change in their retrospective industry
Leadership & Voluntary Experience
- Panel member and mentor for a startup funding accelerator, providing guidance to entrepreneurs
- Active participant in a health & hygiene initiative in Indonesia, building health clinics and working closely with school communities
Personal Interest
- Deep interest in teacher wellbeing, driven by personal experience with a family member affected by chronic stress, and my own journey as a new mother
Education
- 20 years as Associate Lecturer at Oxford Brookes, igniting the imagination of students.
- 16 years in estate strategy work in Higher Education, developing efficient estates to support developing pedagogies and enhancing student and staff experiences.
- 6 years as Head of Strategic Programmes and Governance at the University of Warwick, regularly presenting to Boards and Committees.
Business
- 15 years leading operations and transformation programmes in the manufacturing industry with Kelloggs, Mars Confectionery and Pilkington Glass.
- Management Consultant with Boxwood KPMG, Cranfield University , and independently.
- Masterplanning consultation and strategy development, informing capital planning, addressing backlog maintenance, facilitating options appraisal and organisational decision making.
- Director of IntegritHE Ltd, Higher Education consultancy supporting Universities in collaborative strategic planning.
Leadership and Volunteering
- Former Executive Board member for AUDE (Association of University Directors of Estates) and co-chair of AUSM (Space Management Special Interest Group)
- British Cycling Breeze Champion ride leader and Chipping Norton Town Council Active Travel Group
Former trophy winning Ladies Captain of Shipton-under-Wychwood Cricket Club.
Business Experience
- Duncan is a qualified lawyer with an extensive background in various legal firms.
- Duncan has been a Managing Partner at Tollers Solicitors since 2011, and established the first Insolvency Business Unit in Tollers.
- Duncan became Head of Tollers Commercial Services Practice in 2008, and was responsible for the performance and direction of all of the Tollers Commercial Business Units, with leadership of Corporate, Commercial, Real Estate, Dispute Resolution, Employment and Insolvency.
- Recognised in ‘The Lawyer Hot 100’ list in the ‘Leaders’ section in 2015
Leadership and Voluntary Community Experience
- Previously Governor of Tresham College (Higher Education) until 2017
- Active runner and cyclist, taking part in marathons and cycled to Paris as charity fundraising challenges.
Professional Memberships
- Member of R3 Midlands Region Committee until 2008
