Members
The members are akin to the shareholders of a company. They have ultimate control over the academy trust, but they are custodians at a distance and they are not involved in the day-to-day strategic direction of the partnership. They meet a minimum of once a year as part of the annual general meeting and are kept informed regularly about partnership business.
Key duties
- Appoint / remove trustees
- Sign off financial statements and annual report
- Change the articles
- Sign off the annual accounts
Dan is a highly experienced senior leader within the Financial Services industry and has many years’ experience of working in senior roles across a range of blue chip financial services organisations.
Dan has an excellent track record of delivering commercial change, turning around projects and introducing new systems into businesses to transform their efficiency and profitability. As well as being able to offer robust financial advice to the trust, Dan is able to offer expertise in business and operations management.
Daniel is the founder of several companies and groups developing and promoting new sustainability technologies in industry. He has held senior international roles in buildings systems, business development, strategy, general management and sales and marketing.
Daniel has a wealth of experience in the international business world which will enable him to share a shrewd analysis of the management of the trust.
Carol McLachlan is the Chief Executive Officer of Vision Multi Academy Trust in Greater Manchester, a group of primary schools based in Bury.
Recently she has become involved with Challenge Partners Hub as a quality assurance reviewer and trust reviewer.
Before taking on the CEO role she has been a substantive primary headteacher for over 25 years, leading three primary schools and carrying out various executive headteacher roles. She has a proven-track record of leading schools in various contexts, including special measures schools, and has been instrumental in the rapid improvement of attainment and progress outcomes in both KS1 and KS2. She has also had a period in school improvement in a local authority, working across the primary and secondary sectors focusing on succession planning and supporting deputy heads/assistant heads into their first headship.
Carol’s passion is coaching, and she is accredited as a level 7 coach. She coaches aspirant and newly qualified headteachers and coaches executive leaders on the NPQEL programme. She also is a volunteer coach on the Women in Leadership programme.
Carol is a visiting Fellow with Ambition Institute and facilitates on NPQH and NPQEL.
Simon is a franchisee owner operator of several national branded restaurants, having bought his first outlet in 2010. He has consistently improved his business operations in terms of profitability and customer satisfaction.
As a business owner he has made a commitment to the local area and uses his business activities to create a positive impact in the community, providing jobs, skills and investment. Previously he worked in the newspaper industry; latterly as Group Commercial Director and Assistant MD for Guardian Media Groups Regional Media Division.
Trustees
Trustees have overall accountability for the performance and development of the partnership. They hold the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) accountable for delivering on strategy and performance and the CEO reports to them regularly. They put in place committees to support their work. Trustees meet a minimum of four times a year.
Key duties
- Ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- Hold executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its learners and the effective and efficient performance management of staff
- Oversee the financial performance of the organisation, making sure its money is well spent
- Ensure the trust is compliant and is managing risk effectively as an organisation
- Ensure effective committees are in place to support and challenge in different aspects of performance and to receive and consider reports provided by the committees
Bernie Garner is the Chair of Trustees at Oak Learning Partnership. In her role Bernie draws upon a wealth of experience in education, business, social care and local government. Her career has been driven by her passion for equality and she has a proven track record of improving opportunities for disabled children and adults.
Bernie’s role in the trust is to ensure the development and delivery of innovative services, both specialist and inclusive, to support all children to develop and achieve.
Janet is a former headteacher with a passion for supporting disadvantaged children.
Janet is extremely well-respected, and prior to retirement she assisted local schools where improvement was required. As an experienced trustee sitting on the boards of other MATs, Janet’s areas of expertise include school improvement, the analysis of school data and strategic planning. Janet is a firm believer in forging links with the local communities surrounding our schools, and carries out valuable work in supporting and developing community partnerships.
Ashley is a qualified business coach and communication trainer working with and advising small and medium-sized businesses and service providers.
Ashley is passionate about improving the prospects of young people in the local area and he is actively involved with Digital Advantage, an organisation which brings the workplace to schools to help students develop their thinking, analytical, creative, business and digital skills. His areas of interest include curriculum planning and careers advice.
Alan brings extensive knowledge of employment law to the trust, having worked as a solicitor in various law practices since 1988.
Alan set up his own employment law consultancy in 2019 and acts for both employers and employees, advising and acting as an advocate in employment law tribunals. In addition, Alan was a governor of a local senior school for 12 years and this involved helping the school to achieve a complete rebuild funded by PFI, dealing with appeals of pupil exclusions and recruiting and interviewing for school senior leadership positions. He is therefore well-placed to be a ‘critical friend’ of Oak LP.
Les Windows has an impressive background in industry and management consultancy across several corporate sectors and has more recently undertaken interim executive roles. He also has experience in school governance.
Les has expertise in transformation and culture change, governance and oversight, performance improvement, restructuring, strategic resource management and cost management. His experience and skills mean that he makes a valuable contribution to guiding the vision, strategy and growth of the trust.
A chartered accountant and FCA with over 30 years’ experience in industry and through his own practice, MJ Goldman Chartered Accountants. Mark has been involved in several varied businesses and companies over the years and his 10-strong employee base manage over 600 clients. Complementing his strong financial and commercial skill set, Mark’s passion for education stems from close familial links in this sector. This situates him in a strong position to add value to the board of trustees through financial compliance, procedures and audit, as well as offering guidance on the trust’s financial standing.
Mark recently retired after 45 years of service in the NHS, with his most recent appointment being Chief Executive at Calderstones Foundation Trust. As well as being a trustee for Oak Learning Partnership, Mark is a public governor for Lancashire Care Foundation Trust, a councillor for the Whalley and Painterwood ward in the Ribble Valley and a member of the Police Joint Ethics Committee for Lancashire, undertaking work with the police to ensure professional standards are upheld.
He is passionate about seeing great opportunities for young people.
Jessica recently retired as Head of Education of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, where she was responsible for the strategic leadership and management of the education department and associated policy and budgets. This included direct leadership of school improvement, post 16 education and skills, school organisation and place planning, schools capital programme, inclusion, attendance, behaviour and SEN.
She was a member of Children’s Services senior leadership team, responsible for liaison and joint development with Children’s Social Care and Health and a member of the council’s extended leadership team. She also has significant experience of working with colleagues across the North West and with Ofsted, the DfE and the RSC’s Office.
She has 23 years' experience teaching in primary and secondary schools and 18 years' experience working as a senior officer in local authorities. Her qualifications include a Master of Education (Leadership and Management) and accreditation as a Primary and Secondary School Improvement Partner. Jessica has extensive experience working with Blackburn Central High School and Crosshill School, plus was a Trustee of East Blackburn Learning Community Trust.