Trustees (ID 1143)

• Alison Beane OBE
  Chair of Trustees
  Alison Beane OBE

  Alison is a senior education leader and, since retiring as CEO of a successful specialist school multi-academy trust, works as an education consultant supporting schools and trusts to improve outcomes, leadership and SEND provision. She brings expertise in school improvement, SEND, governance and accountability, leadership development, change management and safeguarding. Alison is an experienced MAT trustee and Chair, and is also a trustee of Challenge Partners, where she chairs the Nominations Committee and is lead trustee for safeguarding. As Chair, she provides strategic leadership to the Board, with a focus on improving outcomes for pupils, strengthening accountability and ensuring effective safeguarding, and supports the Trust’s partnership with United Learning.

• Nicholas Spearing
  Trustee
  Nicholas Spearing

  An Oxford law graduate, Nicholas qualified as a solicitor in 1978 and was a corporate and competition law practitioner and partner in major City of London firms until his retirement in 2022. He brings expertise in legal and regulatory compliance, governance and risk, employment matters, organisational leadership, and audit and assurance. Nicholas is also a governor at Dorset Studio School, where he chairs the Audit and Risk Committee, and is a past Chair of the Solicitors’ European Group. Within the Trust, he provides strategic support to the Chair and Board, with a particular focus on people, governance and risk, including oversight of workforce strategy and organisational development. He is Link Trustee for Weymouth secondary schools (All Saints and Wey Valley Academies) and chairs panels for exclusions, grievances and complaints.

• Helen Rice
  Trustee
  Helen Rice

  Helen is a Chartered Civil Engineer with over 35 years’ experience in the construction industry, including work on school refurbishments, remodelling and rebuild projects. She brings expertise in estates and capital projects, construction and infrastructure, risk management, procurement and strategic planning. As a Trustee, she contributes to oversight of risk and strategic priorities, with particular focus on estates, capital investment and risk management across the Trust.

• Chiku Bernardi
  Trustee
  Chiku Bernardi

  Chiku is Deputy Director, Portfolio at Impetus, a charity that funds and supports high-potential organisations to improve outcomes for young people, and previously had a 15-year career in strategy consulting. She brings expertise in strategy, organisational performance, leadership coaching, financial analysis and impact. Chiku has held a number of trustee roles, including with Second Chance (education and employment), Unlocking Potential (mental health) and NAZ (sexual health for marginalised communities). Within the Trust, she contributes to oversight of educational and financial performance, with a focus on outcomes, strategic development and merger planning. Chiku is link Trustee for St Aldhelm's Academy and Careers.

• Sarah Mascall
  Trustee
  Sarah Mascall

  Sarah is an experienced school improvement partner specialising in SEND and was an Ofsted Lead Inspector for 25 years, including as a quality assurance reader for inspection reports. She brings expertise in SEND provision, school improvement, inspection and quality assurance, leadership and safeguarding, and is a qualified Teacher of the Deaf. Sarah has governance experience across both mainstream and special schools. Within the Trust, she leads oversight of SEND, working with leaders and SENDCos to strengthen provision and improve outcomes for pupils, and contributes to challenge and assurance through the Education Committee.

• Joanna Tiffin
  Trustee
  Joanna Tiffin

  Joanna is Director of Corporate Services at the Whitehall and Industry Group, where she leads functions including finance, HR, IT, operations, risk and governance. She has over 18 years’ experience in strategic and operational leadership across private and not-for-profit sectors, including education, and has worked closely with local and national government. Joanna brings expertise in education, SEND, safeguarding, data analysis, risk management, financial oversight and organisational leadership. She has previous experience as a trustee and school governor, with a strong understanding of governance and external accountability. Within the Trust, she contributes to oversight of quality, risk and performance, supporting effective decision-making and continuous improvement.

• James Bishop
  Trustee
  James Bishop

  James has extensive experience in financial management, forecasting and commercial negotiation, including a senior career at HSBC where he led international teams and managed large-scale budgets. In his current role, he oversees financial performance and accountability to boards and external stakeholders. He brings expertise in financial oversight, risk management, governance and accountability, and procurement. Since joining the Trust in January 2025, he has led the work of the Finance and Operations Committee, with a focus on financial performance, risk and operational effectiveness across the Trust.

• Allan Campbell
  Trustee
  Allan Campbell

  Allan is a retired CEO and Chairman with over 40 years’ experience in banking, infrastructure and engineering, including leading the growth of an international business from start-up to large-scale operation. He brings expertise in strategic leadership, finance and investment, risk and compliance, corporate governance and commercial negotiation. Allan has over 35 years’ experience serving on public and private company boards, including as Chair of a publicly listed company, and has advised boards across a range of sectors. Within the Trust, he contributes to strategic oversight, financial sustainability and governance, supporting effective decision-making and long-term planning.