Transform Trust is a limited company by guarantee, its members are responsible for raising the guarantee, appointing Trustees to the board and holding them to account for effective governance of the Trust. Our members are appointed by the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham.

Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham Educational Trust | Corporate Member | represented by Revd Canon Mark Tanner

Peter Munro

Ian Griffiths | Vice Chair for DBE (Diocesan Board of Education)

Martin Cooper

The Trust Board is the decision making body for the Trust.  The Board are accountable and responsible for all the schools.  Academy Trustees are both the charity Trustees and Company Directors of the academy Trust.  The Trust Board meets regularly and has a range of different committees which meet throughout the year.

“This is a highly successful and skilled board who have the commitment and knowledge needed to ensure a truly successful Trust.  They are receptive to advice and support and are curious about how to continue to improve further”

 

“The Trust Board is holding the leadership of the Trust to account effectively.  They have a good range of expertise on the Board and are willing to question rigorously and effectively.  The reporting systems, as well as the partnerships groups and standards meetings in schools, mean that the Trustees have a good overview of the effectiveness in schools.”

 

“This is a highly effective Board whose Trustees and central team understand their roles and responsibilities, resulting in a highly successful organisation.  The structures and practice are scalable and will allow the Trust to grow whilst maintaining a high standard of governance."

External review of Governance by National Governance Association, May 2023

Rebecca Meredith CBE | Chief Executive

Rebecca arrived at Sneinton as Head in 2002 when the school was in Special Measures and took it on an improvement journey to Outstanding.  Building from this, Rebecca founded the Transform Teaching School with initially 10 member schools in Nottingham City, her aim to share and develop school to school support across like minded professionals. Transform Trust was then founded in 2013, based on the sharing principles of the Teaching School. Rebecca has a proven track record of successfully leading and managing people & resources to improve educational outcomes where the child is at the centre of the provision. It remains Rebecca’s commitment to deliver to the child an enriched broad based education as an enabler to achieving their full potential.

• Date of Appointment: 01/01/15
• Term of Office: Ongoing
• Appointed by: Transform Trustees
• Business & Pecuniary Interests: Paid to perform role of CEO by Transform Trust; Director of TT Support Services Limited, a subsidiary of Transform Trust.
• Governance Roles in other Educational Institutions: Woodland View Primary School, Kinoulton Primary School and Brierley Forest Primary and Nursery School

Michael M Butler MInstLM | Chair of Trustees | De Facto Member

Dennis Jones | Trustee

• Date of Appointment: 01/09/24
• Term of Office: 12 months
• Appointed by: Chairs of Governors
• Business & Pecuniary Interests: Director of TTSS (Transform Trust Support Services)
• Governance Roles in other Educational Institutions: Chair of Governors Highbank Primary & Nursery School & Governor of LGB at Parkdale Primary School

Roger Periam | Trustee

Although he originally trained as a science teacher at The Institute of Education in London, Roger worked for multi-national corporations in the technology sector (Mitel, GEC, Plessey Telecom, Marconi and Ericsson) which included managing major financial budgets. Since retirement, Roger has also undertaken the role of Director of SNMAT (Diocesan MAT).

• Date of Appointment: 01/01/2023
• Term of Office: 4 Years
• Appointed by: Members of Transform Trust
• Business & Pecuniary Interests: Director of TT Support Services Limited, a subsidiary of Transform Trust.
• Governance Roles in other Educational Institutions: Director of Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham MAT

Dame Susan Jowett | Trustee

As a system leader, Department of Education Adviser and National Leader of Education (NLE) she has provided advice to government education departments, regional local authorities and Trust Boards. She was the Chair of the Teaching Schools national network for science leaders and a Senior Partner of Challenge Partners focussing on effective collaboration for school improvement and international benchmarking. She has had a local, national and international impact on primary and secondary education, helping to turn around under-performing schools and supporting others on their school improvement journey. She worked with the Department for Education in Melbourne, Australia and Education Leaders in Kenya.

As a passionate advocate of teaching as a profession, she chaired the Boards of George Spencer’s centre for initial teacher training and the teaching schools alliance. Her commitment to continuous professional development, reflected in her master’s educational research, ensured the school became a license holder for leadership development programmes and she personally helped with the original design and implementation of the programmes.

Susan’s dedicated service to education over 41 years was recognised in January 2016 when she was awarded a Damehood, DBE.

• Date of Appointment: 01/01/2023
• Term of Office: 4 Years
• Appointed by: Members of Transform Trust
• Business & Pecuniary Interests: Director of Dorset Centre of Excellence which includes Orchard Special School
• Governance Roles in other Educational Institutions: None

Gemma Savidge | Trustee

After completing a Doctorate in 2015, Gemma developed a keen interest in the impact of primary education on children’s long-term outcomes and social mobility.

Gemma lives in the city of Nottingham with her husband, two daughters and two dogs.

• Date of Appointment: 14/10/20
• Term of Office: 4 Years
• Appointed by: Members of Transform Trust
• Business & Pecuniary Interests: Company Secretary, Louvre Pro Ltd
• Governance Roles in other Educational Institutions: None

Rukia Shaffi | Trustee

Rukia’s first involvement with school governance was as a parent governor at Robert Shaw Primary and Nursery School, prior to the school joining Transform Trust. She became Chair of Governors in 2019 and is proud to have been part of the school’s ongoing improvement journey, which was recognised with a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating in November 2021. 

Throughout her career and voluntary roles, Rukia has remained passionate about education and believes that all children and young people are entitled to the best possible start in life through their experience at school. 

• Date of Appointment: 14/2/22
• Term of Office: 4 Years
• Appointed by: Members of Transform Trust
• Business & Pecuniary Interests: Head of Consultancy at the Confederation of Schools Trust
• Governance Roles in other Educational Settings: None

Dr Catherine Gripton | Trustee

Before and alongside working in Higher Education, Catherine was a teacher in four primary schools in Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire.  She has been a class teacher for all year groups Nursery to Year 2 and became an Advanced Skills Teacher in May 2003 for early years and mathematics.

As well as being a member of ATM, BSRLM, EECERA, Early Education, AMET, MA and the Chartered College of Teaching, Catherine is a member of the Early Childhood Mathematics Group and joint MA/ATM primary and early years group.  Catherine has worked extensively in Trustee Induction Checklist/March 2022 v2 mathematics professional development, undertaking external consultancy for regional maths hubs, teaching schools, research schools NCETM, DfE and educational suppliers.Catherine’s expertise and interests include:

• early years practice and pedagogy
• early childhood mathematics
• primary mathematics
• children’s perspectives in education

Catherine’s doctoral research explored 5-7 year old children’s lived experiences of ‘ability’ in case study classrooms”

• Date of Appointment: 16/9/22
• Term of Office: 4 Years
• Appointed by: Members of Transform Trust
• Business & Pecuniary Interests: Education consultancy ″Catherine Gripton″
• Governance Roles in other Educational Institutions: None

Mark Coppel | Trustee

Mark is also an NGA consultant and delivers sessions for NGA Training and Consultancy and facilitated on the NGA Leading Governance development programmes for chairs, clerks and boards. He has delivered the clerk’s development programme for several teaching schools.

Mark’s background is in technology management, and he has taught at Sheffield University Management School, including on the MBA, as well as working as an independent consultant.  Under the Labour government’s flagship creativity and culture programme for education, he facilitated and evaluated creative partnerships projects.

Mark has been working in education since 2006 as a consultant and trainer, working with local authorities, multi academy trusts and a teaching school alliance.

Mark’s governance experience includes chairing multiple schools including interim executive boards – taking schools from special measures to good, being a trustee and member of a MAT, being the member of several transition boards, and chairing a special school’s governing board.

• Date of Appointment: 09/10/2023
• Term of Office: 4 Years
• Appointed by: Members of Transform Trust
• Business & Pecuniary Interests: Governance Trainer and Consultant for National Governance Association.
• Governance Roles in other Educational Institutions: None

Maddi Popoola | Trustee

Trust Board – Governance Professionals

Trust Board

• Steve Cox - Chief Finance Officer: Business and Pecuniary Interests: Director of TTSS Limited. Other Roles: Governor at Ashbrook Junior School. Ensures the Board is compliant with the appropriate legal and regulatory frameworks (ESFA, Companies House and Charity Commission).
• Ruth Palmer - Governance Professional: prepares the minutes for Trust Board Meetings and provides administrative support to all Trust Board Committees including preparation of Committee minutes.

Trust Governance Documents

• Articles of Association
• Memorandum of Association
• Schemes of Delegation
• Schemes of Delegation - One Page Overview
• Transform Trust′s Governance Handbook
• Transform Trust Board of Trustees Attendance 2023/2024
• Trust Academy Conversion Process Map and Due Diligence Flowchart
• Trust Board Forward Plan for 2024/2025
• Committee Structure 2024/2025

Faith Addendums to Scheme of Delegation

• Bulwell St Mary’s C of E Primary School
• Sneinton St Stephen’s C of E Primary School
• South Wilford C of E Primary School
• Zaytouna Primary School

Register of Interest and Local Governance Information

• Abbey Hill Primary & Nursery
• Allenton Community Primary School
• Ashbrook Junior School
• Brierley Forest Primary & Nursery School
• Breadsall Hill Top Primary School
• Brocklewood Primary School
• Bulwell St Mary′s C of E Primary School
• Burford Primary and Nursery School
• Edale Rise Primary and Nursery School
• Holgate Primary and Nursery School
• Highbank Primary School
• King Edward Primary School & Nursery
• Lawn Primary School
• Parkdale Primary School
• Pear Tree Junior School
• Ravensdale Junior School
• Robert Shaw Primary and Nursery School
• Rosslyn Park Primary and Nursery School
• Sneinton St Stephen′s C of E Primary School
• South Wilford C of E Primary School
• Sutton Road Primary and Nursery School
• Whitegate Primary and Nursery School
• William Booth Primary and Nursery School
• Woodland View Primary School
• Zaytouna Primary School
• Trust Executive Team

Chairs Forum

Each year our Chair of Governors nominate from their group a Chair for the Chairs’ Forum. The elected Chair becomes a Trustee for a period of 12 months.  This provides a link between the Board and the Chair of Governors.

“The Chairs’ Forum meets once a term, online for two hours.  It is well organised with a Chair, full agenda and minuted; with good attendance from the LGB chairs’.  The interviews indicated that it is valued by the chair.”

External review of Governance by National Governance Association, May 2023

Allenton Community Primary School | Sally Price

Ashbrook Junior School | Geoff Peel

Breadsall Hill Top Primary School | Lindsay Clark

Brierley Forest Primary & Nursery School | Colin Barnard

Brocklewood Primary School | Francesca Huskisson-Moore

Bulwell St Mary’s C of E Primary School | Karen Slack

“The governing body provides effective support to the school. Governors are ambitious for the school. They have a good understanding of what the school does well and what it needs to do to be even better. They make regular visits to check on the school’s work towards meeting its priorities and they understand the importance of holding leaders to account.”

Bulwell Ofsted, 2019

Burford Primary & Nursery School | Charlotte Pope

Cantrell Primary School | Ruth Palmer

Edale Rise Primary & Nursery School | Andrew Sharp

Highbank Primary & Nursery School | Dennis Jones

King Edward Primary & Nursery | Phee Smith

Lawn Primary School | Kieran Dwyer

Parkdale Primary School | Dean Wilson

 

Pear Tree Junior School | Howard Handley

Ravensdale Junior School | Tyler Jackson

Robert Shaw Primary & Nursery School | Faith-Rose Chattaika

Rosslyn Park Primary & Nursery School | Alex Norris MP

“Governors are at the forefront of the decision-making process. They are highly ambitious for the school and its pupils.”

Ofsted, November 2017

Sneinton St Stephen’s C of E Primary School | Matt Jones – Chair

South Wilford Endowed CofE Primary School | Neil Johnson

Sutton Road Primary & Nursery School | Rebecca Jackson

Whitegate Primary & Nursery School | Stewart Powell

William Booth Primary & Nursery School | Sarah Shardlow

Woodland View Primary & Nursery School | Sarah Sayer

Zaytouna Primary School | Abdul Basit Jabbar

‘Together We Govern’

 

All Transform Schools have a local governance structure designed to meet the needs of the school.  The function of the LGB is:-

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
• Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff;
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent; and
• Strategic oversight of relationships with stakeholders, such as parents, children and the local community.

Governance Framework and Models of Governance at Transform

To view this document, please click here.

Transform Support

We produce a range of documents to support our Governors in their work, this includes:

• A simple summary and analysis of Governors skills to help plan training and development.
• An annual planner – setting out the range of key tasks and dates.
• An annual training offer which includes access to online training in a variety of subjects including safeguarding, GDPR, SEND, Finance, H&S etc.
• Access to GovernorHub and membership to GovernorHub knowledge providing a suite of training, advice and resources to support Governors in their role.
• Statutory policies and Trust documents checklist.

Governance Awards

We invite colleagues to nominate local Governors who they wish to have a special mention for their contribution to school.  Governors are then invited to come along and receive their special mention as part of our Children’s Awards held in both Nottingham & Derby.

Governor Recruitment

Would you like to be a Governor at Transform? Please watch this this short video from the National Governance Association about the role and then contact our Governance Professionals at Governors@transformtrust.co.uk and we would be happy to talk through our vacancies and the role.

Governor Safeguarding Forum

We hold virtual termly Safeguarding Governor Briefings.  These briefings are a valuable forum for sharing updates and staying informed on all things Safeguarding, as well as providing an opportunity to update their knowledge and understanding of changes in policy and practice that impact their role in school.

Compliance

Each year, or on appointment, we ask all Governors to complete a range of compliance documentation, this includes:

• Their eligibility to become a school governor
• To declare all interests – pecuniary, business, relationships, third party transactions
• To sign and comply with our Code of Conduct

In addition, we ask all Governors to complete a review of their skills every two years to ensure that we have a varied skills base on each governing body and we can tailor appropriate training and development. To view our Register of Interests and governor attendance click here.

Governance Professionals at Transform

At Transform we value and invest in our Governance Professionals.  They provide an invaluable contribution to the efficiency, effectiveness, productivity and compliance of our different Governing Boards across Governance and Safeguarding.  Our Governance Professionals work closely and in partnership with our Trustees, Chairs, CEO and Headteachers to ensure they are focused on their core strategic priorities.  Our Governance Professionals provide expert advice and guidance on a range of statutory duties and other functions and deliver high quality administrative support that makes everything work smoothly.

For more information/queries, please contact:

Our Director of Governance: Ruth Palmer – ruth.palmer@transformtrust.co.uk
Our Governance Professionals: Sarah Sayer & Sian Sweeting at governors@transformtrust.co.uk or contact them at 0115 982 5090.