Stour Vale Academy Trust
Members
Mr David Hadley-Pryce
Member of the Board
Dave read for a BSc in Theoretical Physics at the University of Kent, and having worked as Head of Physics, Head of Sixth Form, SENCO and Deputy Head, he is now in his third Headship at The Bewdley School. After spending his twenties in industry, Dave has worked in secondary schools for 30 years, 15 of them as a Head Teacher. He has been a school governor at his children’s primary school as well as during his three Headships, totaling 20 years of school governance. In 2022 he initiated the formation of The Bewdley School Foundation to support the school, which is a partnership between The Bewdley School, Bewdley Festival and Bewdley Civic Society. He is currently a Director and Chair of the Foundation.
During his first and second Headships he was commissioned as a Squadron Leader with the RAF volunteer reserve, supporting an active CCF in both schools. In his current role he has taken a more active role with outdoor education, training as a Lowland Leader to support Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions. More recently he has trained as a PADI registered advanced open water diver, to support school expeditions to biodiversity hotspots with Operation Wallacea. He has been a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts since 2013 and completed his MSc in Educational Management and Leadership, with the University of Worcester in 2015. He is currently studying part-time for a PhD in Ocean Science with the Bangor University.
Mr Craig Holden
Member of the Board
Craig’s career as a school/college governor started as a Parent Governor at King Edward VI College, Stourbridge in June 2016. He became a Foundation Governor in July 2017 and was elected Vice Chair in August 2018. He was also the Chair of the Search & Governance Committee, served on the Audit and Finance committees and was the Link Governor for Estates. He became a Director of the Heart of Mercia Multi Academy Trust in June 2021, where he chairs the Audit Committee, is a member of the remuneration committee and is also Estates liaison.
Craig has run his own specialist digital marketing company, based in Birmingham, since 2000, having started his career with Unilever in the mid-1980s. He is also a non-executive director of Engaging Communities Solutions, a Community Interest Company that runs several HealthWatch contracts across the country.
To date, Craig’s interest in education has been through business. He has played a leading role locally with the Institute of Directors’ Student Mentoring Scheme. This scheme helps prepare final year business students at Wolverhampton University for the world of work, above and beyond their academic qualifications: fine-tuning CVs, practice interviews and working on the crucial ‘soft skills’. He has also been involved in raising money for educational bursaries at Oriel College, Oxford, where he studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics between 1982 and 1985.
Craig is married to Lisa, and has two daughters, Emily and Mary. Away from work he is addicted to (watching) Rugby, and enjoys cycling, walking and playing the bass guitar.
Mr Mark Mitchell
Member of the Board
Mark is a current Headteacher with 14 years’ experience leading schools, including schools in challenging circumstances. Currently he leads a three-form entry primary school in Solihull. Having invested over 20 years in understanding the impact of strengths development in school leaders, he has supported head teachers in their own professional development as well as working with whole leadership teams. Having experience of working within maintained schools, academies, free schools, secondary and primary he brings a wealth of knowledge from across the sector. He is also a member of the Education Strategic Board for the West Midlands Lieutenancy.
Mrs Susan Scott
Member of the Board
Before her retirement, Sue was Trust Business Manager in the Stour Vale central team, supporting the CFO and Head of Finance with all the Trust’s finance and business operations. Sue‘s work was focused on financial management processes and procedures, around budget planning, monitoring and final closure of the Trust’s yearly accounts. Sue has over 20 years of experience in school financial management in the Dudley Borough, having worked at both The Earls High School and Windsor High School in a Finance/Business role.
Ms Joanne Williams
Member of the Board
Jo is the Deputy Principal and a qualified teacher with a degree in Sociology and Politics as well as an MSocSci in Russian and East European Studies and an MA in Education Leadership and Management. Jo has almost 30 years’ experience in the FE Sector working in a wide range of roles in the College, including Curriculum Manager for Health and Social Care and Early Years, and Director of Learning and Teaching.
Jo is passionate about curriculum development and quality improvement and most importantly all students achieving their full potential. She is also a governor at a local Birmingham school.
Trustees
Mr David Bartlett
Trustee
David has worked as a primary teacher, educational psychologist, and Coordinator for Assessment for Birmingham LA, responsible for the collection and analysis of school assessment and examination data and supporting schools in implementing statutory assessment requirements. David was a member of one of the teams developing the first statutory National Curriculum assessments and the team that developed the original Profile for the assessment of children at the end of Reception. Over a number of years, David has worked in various advisory capacities with both the STA (and its predecessor bodies) and the DfE.
Since retirement from full time work, David has worked as an independent consultant supporting schools in reviewing and developing assessment practice, including moderating teacher assessments. David continues to be Communications Officer for the Association for Achievement and Improvement through Assessment (AAIA), a professional association open to anyone interested in educational assessment, both teachers and those working in an advisory or support capacity.
Ms Holly Bembridge
Trustee
Holly has spent two decades working in education – as a teacher and a leader in colleges across London, and now in Stourbridge. In that time, she has learned a lot about the technical challenges of teaching, and the joys and trials of leading organisations. Holly has a particular interest in cultural change and development, and has a track record in assisting young people from less privileged backgrounds to excel. Holly enjoys thinking with other people, whether in classrooms or corridors: one of her favourite quotes is from Daniel Willingham, “Memory is the residue of thought”. Holly is currently on the national curriculum and quality board for the Sixth Form Colleges Association, and has had recent experience as a governor at a secondary school.
Mr Richard Brooks
Trustee/Vice Chair of the Board
Richard has recently retired following a 40-year career in the rail industry, during the last eight years of which he held the positions of Commercial Director and Customer Experience Director for two major Midlands-based train operating companies. Richard has experience of strategic development, governance of large organisations, people development and engagement with senior stakeholders, including MPs, government officials and the West Midlands Mayor. In his role, Richard delivered demonstrable improvements to commercial delivery, customer satisfaction, business processes, safety, profit, governance, and employee and community engagement.
Mrs Jacquie Carman
Trustee
Jacquie has worked in education since 1998 and has been part of the leadership team at Halesowen College since 2004. As Chief Operating Officer she was responsible for the finance and wider corporate functions at Halesowen College including Estates, Marketing and IT. She is also Chair of the College’s subsidiary company Halesowen College Enterprises Limited.
Jacquie has expertise in finance and risk management as well as a passion for education and has recently been appointed as Principal and Chief Executive Officer for the College.
Jacquie represents the College at a regional and national level working with the Association of Colleges and Colleges West Midlands.
Previous to working in education Jacquie trained in the NHS as an accountant and worked in several NHS Trusts in the Black Country and Birmingham. After qualifying Jacquie worked
as Chief Accountant at a Community Trust before moving into education in 1998.
Mrs Victoria Kelly
Trustee
Victoria is a recently retired head teacher with over 30 years’ experience in the primary sector.
Victoria has worked as a head teacher for 12 years, leading an infant school, a junior school and a primary school. During her career, Victoria also worked in a special school teaching deaf/blind children. Victoria has a particular interest in how young children learn to read and trained to be a Reading Recovery Teacher earlier in her career.
Victoria has significant experience of school organisation, recruitment, health and safety, finance, school performance and safeguarding.
Victoria is a co-opted Associate Governor at a local secondary school and takes responsibility for the safeguarding role on the governing board.
Mrs Rachel Salter
Trustee/CEO
Having previously been an Executive Leader of Stour Vale since 2018, Rachel was appointed CEO of our trust in October 2021. Rachel began her teaching career in 1994, working in schools in Leeds and Sandwell before becoming a headteacher in 2009.
Mr Mark Shrimpton
Trustee
Mark has over 25 years’ experience in Human Resources. Since 2017, he has worked in senior strategic HR / People roles across Technology and charities, and is currently the Chief People Officer for Wright Hassall, a law firm based in Leamington Spa.
Mark has been responsible for 200 UK employees in start-up organisations to over 3,500 employees worldwide in rapidly growing organisations. In all of his roles, he has been responsible for the strategic direction of the People team ensuring that the approaches align with the organisational mission.
Mark has led on significant transformation, change and growth programmes including acquisitions and mergers and has achieved recognition for organisations including IiP Gold and Top 25 employers to work for in the UK via Glassdoor. As an individual, he is passionate about equality and diversity and was awarded the HR Champion of the Year by the British Diversity Awards in 2022. He holds an MBA and law degree and is MCIPD qualified.
Rev. Christopher Siviter
Trustee
After a career of over 35 years in the NHS operating at Senior Management level and holding an MBA, Chris trained to be an ordained Minister with the Elim Pentecostal denomination. For the past 10 years Chris has Pastored a Church in Rowley Regis. Chris has an in-depth knowledge of the public sector holding posts across the NHS, Adult Social Care, and the Third Sector. Chris has extensive School Governance experience having been a Governor at two local schools, Secondary and Primary, and was Chair of Governors at Olive Hill School until its inclusion in the Stour Vale Academy Trust. Chris is keen to encourage pupils and staff to fulfil their full potential and to explore innovative ways of working and learning, and to ensure positive links with the local community are developed and maintained.
Mr Stephen Tivey
Trustee
Steve has recently retired from full-time teaching and is currently a foster carer and an author of GCSE textbooks. He completed a Social Science degree and teaching qualification after spending his first few post school years working in retail and industrial cleaning.
Following this, he became a teacher of sociology and eventually Head of Year at two different secondary schools in Peterborough. In 2005 he returned to the West Midlands and became Assistant Headteacher at Ridgewood High School. His main responsibilities were as Designated Safeguarding Lead, Designated Teacher for Looked After Children and personal development.
Dr Tracy Wallis
Trustee
Dr Tracy Wallis is Head of Department for Secondary and Further Education and Skills (FES) at the University of Worcester. Prior to joining the University of Worcester, Tracy worked at the University of Wolverhampton for sixteen years in a variety of roles mainly in the Initial Teacher Training and Education sector. Tracy’s experience in the world of Teacher Training includes partnerships, student experience and course leadership.
After graduating with a B.Ed (Hons) in Primary Education with English, Tracy was a primary school teacher for 13 years working across schools in the West Midlands before entering Higher Education. In 2010, Tracy attained her MA in Education, and she has recently completed her Professional Doctorate in Education. Tracy has presented her research at numerous national and international conferences.
Tracy is a trained Ofsted inspector for ITT and is currently vice-chair of the Universities Council for the Education of Teachers (UCET) Secondary forum. Tracy is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Association (HEA) and a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching. Until recently, Tracy was Chair of Governors at an outstanding primary school in Sandwell and sat on the Govern Sandwell executive committee.
Ms Joanne Williams
a Trustee/Chair of the Board
Jo is the Deputy Principal and a qualified teacher with a degree in Sociology and Politics as well as an MSocSci in Russian and East European Studies and an MA in Education Leadership and Management. Jo has almost 30 years’ experience in the FE Sector working in a wide range of roles in the College, including Curriculum Manager for Health and Social Care and Early Years, and Director of Learning and Teaching.
Jo is passionate about curriculum development and quality improvement and most importantly all students achieving their full potential. She is also a governor at a local Birmingham school.
Information about the relevant business and financial interests of members and trustees, and about trustees’ membership of committees and attendance at meetings, can be found on our website here.