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Innovate2Educate Partnership

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Governance

Our success and the achievements of our schools are based on strong leadership and governance. We are also fully committed to transparency in our approach.

The Innovate2Educate Partnership Board of Trustees is accountable in law for all major decisions relating to its academies. However, this does not mean that the Board is required to carry out all the Trust’s governance functions and decision-making responsibilities. Many are delegated to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Local Academy Committees and their committees.

A clear scheme of delegation defines lines of responsibility and accountability within the Trust.

Governance Structure diagram

Our Trustees

Strategic leadership. Independent challenge. An unwavering commitment to every child.

Strong governance is fundamental to the success of Innovate2Educate Partnership. Our Board of Trustees brings together an exceptional breadth of senior experience from education, business, engineering, health, human resources and organisational leadership. Trustees share a clear ambition: to ensure that every school in our Partnership is supported and challenged to provide an excellent education for every child.

The Board is accountable in law for the Trust and provides strategic direction, robust oversight and constructive challenge. Working closely with the Chief Executive Officer and executive team, Trustees safeguard educational standards, financial sustainability and organisational effectiveness while ensuring that decisions remain firmly rooted in the best interests of pupils. A clear scheme of delegation defines responsibility and accountability across the Board, its committees, the Chief Executive Officer and Local Academy Committees.

Board of Trustees

Colin Haswell  |  Chair of the Trust Board

Colin provides experienced, ambitious and forward-looking leadership to the Trust Board. He leads on human resources and wellbeing and is Link Trustee for All Saints CE First School, Bramshall Meadows First School and Hutchinson Memorial First School. A highly accomplished senior HR leader, Colin has held internationally focused roles with the BMW Group, Rolls-Royce plc and Ball Corporation. His expertise in people, culture, organisational development and workforce planning brings valuable commercial insight to the Board, complemented by a strong understanding of the skills and qualities young people need to thrive in their future careers. Colin is committed to I2E becoming nationally recognised for educational excellence, sustainable improvement and its ability to maximise the potential of every pupil. His vision combines strong outcomes with responsible growth, financial sustainability and a clear determination to preserve the Trust's distinctive identity and values.

Stuart Harper  |  Trustee

Stuart is Link Trustee for Oldfields Hall Middle School and supports the Trust's health and safety strategy. A Chartered Engineer and experienced business leader, he brings significant expertise in innovation, change management, operational excellence, commercial leadership and strategic professional development. Stuart has successfully led the introduction of new products and improvement programmes through periods of growth and challenge, giving the Board valuable insight into risk, performance and organisational resilience. His passion for science and engineering education has also led him to work with a wide range of organisations to launch national STEM programmes for primary and secondary schools. With specialist knowledge of graduate employability and degree apprenticeships, Stuart helps ensure that the Trust remains ambitious for pupils' futures and continues to grow sustainably while adding real value to every member school.

Sue Dale  |  Trustee

Sue brings exceptional depth of educational expertise and a career dedicated to helping children and young people make the strongest possible progress. As District Education Manager for School Improvement at Staffordshire Local Education Authority, she led work to raise standards across the district. She has also provided trusted consultancy in workforce development, secondary leadership and management and contributed nationally as a consultant for the Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 National Strategy, with a particular focus on behaviour and attendance. Sue's strong understanding of school improvement, inclusion and the personal, social and emotional barriers that can affect learning enables her to bring both informed challenge and practical insight to the Board. Her focus on identifying need, evaluating impact and translating evidence into effective action strengthens I2E's commitment to continuous improvement and educational excellence.

Chris Wood  |  Trustee

Chris brings extensive board-level leadership experience from the global pharmaceutical, medical device and healthcare sectors, united by a longstanding commitment to people's health and wellbeing. He has led international teams across Asia Pacific and Eastern and Western Europe and has significant experience of acquisitions, mergers, organisational integration and bringing different cultures together around a shared purpose. His contribution to local healthcare includes serving as Chair of Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Vice Chair of Burton Community Trust. A qualified coach, Chris combines strategic perspective with a strong belief in personal, professional and organisational growth. His expertise helps the Board consider culture, wellbeing, partnership and sustainable change alongside standards and performance, supporting the Trust to grow with care, integrity and a relentless focus on the experience of pupils, families and staff.

Linda Francis  |  Trustee

Linda contributes to the Board's collective strategic leadership, oversight and accountability. As a Trustee, she shares responsibility for ensuring that Innovate2Educate Partnership remains ambitious for every pupil, uses its resources responsibly and continues to develop as a strong, sustainable and values-led organisation. Her independent perspective supports effective scrutiny and well-informed decision-making, helping the Board remain focused on educational quality, organisational effectiveness and the long-term success of the Trust and its schools.

Our approach to governance

Our Trustees combine high expectations with thoughtful challenge and a strong sense of public responsibility. Their collective expertise enables the Board to look beyond compliance: shaping strategy, anticipating risk, supporting innovation and ensuring that growth strengthens the experience and opportunities available to pupils and staff.

Together, the Board and executive team provide the leadership, assurance and long-term stewardship required for I2E to improve, innovate and grow. This partnership of governance and executive leadership ensures that every school is known, supported and challenged, and that every decision serves the success and wellbeing of children and young people.

Governance information

The Trust publishes its scheme of delegation, Trustee attendance information, appointments and register of interests, and other key governance documents on its website, reflecting its commitment to openness and accountability.

For governance enquiries, please contact enquiries@i2e.org.uk or telephone 01889 561820 ext 268.

Innovate2Educate Partnership, c/o Thomas Alleyne's High School, Dove Bank, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire ST14 8DU

Members

Members (ID 1424)

  • Reverand Simon Davis
    Member

    Reverand Simon Davis

    Pen portrait to follow

  • Helen Robertson
    Member

    Helen Robertson

    Pen portrait to follow

  • Sid Slater
    Member

    Sid Slater

    Sid joined Innovate2Educate Partnership at its inception and following a number of years as the Chair of the Trust Board, in 2025 took the decision to step down from Chair and remains on the Trust board as a member. Previously he was a governor and vice chair of a local authority school. He is also a National Leader of Governance (NLG) delivering external reviews and support for other schools and academy trusts on behalf of the National Governance. Sid brings a wide range of experience and leadership in the education and business sectors to his role as chair, having held three secondary head teacher posts and worked in senior roles in local authorities. He also directed national industry and education partnerships at the University of Warwick. He has worked as a senior education adviser at the Department for Education, including having regional responsibility, as a school improvement consultant, 14-19 adviser and free school education adviser. He remains a Departmental external expert. Sid has also worked in the business sector as director of a multinational cost and programme management consultancy company. He is currently a director of a small company. Sid is committed to the success and well-being of our young people in the Trust and offering high quality education for all. He is very proud of our young people and what they achieve as they move through our three-tier system, from nursery school to post-16 provision at our high school. He sees that our Trust works in partnership with parents and communities for the benefit of the students who represent the future of our country. Sid aims to support the Trust to welcome other like-minded, schools into our family and continue to improve and develop our high-quality education.

  • David Smith
    Member

    David Smith

    Pen portrait to follow

  • Diocese of Lichfield Educational Trust
    Member

    Diocese of Lichfield Educational Trust

    The Diocese of Lichfield Educational Trust is the Diocesan Corporate Member of Innovate2Educate Partnership. It ensures the Church of England schools in the Trust maintain and develop their religious ethos, which is to be both distinctively Christian and inclusive of all. It views education as enabling the flourishing of all pupils and staff to develop their God given potential.

    The Diocese of Lichfield Educational Trust is represented at Members meetings by an officer of the Lichfield Diocesan Board of Education.

 Governance documents

 

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