The MAT Board comprises of Trustees who are the are directors of the company and trustees of the exempt charity. The Chair of the MAT leads the Board, manages the business, provides leadership (alongside the CEO) for the MAT as a whole and is accountable for the vision, supporting the CEO when the MAT is held to account. The Trust also has up to five “Members” who have ‘eyes on, hands off’ roles, similar to shareholders of a business. The responsibility of Members includes taking the lead in filling any vacancies on the Board with reference to the Competency Framework and skills gaps.
The Family of Learning Trust’s governance layers (top down) are:
Members
Board of Trustees (all Trust-appointed)
Executive Team
Head teacher/Head of School
Local Governing Board (with delegated responsibility for the Academy)
Members
The Members of the Trust are the guardians of the governance of the Trust. They are responsible for ensuring the Trust complies with all aspects of law and regulation to it, and operates within the requirements set out in the Trust’s Articles of Association, the Academies Trust Handbook and the DfE’s Academy Trust Governance Guide.
Functions
- Members will hold the Directors accountable for ensuring that the trust’s charitable objects (as set out its Articles of Association) are met and that the income and property of the Trust shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the
- Members will be responsible for appointing new Members and for appointing Directors as set out in the Trust’s in the Articles of
- Members are responsible for the appointment of the Trust’s
Accountability
Accountable to the Secretary of State for Education.
Mr Zaheer Khalil
Zaheer is currently a director of a Utilities company. With a MSc in Biomedical Science, he has previously worked in the Pharmaceutical industry in roles as a Research Scientist as well as a Contract Manager. He has experience of working in the education sector through his role as Project Manager in a FE college. Zaheer has experience of governance and has been a governor at a school in Bradford. His experience and expertise of trust boards as a Non Executive Director of the NHS and currently Vice Chair of the Healthy Living Partnership Board are invaluable.
Mrs Stephanie Handsley
Stephanie is a qualified HR professional with over 17 years working in Human Resources, latterly as Head of HR for the north east and yorkshire region of NHS England. Previously Stephanie worked for Yorkshire Ambulance Service for 9 years and Calderdale Council in the Children and Young people’s service for 4 years, as a Team Leader in the HR Department for schools and has a strong understanding of educational settings. Stephanie enjoys playing golf in her leisure time and is a committee member of a local golf club.
Mr Andrew Helliwell
Andrew is a retired Chartered Surveyor having worked for 35 years in the Civil Service. Currently Andrew is the Managing Director of a local property management company. Andrew has a keen interest in cricket, he is an Umpire and an active member of Old Town Cricket Club.
Trustees
The Board of Trustees three core functions are as follows:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic
- Holding the Chief Executive and the Executive Team to account for the educational performance of academies and pupils, and the performance and management of staff.
- Overseeing the financial performance of each academy and making sure money is well spent
The Board of Trustees main responsibilities include:
- Assessing and managing the principle risks to the Trust
- Appointing the CEO and holding them to account for the Trust’s overall performance, and for discharging the role of the Accounting Officer
- Ensuring that the Trust operates with prudent financial planning and remains solvent
- Monitoring the work of the Local Governing Board
Trustees’ duties, under the Companies Act 2006, include the following:
- Acting within their powers
- Promoting the success of the company
- Exercising independent judgement
- Exercising reasonable care, skill and diligence
- Avoiding conflicts of interest
- Declaring an interest in proposed transactions or arrangements
Mr Nadim Najib ( Chair of Trust/member)
Business and Finance
Nadim has over 20 years’ experience in the Financial Services industry and is currently a Business Relationship Manager for around 120 SMEs. Primarily responsible for growing his portfolio through lending and acquisition, his role also encompasses networking, data protection and adhering to strict controls as outlined by the Financial Conduct Authority. His previous experience includes line management activity, recruitment, health and safety and staff development.
Nadim has been involved with The Academy for over 5 years, having originally been elected as a Parent Governor; also chairing the Audit & Finance Committee. Nadim is a proud and active member of the local community and he, along with his three children, attended Beech Hill before moving on to secondary education.
Mr Christopher Swallow
(Trustee and Chair of the Audit, risk and Estates Committee) Business and HR
Chris was the Market Leader for a large banking group in the Halifax Cluster area. He has worked in various roles across the business sector. He managed a team of 30 staff and has a great understanding of finance as well as Human Resources. His particular interest is in staff workload and wellbeing.
He has been a school governor for a number of years before joining the Trust.
Mrs S Hussain (CEO)
Shameem Hussain is currently Head teacher of Beech Hill School and founder of ‘The Family of Learning Trust’. Shameem became head teacher in 2014 following several years as the deputy head teacher. She has supported a range of schools and their leaders with School Improvement.
In 2016 Beech Hill School achieved Ofsted ‘Outstanding ‘and in 2017 Shameem led the academy through to gaining Multi Academy Trust status as ‘the Family of Learning Trust’. The trust sponsored Dean Field School in January 2018 and Shameem led the school through its conversion to joining the trust. This gave her, as CEO the opportunity to strategically lead the development across the MAT and Dean Field’s improvement. As CEO, her role is to strategically develop the trust, ensuring systems are in place for the trust to expand and realise the trust’s vision on ensuring that all children have the best possible start in their life. She is currently undertaking Ofsted Inspector training.
Mrs Sophie Loreen (Trustee)
Education Improvement
Sofia has a BA Hons in Early Years. Along with and her extensive experience of Early Years, Sophie has a good understanding of the statutory requirements. She joined the governing body in 2013 as a parent governor when her children attended Beech Hill. She later joined the Trust Board. As a member of the local community, she is passionate about ensuring pupils are given the best possible start in life.
Sophie is a busy mum of three teenage girls but in her spare time also volunteers at a local community centre.
Miss Katie Fudge(Trustee)
Education/School Improvement
Katie Fudge is currently an Assistant Headteacher at Spalding Primary Academy with the Infinity Academies Trust, with responsibilities for EYFS & Key Stage 1 as well as being a DDSL. She was previously Deputy Headteacher of Dean Field Community Primary School for 4 years and remains as a Governor at this school. Unfortunately, due to house relocation, she had to leave in 2023, but she was thrilled to still be able to be a part of the team.
During her role at Dean Field she was curriculum lead, phonics lead and EYFS lead as well as the Reception class teacher and one of the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads. She graduated from York St John University with QTS in 2012 and then went on to complete her Master’s Degree in Childhood Studies and Early Years whilst teaching in Leicestershire. Katie has gained her NPQSL as well as being recognised by Inspiring Teachers for contributing to charity work in Uganda. Katie is currently working towards achieving her NPQH with Ambition.
Mrs Holly Lowe (Trustee)
Education/School Improvement
Holly Lowe is a qualified teacher of the Primary Phase with 10 years teaching experience across EYFS and Key Stage 1. She worked as an Assistant Head Teacher and Deputy Head Teacher across the Family of Learning Trust for a large proportion of that time. Her expertise is Early Years and she led the Beech Hill EYFS department through a large expansion whilst still maintaining high standards of education for all pupils.
During her time of employment she was a Designated Safeguarding Lead, NQT mentor and delivered staff training across the school. She was involved in the recruitment of staff, performance management procedures and on numerous occasions revised the EYFS curriculum and assessment procedures in line with the statutory guidance. Holly particularly enjoyed organising and delivering parental events and saw first-hand how they could positively impact on pupils learning and the wider school community.
Holly is currently taking a career break from teaching to raise her young family.
Tim Machin
Tim Machin has been a school governor at Heptonstall School for seven years and has been chair since 2019. Tim has a background in the arts as an artist, curator and researcher and has worked in this context in Higher Education for 17 years. He is currently employed at Sheffield Hallam University where he manages the University’s gallery, exhibition programme and art collection, working with the university community at all levels to curate a programme of public facing exhibitions and events, ranging from student shows to collaborations with international artists and designers. His experience here includes management of complex projects and budgets, communication and marketing, and working closely with stakeholders in the university and city.
He has degrees from the University of Oxford and University of Surrey and is undertaking a PhD at Sheffield Hallam University. His governance experience includes previous experience as a Director of the Art Sheffield Consortium and he is currently also Chair of Trustees of the Friends of Heptonstall Museum, a registered charity working to transform a closed local authority museum into a centre for literature, history, landscape and culture.
Tracey Milner
Business/IT
Tracey Milner has previously volunteered with Calderdale Local Authority as a mentor for young people considering educational and employment options as they move through Year 11 and for the Prince’s Trust supporting young people in developing their business idea/s and setting up a viable business model to secure financial support from the Trust. Tracey has a background in Financial Services with 35 years experience in delivering IT change programmes for Banking systems. She is currently employed at Lloyds Bank where she is working on a multi-million pound cross-channel system. Roles within IT Change Delivery have Included management of complex programmes and projects, high value budget management, risk management, people management and working closely with stakeholders across the Bank and with external Auditors and Financial Services Regulators. Tracey has also acted as a mentor within Financial Services providing support and guidance to less experienced colleagues through the Breakthrough programme. Tracey has an OU degree in Management.
Outside of work Tracey’s interests include regular gym and squash sessions, cooking and travel. She is an advocate of ladies sporting opportunity and a keen support of England Lionesses Football Team.
The Role Of Local Governing Boards (LGB)
The Academy Head Teachers along with their Senior Management Teams and respective LGBs are responsible for the day to day operation of each Academy.
The Family of Learning Trust recognises the important role that Local Governing Boards play in effectively managing day to day roles and responsibilities within each Academy. The local information that the LGB holds is imperative to supporting the local community and responding to issues that individual academies may face from time to time.
The Scheme of Delegation describes the framework of responsibilities and how they are delegated and distributed between the Members, the Board of Trustees and LGBs. Each Academy is afforded a degree of autonomy in order to maintain its local character. Although the Board of Trustees is ultimately accountable for the Trust as a whole, each LGB retains responsibility for:
- Health and Safety
- Safeguarding
- Teaching and Learning
- Pupil Outcomes
- Pupil Attendance
- Managing complaints
- Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)
- Pupil Premium Grant (PPG)
- Sports Funding
- Staff wellbeing and management of workload
- Approve local school policies
Chair of Beech Hill School Local Governing Board: Uzma Iqbal
Chair of Bradshaw Primary School Governing Board: Victor Smyth
Chair of Dean Field Community School Local Governing Board: Doug Clark
Chair of Heptonstall Local Governing Board: Tim Machin
Chair of Shirley Manor Local Governing Board: Fiona Pether
For further information regarding the LGBs see below