Directors
(Trustees)
Michael Caine
Chair of Trustees
Senior Nat West Bank Manager. Responsibilities include the provision of Commercial Finance, Corporate Restructuring solutions, Financial Analysis, Relationship Management, Service Level maintenance and Business Development. These responsibilities require skills in understanding Financial Statements, an ability to strip down Financial Information, understanding Credit Risk, finding Solutions and having Interpersonal Skills to maintain good Business Relationships. Previously Chair of St Bede Primary Academy.
Graham Cohen
Vice Chair
Qualified in June 15 (BA Hons in Primary Education with QTS) with a long career in working within education, particularly within Church of England Primary schools and academies. Worked within numerous schools and year groups gaining essential knowledge of the challenges within the education sector and what is expected of schools to be able to provide an outstanding education. Additional role as a youth theatre director (for over 25 years) provides a useful skill in terms of planning, presenting and problem solving. Was an installation manager (for 7 years) encompassed annual project management of £18m budget, where cost control, project planning and liaising with colleagues was essential to the success of each task. This combination of educational knowledge and business acumen ensures he is able to operate at a strategic level within the MAT board.
Sarah Bagshaw
Chief Executive Officer
Worked within the Education sector nationally and within St Bede at a strategic level for over 15 years. Upholds the Christian ethos of the MAT and ensure Christianity underpins the MAT Mission. Manages the overall operations of the organisation, including development of the Trust, educational excellence, marketing, communications, and financial sustainability. Develops and approves strategies to meet Members, parents, children, educational agencies and employee needs. Communicates with people inside and outside the organisation to discover what policies, operational and marketing strategies will help the Trust move forward. Created project teams to lead the development of the MAT, from St Bede Academy conversion through to the first sponsorship from initial due diligence, to completion of a second Academy. Network nationally to benefit the Trust and educational sector as a whole. Including advising the House of Commons Select Committee for childcare affordability, being part of the NAHT SBL Committee to challenge the Government on their National Funding Formula, and attending select round table talks with Education Ministers. Advises nationally and locally others looking at converting to Academies, including questions to ask, due diligence process and implications. Underpinned by a background as a Chartered Accountant with over 13 years’ experience driving successful business operations in a variety of sectors including a £350m turnover FMCG business, dealing with growth and change management at a strategic and operational level..
Kevin Barton
Trustee
An entrepreneur of a successful business encompassing raising finance, product selection, production, sales and marketing. Managerial experience including both staff and contractors. Experienced in health, safety in the workplace and provides advice to the MAT in this area (including food hygiene). Has a background in auto engineering where a strong aptitude in project management and problem solving was essential.
Tony Whitehead
Trustee
As a qualified Investment Operations manager, I have working in the investment industry for over 25 years. In my current role I am responsible for the oversight of the outsourced Investment accounting provider and provide assurance around valuation uncertainty in addition to ensuring appropriate investment accounting control and expertise and a box management process, conforming with governance processes, supporting preparation of materials for various forums, analysis of unit pricing errors and supporting the delivery of unit pricing data controls and oversight. More recently, I have been licenced as a Lay minister (known as a ‘Reader’) at St Bede Church so the Christian distinctiveness of the Trust is very important to me. As well as lead and teach at Church, I also lead Collective Worship in St Bede Academy. During my time as a governor and Chair of Governors at St Bede, I have built up a knowledge base of educational priorities as well as what the MAT deems as priorities for the benefit of its staff and pupils and this has placed me in a good position to help lead the strategic direction of the MAT board.
June Roberts
Trustee
Worked alongside the Leadership Team of the MAT since its inception. Previously worked with the Executive Headteacher and the Leadership Team at a strategic level for more than 25 years. I hold the National Professional Qualification for Headship and chose to develop my role at St Bede rather than take up headship myself. Extremely experienced teacher through all primary age ranges, My wealth of experience includes: strategic Director of St Bede Primary Academy, St Bede Primary MAT and St Bede Charity, taking part in SLE interviews, ‘deep dives’ and other Ofsted related programmes, data analysis, quality assurance roles and observations. I was the Branch Secretary for the Bolton Branch of NAHT before retirement, as well as the Chair of the local Cluster group for many years.