Who's Who

Mike Hayward (Chair):

My job is Consumer Marketing Manager for Ecclesiastical Insurance in Gloucester.  I have 2 children, who attended The Ridings High School.  I have been involved with the former school and now the Academy since 1997, firstly through The Friends and then as a Governor and Chair of Governors from 2004-2009.  I was closely involved in the process to create the new Federation and I am confident that we are in a very strong position to develop both Academies to achieve both academic excellence and a superb educational experience for our students.

 

Mike Rees:

"I am retired and a Pro-Vice Chancellor Emeritus of the University of the West of England where I was previously Dean of the Bristol Business School and subsequently Deputy Vice Chancellor. I have a particular interest in educational standards and have served as a specialist adviser on quality assurance in higher education. I currently chair the Federation’s Educational Standards Committee which aims to ensure that the highest standards are set and maintained across the Federation". 

Chris Smith:

Having worked at Director level at a number of private and public limited companies, I now have my own business providing support services to businesses undergoing process and organisational change. My three children were all pupils at Highcroft, where I have been Chair of Governors through to its amalgamation in 2010, and then more recently were at Winterbourne International Academy  where the youngest is now in the Sixth Form. As Vice-Chair of The Academy Trust I aim, to the best of my ability, to continue to support and challenge the leadership teams at the Academies as they continue developing an exciting, engaging and dynamic curriculum matched to the needs of all students. Having worked internationally I have an appreciation of the changing world in which our children are growing up, and am a committed supporter of thinking forward to play our part in preparing them for the lifelong, global, learning opportunities they face.

Dave Hase:

I am a parent of a student currently at Yate International Academy and work locally on contract management at Rolls-Royce. My interest is in helping to make sure the Academy operates well and acts responsibly with the money they receive from the Government for our children's education. Part of my role is also to assist at the Federation level with both Academies on Development and new buildings that we shall see in the next few years.

Irene Farnsworth:

I am a Parent Director on The Academy Trust and a Parent Governor at Yate International Academy.  My interests are with both the Vocational Centre and the Performing Arts programme along with finding ways to maximise the learning opportunities for the young people within our communities.  I am married with 1 daughter who attends the 6th form Vocational Centre at Yate International Academy .  I work for Avon and Somerset Constabulary in an Admin capacity.

Jeremy Hicks:

I am married with two children who both attend Winterbourne International Academy. I have worked in Financial Services for 25 years and specialise in training, business strategy, communications and change management. I have also been a Trustee of a local charity and am a Football Association qualified coach. I originally joined The Ridings High School as a Sponsor Governor. I am a Bristolian and live local to the Winterbourne International Academy.

Liz Pattison:

I first became a Governor of The Ridings High School when my 2 children were students, because I wanted to be a part of ensuring that  the best possible education was accessible to our community. I still live locally and teach at Elm Park Primary in Winterbourne, so now, as a Director of The Ridings Federation of Academies Trust, I will continue to work to promote this exciting new opportunity for the young people of South Gloucestershire.

Mark Calver:

Having graduated as a teacher from Liverpool University, I taught for a period of time before spending time in industry setting a business with three others.  I remain committed to ensuring that children get the best possible opportunities in life. It is to this end that I became a Governor of The Ridings High School in excess of 10 years ago. Since then I have been involved in the creation of The Academies which I believe will serve the communities of both Winterbourne and Yate well. I have 3 children, all of whom have been students at the predecessor school to Winterbourne International Academy.  As a Director, I have a particular interest in the financial dimensions of education and will be working in my capacity to ensure that the Federation is financially robust.

Ros Harris:

I currently work in admin in the private sector.  I have 3 children, all of whom are now in their twenty's and attended The Ridings High School.  During this time I was a Parent Governor for 8 years.  I then progressed to becoming a Director of The Ridings’ Federation of Academies Trust.  I see this as an exciting opportunity for both Academies.

Ian Butcher:

A Chartered Engineer working for the MOD, I was elected as a Parent Governor to the Governing Body of the predecessor school in Autumn 2003.  I became Chair of the Winterbourne International Academy Local Governing Body, and a Director of the Academy Trust, when the Academy opened in Autumn 2009.  I have 3 children, all of who attended the predecessor school, or who are still at the Academy.  Whilst the Academy is a good one, I firmly believe it can, and should be, even better and am fully committed to helping achieve that goal.