The Priory Federation of Academies Trust has announced eight new trustees after the Department for Education (DfE) formally closed an investigation into its former CEO’s spending.
The new appointments were confirmed at a meeting of the Trust on Monday night. They join three others in forming the new Trustee group.
The DfE held an investigation at the school after it was discovered former CEO Richard Gilliland had been spending inappropriately.
This included high-paid jobs within the Trust for his family, spending money on renovating a building to live in, and even the purchase of sex games.
The police investigation is still ongoing, but as part or negotiations with the DfE, the Trust elected new trustees.
The Trust overlooks Priory Academy LSST, Priory Witham Academy, Priory City of Lincoln Academy and Priory Ruskin Academy.
The new board of Trustees are Howard Gee, Kate Hindmarch, Frank Knowles, Ian Jones, David Knowles, Simon Richardson, June Kirton, Peter Murphy, Steve Milner, Deborah Harry and Jane Powell.
The new members, include specialists in finance, law, education, business, logistics and human resources, will bring additional expertise to the Trust.
The new board will now begin looking for its new CEO, as well as deciding on a new constitutional framework for the Trust.
The Priory Federation of Academies said it has completed or is working on a number of points written out in its Action Plan.
In addition to the new board members, directors and education accountants, completed plans include redrafting new key policies, new firm of external auditors, a human resources manager and consultations with staff and students.
Chairman Terry Coffey retired from the Trust. He said: “I have worked exceptionally hard with senior colleagues over the last few months to help steer the Federation through a very difficult period.
“I was tasked by the DfE with creating an accountable, effective and fully functioning organisation which was capable of delivering the highest standards and the best practice.
“I have done exactly that and I am now proud to hand over, as I had always intended, to the next generation. There are some very talented people on board and I have no doubt the Trust will continue to go from strength to strength.”
New Chairman Howard Gee, who was on the board previously too, said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead the new board of Trustees into the next phase of our development.
“The new board brings an impressive range of skills and expertise that will allow us both to support and challenge the academies’ work to ensure that our students achieve their full potential.”
The Priory Ruskin Academy Chairman of Governors, and a Higher Education representative from Churchill College, Cambridge, will continue as Trustees.
The new Priory Trustees
Sponsor Trustee Howard Gee
Howard Gee has 34 years’ employment at a major engineering company in Lincoln. Currently involved in pan-European project to harmonize IT systems in 11 sites across five countries. Governor at the Priory Witham Academy and predecessor schools for more than 10 years, the last six as Chairman.
He said: “My experience of operations management in large organisations, working within the highest standards of compliance, will transfer across very readily to the Federation structure. We have much to build on and even more to achieve.”
Sponsor Trustee Kate Hindmarch
Kate Hindmarch is Partner at Langleys Solicitors LLP in Lincoln, specialising in employment law. Part-time Employment Tribunal Judge sitting in Birmingham. Trustee of First College, Louth. Former Chair of Women in Newark and a committee member of the Working Group for Business Women’s Link (Lincolnshire & Rutland).
She said: “The Federation has seen terrific expansion in recent years. I should like to see a period of consolidation and reflection as the new Trustees come on board, perhaps with a view to having other academies join us in the medium term.”
Sponsor Trustee Frank Knowles
Frank Knowles is currently a self-employed education consultant and inspector, undertaking Section 5 (Ofsted) and other inspections, quality assurance reading of inspection reports and supporting schools becoming academies. Previously one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools (HMI); local authority senior adviser; Deputy Head of a large inner city comprehensive school: Head of Department and teacher of Mathematics.
He said: “I want to see stability, improvement and success in all four academies. My particular strengths lie in leadership and management, curriculum, analysis of assessment data, school self-evaluation and school improvement – strengths which I hope will benefit the Federation in the years to come.”
Ex-Officio Trustee Ian Jones (Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Priory Federation of Academies)
Ian Jones has been Priory Federation Interim CEO since March 2012; Priory Academy LSST Headmaster 2008-present; City of Lincoln Community College Headmaster 2003-08.
Academy Trustee David Knowles (Chairman of Priory LSST Governors)
David Knowles is the Head of Compliance and risk Management, ADAS Group of Companies (since 1993). Priory LSST Governor and Committee Member since 1992, with special responsibility for Disciplinary Panel (Chairman). Past Chairman of Coleby All Saints C of E County Primary School. Chartered Member of the Institute of Safety and Health.
He said: “I want to help maintain and grow The Priory’s reputation as comprising some of the foremost academies in the UK; where students are put first, and where staff, trustees and committee members are always mindful of this.”
Academy Trustee Simon Richardson (Chairman of Priory City of Lincoln Governors)
Simon Richardson is the owner of QSP, an international development business which manages and owns private medical facilities, business parks, aviation training, international construction projects and boutique short-stay accommodation. A former pupil of the City School, a former governor of Newark & Sherwood College and a former director of Newark Enterprise Agency, Mr Richardson has served as a City of Lincoln Governor for 12 months, chairing both the General Purposes and Finance committees.
He said: “I believe all students can achieve great things, irrespective of their academic abilities or background. I support anything which helps young people achieve their career and business aspirations. At the Trust itself, I want to see an open and engaging board with a clear vision for the future and which sets clear goals for senior management.”
Academy Trustee June Kirton (Chairman of Priory Ruskin Governors)
June Kirton is a Retired Personnel Officer, North-Eastern Group Area of a nationalised industry.
She said: “In Grantham, I will support the Headmaster at Priory Ruskin as he continues to bring two local schools together under a new build. At Trust level, I will support the Chairman while the Federation builds on its recovery from recent events.”
Academy Trustee Howard Gee
Acting Chairman of Priory Witham Governors until a permanent appointment is made.
Staff Trustee Peter Murphy
Peter Murphy has been a Teacher of Science for 16 years; employed at the Priory Ruskin Academy, Grantham, since its formation in September 2010.
He said: “I want to see the federation continue to grow and improve. I also wish to see a more open leadership within the academies and the Trust to ensure that staff can see the direction in which the Federation is heading.”
Parent Trustee Steve Milner (Priory Ruskin)
Steve Milner is Logistics Manager with BAe Systems; previously 22 years in the RAF, leaving as a senior NCO. Also currently a volunteer with the BAE Systems Education Ambassador programme – a scheme which raises awareness among young people of engineering by supporting the teaching of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects.
He said: “I want to ensure that there is a clear, simple process that ensures that the views of parents are heard and acted upon appropriately. I hope to see greater collaboration and sharing of best practice between the teaching departments in the Federation. Ultimately, I want to see the Federation continue to take positive steps forward, learning from the mistakes of the past and becoming a better, stronger and truly exceptional educational facility.”
Co-opted Trustee Deborah Harry
Deborah Harry is Chief Finance Officer at the University of Lincoln. Formerly Director of Finance at the University of Northampton. A Certified Accountant and Chartered Company Secretary, Ms Harry is currently Treasurer of the British Universities Finance Directors Group (BUFDG).
She said: “My aims for the Trust are financial rigour and excellent accountability and communications. As a mother of two, I want to see continued academic excellence – schools that the city, community, pupils, teachers and parents are all proud of.”
Co-opted Trustee Jane Powell
Jane Powell is the Group secretary of Lincolnshire Co-operative. A solicitor responsible for all the legal and corporate governance aspects of the business; also looking after, at a high level, the Co-operative’s strategies for internal audit, whistle-blowing and fraud prevention. Company secretary of Lincolnshire Co-operative development agency, a not-for-profit organisation which promotes and supports the creation of new cooperative ventures; and Lincolnshire Co-op’s nominee representative on the board of Lincoln City FC.
She said: “I want the Federation to become an open and transparent organisation clearly perceived as working with the interests of the children who attend the various academies at the forefront of everything it does. I believe it already has the interests of the children as its primary consideration, but unfortunately I’m not sure that’s the generally perceived view.”
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People in Greater Lincolnshire will have two weeks from December 2 to slow down COVID-19 infections, in the hope to go down a tier ahead of the festive period.
Nationally just 1% of the country is in the lowest tier, with 32.2 million people in tier two areas and 23.3 million in tier 3. London has been put into tier 2 as part of the new proposals.
Parts of Lincolnshire, including East Lindsey and Boston, have among the highest infection rates across the nation.
Political leaders in the region have expressed their disappointment, but called on residents to pull together to get Lincolnshire out of the rut.
Lincolnshire’s most recent seven-day data. | Data: GOD UK
Boston and Skegness MP Matt Warman, whose constituency covers part of East Lindsey — the district council with the highest infection rates — said there was light at the end of the tunnel.
“The tier allocations will be reviewed based on local data, and if it is safe to do so, we will be able to move to lighter restrictions,” he said.
“We will not be in tier 3 forever, but the longer we take to bear down on the virus, the longer we will spend in the highest of tiers.
“We all have a personal and collective responsibility to our friends, family and neighbours.”
Lincolnshire is on the new tier 3 lockdown.
Several leaders noted that numbers had been coming down recently already as the country moves into the fourth week of lockdown.
The leader of City of Lincoln Council Councillor Ric Metcalfe said: “I am confident that by working hard with residents and partners across the city we can continue to drive our infection rates down and aim to safely move out of tier 3 in time for Christmas.”
In making its decision the government has confirmed it looked at a series of key indicators. They are:
case detection rates in all age groups (currently 307)
case detection rates in the over 60s (281 now)
the rate at which cases are rising or falling
positivity rate (the number of positive cases detected as a percentage of tests taken)
A map of Lincolnshire showing the seven-day coronavirus rates as of November 25. | Map: GOV UK
In Monday’s decision for Lincolnshire, for instance, the government said: “There has been an overall improvement, but case rates remain high throughout the county, at 307 per 100,000 and in the over 60s it is 281 per 100,000.
“NHS pressures in Lincolnshire remain high and show signs of increasing, particularly for the units treating the more serious cases.”
For the Humber region, which covers North and North East Lincolnshire, it said: “The picture in Humber is improving with case rates now falling in 3 of the 4 lower tier local authorities.
“However, case rates in all ages and in over 60s remain very high. Positivity is 12.6%. There is ongoing pressure on the local NHS.”
All council leaders pushed the government’s key messages of hands, face and space.
There were 508 new coronavirus cases and 29 COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire on Wednesday.
South Kesteven councillors have approved plans to build 71 homes on land East of Folkingham Road in Morton.
Lincolnshire County Council put plans before district councillors in Wednesday’s Planning Committee.
21 of the homes (30%) will be affordable housing. There will also be pedestrian and cycle connectivity to the village and a play area. Developers said vehicular access to the planning area is acceptable.
There will be a £415,614 education contribution, £46,860 NHS contribution and £30,000 to extend the bus service as a result of the builds.
The masterplan for the 71 homes.
Objections included concerns over the negative impact on the character of the area, residential amenity, highway/transport infrastructure increase, flood risk and the impact on ecology/biodiversity.
The location of the development site. | Photo: Google Maps
Concerns were also raised about the speed of the traffic on the A15 near to the development. Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership will be asked to consider adding a 30-mile speed limit for traffic on this section of the A15.
Cllr Phil Dilks said: “It really hits you how busy and thundering the lorries come through that village.”
Cllr Harrish Bisnauthsing agreed that “the traffic thunders past.”
Six councillors approved plans while five abstained to the proposal due to road-traffic concerns.
An eight-year-old boy from Lincoln has raised over £1,500 for local food banks by walking 150km during lockdown.
Charlie Bell set the aim during the second national coronavirus lockdown to raise money for the Lincoln Community Larder.
His JustGiving page had a target of £150 — £1 for every kilometre he walked — but he has since raised over ten times more.
Over £1,558 has been raised from almost 150 donations at the time of reporting, an impressive total in just three weeks.
He has so far walked 135km and has just 15km to go before completing his challenge.
Despite the long distances, Charlie is feeling good.
Charlie said: “Walking 150km may ache, but it’s worth it if people can eat as a result.
“I have chosen to raise money for Lincoln Larder because nobody should ever have to go without food, especially during lockdown.”
He has done the challenge every day during lockdown, uploading his progress after walking with different family members who are supporting him along the way.
Charlie on one of his walks with his dad Stuart.
Charlie’s dad Stuart said he is immensely proud of his son for carrying on through difficult times.
“Obviously it has been hard for him as he does get tired after being at school all day, but he has done this without any motivation or the need for us to remind him to walk.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the support and kind hearted nature of him for such a young boy, it makes us both so proud of him.”
No matter the weather, Charlie has been out there walking every day.
Charlie is a keen lover of sport, so when his football, cricket and cycling clubs were stopped, he channelled a famous footballer’s recent efforts against child poverty to keep active and raise money.
Marcus Rashford’s campaigning for the extension of free school meals vouchers put him in the national spotlight, and Charlie has been inspired by the Manchester United forward’s work.
His dad Stuart said: “Obviously he has seen what Marcus Rashford has done and taken note, his school also regularly raise money for charity as well.”
To continue to donate to Charlie’s great cause and challenge, visit his JustGiving page.
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