United Schools Trust

Penny Fitch

Principal , Chief Executive Officer and Accounting Officer

I began my teaching career in 2000 when my daughter started primary school, training through the Devon Primary SCITT – a programme which allowed me to train in a school-based setting. Previously, following a long period at University, first at Edinburgh where I studied Ecology and then at Exeter where I obtained my PhD researching badgers and bovine tuberculosis with the sponsorship of the Ministry of Agriculture, I worked as an ecological consultant and landscape designer. Following my teacher training, I worked as a teacher in the South Hams until I was seconded to St Catherine’s School at Heathfield as Assistant Head and Year 6 teacher in 2010. The school celebrated an award for being one of the100 most improved schools in the UK in terms of the Year 6 results in 2012. In September 2012 I was appointed Head of School at Brixton St Mary’s Primary School which became part of the United Schools Federation in 2013. The school was judged as ‘Requires Improvement’ in an Ofsted inspection in December 2012 but in the next inspection in November 2014 the school was judged to be ‘Outstanding’ in all areas. I was part of the team of Heads who put together the bid for the Kingsteignton Free School and was delighted to be appointed as Principal ready to open the school in September 2016. Since then I have been working hard to make sure the school provides the very best in terms of education for our children and we aim to make sure that the school is judged as Outstanding by Ofsted in our first inspection three years after opening. If that all sounds rather dry, then I think it is essential to say that I also think it is incredibly important that what we do at school is fun, inspirational and highly motivating and that all our children want to come into school every day because they really enjoy the challenge of their learning.

Jane Collings

Co-Chair of Trustees

Jane originally trained in horticultural science, then went onto manage enterprises and teach in land-based industries. She moved into teaching leadership, management, HR and teacher training. For over 30 years she has been an independent Learning and Development Adviser contracting to, the DfE, TDA, IIP, schools, universities and charities. She managed a number of ‘Every Child Matters Extended Services’ projects for the TDA in 19 south-west local authorities. Jane has also worked as an Educational Developer at the University of Plymouth specialising in educational development, inclusive teaching, learning and assessment, employability, diversity and narrowing the attainment gap. Since 2006 she has contracted to a number of Governance Support Services in the south-west focusing on school improvement, governance, facilitating conversations around partnerships, federations and academisation, head teacher wellbeing and work life balance and as a mediator for the DCC Schools Mediation Service. Jane has been involved in education for over 30 years as a parent through PTAs in nursery, primary and secondary phases. As a governor in a large secondary school, a small rural primary school, on an Interim Executive Board before becoming a Trustee and Chairing the Standards and Curriculum Committee with a Multi Academy Trust. She has also been a chair, vice chair, chair of committees and assisted in recruiting four headteachers and in four OFSTED inspections. Jane has throughout her working life continued her own journey of lifelong learning and her qualifications include undergraduate, postgraduate degrees and qualifications in education, learning & development. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. As a result of the pandemic she has had to rapidly develop her skills in remote teaching, learning and chairing meetings ! Jane is committed to enabling all children and young people to participate in an inspiring, aspiring and inclusive education that fosters the joy of learning.

chair@kingsteigntonschool.org

David Barnett

Co-Chair of Trustees

I am passionate about achieving the best for all our children and young people and have spent my whole career in the education system. I started as a teacher in Bristol and Bath, working there for 14 years, before relocating to Devon to take up my first primary Headship in a small school in the South Hams. I then worked for the Department for Education for 2 years. In 2008 I assumed the Headship of a large expanding primary school in Teignbridge during which time I supported other school leadership teams and was a member of the Devon Association of Primary Headteachers executive board. I left my last Headship in 2019 to work as an Educational Leadership and Management Consultant. I currently work with the Church of England Foundation for Education facilitating the National Professional Qualification for Headteachers programme across the country. I also work with the Devon Teaching School Partnership on the national qualifications for middle and senior leaders, as well as supporting a number of schools and Academy Trusts across the county. I have 4 grown-up children who all attended local schools and when not working I enjoy being outdoors, particularly kayaking, paddle boarding and exploring the coastline.

chair@kingsteigntonschool.org

Marcus West

Trustee

I have worked in education for over 25 years now and have been a school leader for the past 13. I have worked in Devon for my entire career and have been a Head of School since 2010, working in three very different Primary Schools serving very different communities during this time. I have always valued the community and the school's individual identities and have always believed in a child centred approach to decision-making putting their needs are at the heart of the process. I am currently Deputy Executive Head Teacher of the United Schools Federation, supporting the seven schools within the federation and working with other schools beyond the federation. I am firmly committed to helping ensure the very best for all the children at Kingsteignton School and was part of the team who applied for and set the school up originally. My children are both now at University and I very much enjoy playing Cricket, which I have done for far too long, and being outdoors, whether that be running or walking.

Loren Sellick

Trustee

New appointed in September 2022 - Information to follow

Karen West

Trustee

Lisa Cummings

Trustee

Ed Brett

Trustee

I am an experienced Civil Servant and have worked across several different Whitehall departments over the past 15 years. I’ve held a variety of roles, ranging from project delivery to corporate and programme governance. Most recently I have led teams working on aspects of Brexit policy and the COVID-19 pandemic response. Between 2016 – 2020 I worked for the Department for Education, leading teams responsible for the delivery of the Academy and Free schools programme. I saw first-hand the brilliant work of school leaders, teachers and governors which in turn developed my own passion for improving outcomes for children and young people. As someone who lives locally, with a child at the school, I want to ensure that every pupil has an enjoyable and fulfilling education during their time at Kingsteignton School.

Elizabeth Thompson

Member

As Chair of United Schools Federation Governing Body, I was involved in the founding of Kingsteignton School and subsequently appointed as a Member, to support the work of the School’s Trustees. I have lived in Kingsteignton for fifty years and my four children attended local schools up to the age of 18. Prior to its closure, I worked for 18 years at a specialist College for deaf young people, run by a national charity. I then gained a degree in Human Resources and Personnel Management, and worked for local authorities until retirement eight years ago. I am currently Vice-Chair of USF Governors, serving as Link Governor to St. Michael’s School and with specific concern for Special Needs and Disabilities’ provision across all USF schools. During the past years, I served on both secondary and primary schools’ Governing Bodies and acted as a Trustee for local organisations. I am still actively involved with numerous community projects within Kingsteignton. I am passionate about children having the best possible opportunity to develop their potential in a safe and secure environment, and am committed to staff receiving appropriate and effective support as they serve the children and their families. I bring a commitment, enthusiasm and a positive approach to any role I undertake and as a Member, honoured to be part of Kingsteignton School team.

Ian Sherriff

Member

Ian is a lecturer and researcher into dementia at Plymouth University. Ian lectures about dementia to all medical students i.e. nurses, doctors, paramedics, dentists etc. Ian’s lectures were the first in the country-teaching students from all medical professions about dementia. Ian is a founder member of the Plymouth University Dementia Group. Its research to date includes ‘Early Diagnosis of Dementia in Plymouth’, ‘Dementia Quality Mark for Residential Care’, evaluation of day opportunities provided by the voluntary and private sector for individuals with dementia and their carers, evaluation of residential care in Torbay which recently received the British Medical Journals Award for dementia team of the year. Ian is a member of a team from Plymouth University, which has secured six year funding (£9 million) to evaluate a ‘Living Well’ programme for older people in Torbay. Ian and the team from Plymouth University has recently been awarded £2.7 million for a 3 year to research study evaluating dementia support workers based in primary care from 2019 to 2021. Ian has just signed a memorandum agreement between Plymouth University and the University of Macau 2017/18/19/20 sharing expertise on dementia; Ian has secured two year funding to teach Chinese students in the UK and in China. Ian presented at Alzheimer’s International Conferences between 2012 and 2020 and the all Wales Dementia Conference, the Prime Ministers Dementia Challenge launch, and at the D.of.H Expo. Ian has been a member of the Prime Ministers Dementia Friendly Communities Challenge Group since 2015, and is chair and represents the South and South West of England on this group. Ian was a Trustee for six years for the Alzheimer’s Society. Currently Ian is a national and international Ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society. Ian advised Devon County Council on its Centre of Excellence approach to dementia care. He is a founder member Dementia Friendly Parishes around the Yealm. Ian is the chair of the Prime Ministers Task and Finish group for Rural Dementia since 2015. He has been the national chair of the Prime Ministers Air Transport Dementia Group since 2015. Ian is the driving force behind the successful Plymouth International Dementia Conferences over the past seven years. Ian is a founder member and chair of the Plymouth Dementia Action Alliance, which won a national award of ‘Dementia Friendly City of the Year’. He was commissioned by the Drake Foundation to evaluate the ex-military veteran’s memory café in Plymouth. This service is an exemplar in dementia support. Ian is currently working with researcher from China and Japan exploring cross-country ideas in dementia. Ian chairs a global group for dementia. Ian is the chair of ‘Dementia in the Maritime Industry’ research programme 2019/2020.He launched the first dementia friendly community in Italy. Ian was a keynote speaker at the 2017 Tokyo and Osaka international dementia conferences and gave the keynote speech at the Osaka 2018 and 2019 international conferences. During 2019 Ian gave forty keynote speeches at regional, national and international conferences. Ian is chair of Blind Veterans Research & Innovation Group. In collaboration with National Association of Local Councils Ian is currently undertaking a survey of all town and parish councils in England to find out – how 10,000 town and parish councils are involved in the development and delivery of inclusive dementia friendly comminutes across the country. This research will identify solutions to the challenges faced by people living with dementia and their families in rural communities. In Mach 2020, Ian has accepted an invited to join the International Standards group for Health & Social Care. During the COVID19 crisis, Ian and the team at Plymouth University team are providing their skills and knowledge to the corona virus hub in Plymouth City, to support people living with dementia and their families. Ian was awarded a B.E.M in the 2019 Queens Birthday Honours list in recognition for his work on dementia. Ian Kenneth Grant Sherriff B.E.M.MA.DMS.CQSW. DipCll Academic Partnership Lead For Dementia Primary Care Group Clinical Trials and Population Studies Faculty of Health: Medicine, Dentistry& Human Sciences University of Plymouth.

Christina Mabin

Member

I am employed as a governance and admissions adviser for the CofE Diocese in Exeter. I work with over 130 CofE schools in 3 local authorities and represent the Diocese at local, regional and national level. My role involves supporting and advising schools in converting to academy and joining multi-academy trusts. Prior to this I was a primary school teacher. I have been a governor for many years in several different schools. I am currently a local governing body member of a school in a MAT, a member representative of a MAT as well as a Member of Kingsteignton Primary School.