Trustees
Name | Term of Office | Date of Appointment | End of Appointment | |
Shirley Whiting | Chair | 4 Years | 02.01.2023 | |
Richard Hales | Vice Chair | 4 Years | 02.01.2023 | |
Hayden Abbott | Accounting Officer / KMAT Executive Head | Ongoing | 01.01.2019 | |
Richard Ward | 4 Years | 02.01.2023 | ||
Paul Shaw | 4 Year | 06.07.2020 | ||
Mark Dismorr | 4 Years | 18.12.2021 | ||
Sandi McKinnon | 4 Years | 25.02.2022 | ||
James Fraiser | 4 Years | 20.06.2022 | ||
Philip McGrane | 4 Years | 24.10.2022 | ||
Sarah Newton | 4 Years | 24.10.2022 | ||
Juliet Halfhead | 4 Years | 13.11.2022 | ||
Kerrie Flippance | Clerk to the Board of Trustees | Ongoing | 12.05.2021 | |
Hayden Abbott, Executive Head/Accounting Officer of KMAT
I chose to devote my life to education because I am passionate about what schools can do to change the lives of young people and I have never stopped believing in the potential of every young person. I am inspired every day by what young people say and do and how teachers can create a culture in which students feel supported, valued, safe and happy. Former students and teachers have gone on to make a difference to the lives of others on a wider scale and what inspires me most is the ‘pay it forward’ effect of your actions with young people and the impact on others. I enjoy my role as Executive Head of the Kenilworth Multi Academy Trust and, as a National Leader of Education, creating networks of teachers and leaders who can make things happen for young people and inspire them to be the best they can be.
Shirley Whiting - Chair of KMAT
I have lived with my family in Kenilworth for over 20 years. Our three children all attended Kenilworth School & Sixth form. I initially joined the Governing Body of Kenilworth School over ten years ago as a Parent Governor. I stayed on as a Trust Governor until the school converted to Academy status in January 2019 when I became a Trustee of the Multi Academy Trust. My degree in Economics & Accountancy from Manchester University led me into finance and communications in the London and Leeds before moving down to Warwickshire.
Richard Hales - Vice Chair of KMAT
I have been a governor of Kenilworth School for 8 years, before becoming Deputy Chair of Trustees in January 2019. I have lived in Kenilworth for over 30 years and run my own business in the town. I am also a District Councillor for Kenilworth Abbey & Arden ward.
Richard Ward
My Name is Richard Ward, I have lived in Kenilworth for 30 years and I run a business based in Warwick . I have had 3 children go through the Kenilworth School system, and all have progressed to University.
I have been a school Governor at Kenilworth for 4 years and have recently moved on to the Academy Trust Board .
Paul Shaw
I have 34 years’ experience as a senior manager in commercial banking, employed by Lloyds Banking Group. He has also worked as a Foundation Bursar for The Princethorpe Foundation running all non-academic aspects of the Foundation, including finance, HR, health and safety, premises management and supervision of building projects.
From 2008 to 2015, I was a bursarial consultant to The Crescent School in Rugby supporting the school on due diligence prior to its integration with The Princethorpe Foundation.
I also have experience of overseeing the business affairs as Company Secretary of the MSC Charity Trust.
Mark Dismorr
I have lived with my family in Kenilworth for over 25 years and our two boys attended Kenilworth School and Sixth form. I am a Chartered Engineer, a member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and have spent my whole career in telecoms and broadcast engineering. I strongly believe the UK should produce more engineers and scientists, to keep the country at the forefront of technology.
Sandi McKinnon
I have lived in Kenilworth for 28 years and have 2 children who attended Kenilworth School. I served as a parent governor for 4 years whilst my children were at primary school.
I have worked in the field of Education for 39 years. I started my career as a secondary English teacher. I then specialised in working with children and young people with SEN in particular Speech Language and Communication Needs and Dyslexia. I have worked in a variety of settings including secondary and primary schools as well as specialist settings. I have managed the Speech & Language Service in Coventry and the larger Communication and Interaction Service which included the Autism Team. I have worked with ICAN and the Communication Trust and run National pilot projects including’ Secondary Talk’ and ‘Talk About Talk.
Juliet Halfhead
I have worked in the Midlands for over 20 years and have lived in Warwickshire for 8 years. I have a BA in Economics and am member of the Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation. I have spent my career in ‘big four’ professional services, advising Boards on reward strategy, remuneration, incentive design and governance considerations. I also have the privilege to serve as Practice Senior Partner for Deloitte in the Midlands. This role involves: championing a vibrant, connected and growing business with over 1,000 people across our Birmingham and Nottingham teams; working together to solve the most complex challenges for our clients; and delivering a positive impact on our region and the communities at its heart.
Embedding an inclusive culture in everything we do, supporting all colleagues and others to be ourselves, and allowing everyone the opportunity to fulfil their potential is my passion.
Sarah Newton
I have lived and worked in the Coventry and Warwickshire area since moving here as a student in 1979 to study geography. For all of my working life I have been employed in youth, children and family work for voluntary and statutory organisations as both a face to face worker and manager.
Initially I worked for a newly established sports charity, The Coventry & Warwickshire Awards Trust, alongside athlete David Moorcroft, where I managed the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme focusing work with disadvantaged young people in Coventry. I later became the Trust manager operating from the newly built Centre AT7 in Bell Green.
Having completed a masters degree and professional qualification in youth and community work, I moved to Coventry City Council where I stayed for 21 years. During this time I was responsible for developing and managing programmes to support vulnerable children and their families across a number of different service areas, including the Youth Offending Services, Youth Service and Children’s Services. At the Youth Offending Service I was responsible for developing the first Family Intervention Project in Coventry, working with some of the most disaffected/ vulnerable families. During my latter years with the Council I was a manager for Children and Families First Service supporting families at risk of entering social care. During this time I also had strategic lead for school attendance for the City Council.
Throughout my career I have seen education as key to supporting children and their wider family to improve their opportunities and outcomes. I have extensive experience of working with both primary and secondary schools in Coventry to ensure that young people can access the education available to them. I believe creativity is needed to enable young people disaffected from education to re-engage and used alternative approaches and extra curricular activities to support this process.
Since taking early retirement in 2017, I have become a Justice of the Peace for the Family Bench in the Coventry and Warwickshire area and have been involved in a number of volunteer activities.
I enjoy keeping active and I am a keen open water swimmer.
Philip McGrane
I have lived in Kenilworth for 20 years and grew up in Coventry. I have worked in primary education for the last 25 years, in this country and overseas. I became a Trustee of the Multi Academy Trust in October 2022 and look forward to serving the pupils and parents of the schools in the Trust.