Governance

The Trust Board adheres to the Articles of Association of the Trust and each sub-committee to the Trust Board has specific Terms of Reference that ensure good governance practice at all levels. Each school has a ‘School Board’, which is one of the sub-committees, and as such reports to the Trust Board of Trustees. At the bottom of the page you will find documents pertaining to the work of the Trust Board.

The diagram below outlines the current structure and lines of communication:

Our members and trustees are a committed and talented group who bring a wealth of experience with which to support the Trust. 

Below you will find further details. Those members and trustees marked with an asterisk are also trustees of the Holborn Estate Charity (HEC).

Members of Danes Educational Trust

HEC appointees:

Linda Clarkson MBE Chair of Members
Education & Management
Chair of St Clement Danes Academy Trust since opening in June 2011. Vice Chair of St Clement Danes School Charitable Foundation from 2007 – 2014.            

Mike Bruce
Finance & Management
A former trustee, appointed as a member in 2019. Now retired, was formerly the Director of Information Technology at Moore Stephens LLP a firm of chartered accountants in London.

Rosemary Hadfield MBE   
Education      
20 years teaching in the UK and abroad in the primary sector. 30 years association with St Clement Danes as a parent, governor and formerly chair of governors. HEC Trustee.        

From Danes Educational Trust Board:

Kath Unger
Human Resources
30 years in HR within the civil service before moving to the private sector in 2010 as HR Manager for a Hertfordshire based insurance broker. Associated with St Clement Danes School as a parent and then a governor from 1998 to 2012.

Rachel Gauke
Legal & Regulatory
Solicitor working at a legal publishing company, writing practical guidance for lawyers. Specialist in corporate tax law, with experience as a practitioner and professional support lawyer having trained as a solicitor at Linklaters LLP. 

Danes Educational Trust Board 

Member appointees:

Kath Unger 
Vice Chair of Danes Educational Trust Board, Chair of People Committee, Chair of Safeguarding Committee, Whistleblowing

Co-opted (by Trustees):

Peter Allanson
Peter Allanson has worked for over 40 years in both the public and private sector, largely in governance. For ten years he was trust secretary and director of corporate affairs at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and is now a principal consultant for the Good Governance Institute. He lives in Chorleywood.

Nils Blythe
Chair of Business Committee
Executive Director, Communications, at the Bank of England (2011-2014), following a career at the BBC where, until 2011, he was the BBC Business Correspondent.

John Camp
Currently the CEO of The Compass Partnership of Schools, a charitable trust of 12 primary schools and one all-through special school advancing education for the public benefit across Greenwich and Essex. He is also a Trustee of The Endeavour Partnership Trust, and The Maritime Children’s Foundation.



Martin Day
Chair of Danes Educational Trust Board
Semi-retired NED following a career in banking   and the education sector. Currently a Board member of ABE Global (an international provider of professional qualifications) and ICMP (which offers degrees to the music industry). He has been a committee member of public bodies regulating the banking and higher education sectors. Martin is also Chair of trustees of Amersham Museum.

Russell Deards
Currently the Director of Legal & Compliance and Company Secretary for a large group of plumbing,heating and energy efficiency businesses. An experienced in house lawyer/General Counsel who has held previous legal leadership roles in both a publicly listed house builder and in a developer/contractor/land promoter group.

Carolyn Garner
Currently UK Tax Manager for an international manufacturing company. An experienced finance professional, who has also served on the Board of Governors of an FE college during a period of expansion.

Kathryn Hardwidge
Chair of Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee
Currently the Group Internal Audit Manager at Jisc, the UK national research & education network. An experienced chartered accountant who has also served as the finance governor for Croxley Danes School. 

Lynn O'Connor
A global diversity and inclusion specialist with over 20 years experience working in and with large corporate organisations in Financial Services, Oil & Gas Technology, Energy, Motor, and Insurance sectors which include HSBC, BP, Centrica, Perry Group and RSA. 

André Roy
An experienced Cybersecurity expert, with over 35 years experience of consultancy and senior leadership in the telecommunications, media and entertainment industries in Canada, the UK, Germany and France.  Additionally, he is a trustee at the local sailing club, as well as a trustee with both local and district level Scouting groups, and a Scout Leader.  

Pankaj Shah
A senior business and regulatory programme manager until 2018 with over 25 years experience of project delivery and business change at major asset management and banking firms in the City. Qualified initially with Arthur Andersen as Chartered Accountant. 

Paul Snell
A retired CEO with 17 years experience and a background in executive level HR and operations and development. Most recently with a charity that has been supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, brain injuries and complex needs for more than 35 years.

Dr Josephine Valentine OBE
CEO
Headteacher at St Clement Danes between 1998 and December 2017. NLE since 2008, providing school to school support for six secondary schools in Hertfordshire through executive headship or leadership coaching. 

Chairs of Danes Educational Trust School Boards

Abolade Odunsi, Ascot Road Primary School Board 

Jan Buoy, Chancellor's School Board

Rob McCarthy, Cranbourne Primary School Board and Roselands Primary School Board

Judith Thorn, Croxley Danes School Board

Catherine Rendell,  De Havilland Primary School Board and Onslow St Audrey's School Board

Lewis Barton, Elstree Screen Arts Academy School Board

Clare Charlton, Jupiter Primary School Board

Louise Soden, The John Warner Interim Action Board

Rob Carpenter, Lanchester Primary School Interim Action Board

Steve Clarke, St Clement Danes School Board