We pride ourselves on good governance to ensure accountability and visibility at all levels.
Our Trust Board oversees the governance of the Trust and academies as a whole. Trustees are responsible for the strategic leadership of the Trust, ensuring it adheres to the agreed vision and aims as well as being accountable for educational standards and financial health. MLP’s team of Trustees possess combined skills which offer a wealth of experience to support the Trust in its activities. The Trust Board delegates responsibility for certain functions to a range of specialist Committees as detailed in the diagram below.
Each academy in the Magna Learning Partnership has an Academy Governance Committee (AGC) which provides focussed governance at a local level. Membership of each AGC includes two elected parents, the Academy Leader, together with community and, where applicable, foundation representation. AGCs are Committees of the MLP Trust Board.
Liz is currently a part-time interim Procurement Consultant with not for profit organisations having retired from her professional role asDeputy Director of Procurement Services for Public Health England and the Department of Health. In addition to her commercial skills, Liz has managed teams of over 40 staff, led change management and project managed programmes (shared services, collaboration working), and implemented various back office procure to pay systems. Liz has led various programmes to raise commercial skills across health nationally, using her skills and experience from working on a European basis in two global pharmaceutical organisations and as Head of Commercial at Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust.
Liz has been regularly involved in working with children and teenagers as both leader and helper at Church. She is currently a member of the Parochial Church Council at St Francis Church in Salisbury.
Liz’s education includes an honours degree in French and Religious Studies, and a post graduate qualification in French, Italian and Marketing. This has been further enhanced with an MBA from the University of Bath to provide broader business and financial skills, and a PGCE in MFL from University of Southampton. She was a foundation governor and Vice Chair at St Edmund’s Girls’ School for five years.
Liz is keen to see young people achieve their potential and to become equipped for the work place.
Harold is the former Team Rector of Dorchester, Dorset, formerly Chair of the Salisbury Diocesan Board of Education (now serving as chair of its Finance and Staffing Committee), and vice chair of the Diocese of Salisbury Academy Trust.
Harold has extensive experience both in education and in the Church as a Parish Priest. He served for 28 years as a secondary teacher, the last 10 years as deputy head. For more than 20 years he served as Church of England denominational inspector (now known as SIAMS) and worked for a number of different dioceses in this capacity.
After turning to full-time parish work he maintained an extensive involvement in local schools in the Lavington area (where he was first a Parish Priest) and then later, Dorchester and joined the Diocesan Board of Education. He continues to serve as Church Foundation Governor of a village school near Warminster.
In recent years Harold has been at the centre of helping to shape the way forward for Church Schools in Wiltshire and Dorset in the face of the whirlwind of changes and developments in government schools’ policies.
Harold’s experience includes the establishment of the Diocesan multi-academy Trust, one of the faster growing trusts in the country. Thus, an understanding of governance, priorities for effective work of the Trust and direct involvement with new schools in Wiltshire entering the Trust have been an essential feature of his work.
Now living in Warminster, but with considerable knowledge and experience of secondary education both in Salisbury and beyond, Harold continues to work for and with the Diocesan Board of Education in support of all Church Schools.
Raised and educated in London, Harold has a degree in Divinity and Education from London University, is a qualified teacher, an ordained priest and honorary canon of Salisbury Cathedral.
Ian has spent the majority of his career working in the software industry producing and supporting business critical solutions for the Public and Private Sectors as well as Not For Profit Organisations. Starting as a programmer and moving through roles including Managing Director of a large software division within a FTSE 100 company, Ian has gained a broad range of experience of working with small and large teams and helping drive efficiencies and quality improvement programmes.
Currently Ian runs his own business providing business consultancy and fulfilling interim leadership roles for both start-ups and established companies.
His interest in the Education sector came not only from many years experience of running businesses producing software for Schools, Colleges and Universities, but also from his two daughters recently progressing their own education journeys and achieving their degrees, one of whom is now a primary school teacher and facing the immense challenges and excitements of developing young people.
Ian joined Salisbury 6thForm College as a Trustee in September 2017 having been found via the Academy Ambassador scheme and was part of the Finance Committee until they joined Magna Learning Partnership. Since then, he has continued his involvement as a Member here at MLP.
Neil Owen is the UK Group Managing Director of four factories for NOTE AB, an international electronics manufacturing company.
Neil has been a school Governor since 2002. Initially at Durrington Infants School where he was Chair of Finance and Vice Chair of Governors. Then St Edmund’s Girls’ School (Academy) where he was Chair of Finance, Chair of the Trust and a Trust Member. Following on from this he led the team who set up Salisbury Sixth Form College (Free School) and then continued as Chair of Finance and Chair of Governors. Salisbury Sixth Form College is now part of Magna Learning Partnership (MLP). While still leading S6C, Neil assisted the three founding schools form MLP, chairing the interim board and then continuing as Chair of the Trust until September 2023.
Neil was a member of the Schools Forum for Wiltshire for two years and completed a four-year term as Parent Governor Representative on the Wiltshire Children’s Services Select Committee.
Neil’s education includes a Masters in Business Administration which includes all aspects of running a company.
Alongside his work for MLP, Neil has been a National Leader of Governance (NLG) working with the National Governance Association (NGA) assessing and supporting other Academies and Multi Academy Trusts. (MAT)
Mark joined the insurance industry direct from school as a Trainee Motor Underwriter at Eclipse Motor Policies at Lloyds in 1977. Over the next 11 years he became a Lloyd’s underwriter then a Lloyds broker. In 1988 he founded A Quote Insurance Brokers, a private lines intermediary; he took the company from its inception to being sold to Highway Insurance Company in 2004 and continued as CEO until 2006.
In 2007 Mark founded Be Wiser Insurance. As CEO and Chairman, Mark saw Be Wiser become one of the UK’s fastest growing and largest privately owned insurance brokers, with a premium income in excess of £125 million and 200,000 clients. Mark remained at the heart of the company until its sale in 2021.
Having successfully bought and sold many companies in and around the insurance industry, Mark now uses his wealth of knowledge and experience to help other companies achieve their business goals, Mark founded Blieve Consulting in 2021.
Marks other lifelong passion is training new talent within the insurance industry. Mark is Chairman and Board Director for Wiser Academy, the only training provider in the insurance industry rated as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.
Mark leads Vodafone’s B2B business development activities. In this role, he’s responsible for the Group’s Strategic Partnerships and the creation of new B2B initiatives.
Prior to joining Vodafone, Mark held senior sales, marketing and operational roles in a variety of technology and consulting companies, including BT, Philips Electronics and PA Consulting Group. He is a graduate of the Universities of Manchester and Oxford Brookes, and of Warwick Business School.
With an MA in History and a post-graduate qualification in Education from Selwyn College, Cambridge University, and following further post-graduate study in Human Resources Management at Kingston University, Tim’s early career was in the British public service. He joined the Council of Europe in 1986.
Over the next 35 or so years, his wide and progressive experience with the Council of Europe in Strasbourg ranged over running the Organisation’s budget; chairing the Staff Committee (full-time elected representative of the staff); working in the Secretariat of the Parliamentary Assembly; strategic and programme planning; and acting as Special Adviser on EU and inter-Institutional Affairs. He has also served as the Council of Europe’s anti-Terrorism Coordinator.
Tim was the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2005-2007, Ambassador/Head of the Council of Europe Office in Pristina 2011-2014, in Belgrade 2014-2018 and in Tunis 2018-2021.
Tim is a consultant and also serves on a number of governance structures, particularly in the not-for-profit sector. He is a former Chair of Governors of a 6-18 International School.
Tim is married to Ann, an English Literature teacher. They have four grown-up sons, live in Devizes and are blessed with an increasing gang of grandchildren.
Christina Evans has been involved in education and educational leadership for nearly 40 years. She has served children and young adults as a teacher, Headteacher, School Improvement Consultant, interim Trust CEO and as a governor and Chair of Governors.
Christina is delighted to have been appointed to the Trustees. She lives locally in Salisbury and brings a wealth of educational experience to the role.
She firmly believes in the responsibility of educators to make a positive difference to the future of young lives. She hopes that alongside her fellow Trustees she can help and support the educators within Magna Learning Partnership.
Alex joined the Bridge Youth Project in 2014 as Director. The Bridge is a Christian schools’ work charity that supports more than 30 primary and secondary schools across Wiltshire through the provision of mental health & wellbeing and spiritual development work. Alex has recently been on the PCC for St Francis Church in Salisbury and part of the Executive for Salisbury Churches Together. Previously the Youth Work Director for a charity down in Tavistock, Alex has always had a passion for youth work and education. Alex has two incredible children and is married to the wonderful Becky. They live in Salisbury and worship at St Francis Church.
Claire Foxley is the Chief Executive of the Royal Artillery Centre for Personal Development (RACPD); a charity based in Larkhill, which provides apprenticeships, education and training for Royal Artillery and Army personnel, their dependents and veterans. She is also the Executive Director of Sheldrake Training, a trading subsidiary of RACPD, which provides End Point Assessment and delivers Equine and Teaching Assistant apprenticeships to civilian employers.
Claire left the Army in September 2012 after 24 years in the Education and Training Services. During that time, she served in Education Centres in Germany, with the Junior Leaders’ Regiment Royal Artillery in Nuneaton and in various Headquarters in Germany, Northern Ireland and Colchester.
After qualifying as a Training Development Advisor in 2001 she spent two years with the REME and then a subsequent two years in the USA as an Exchange Officer in Virginia. She attended the Army Command and Staff Course in 2006 and was then posted to Cyprus for three years as the Commander Education and Training Services. Her final tour was in the Army Headquarters in Andover as a training development staff officer in the Directorate of Army Training. She left the Army in 2012 to join RACPD.
Julia Hastings is a recently retired Management Consultant. She started her career qualifying as an accountant (CIMA) in industry, then worked for many years in Financial Services before joining PwC Consulting. Here she specialised in designing and implementing strategic change across business infrastructure. Whilst with PwC, she led a project for a multi-academy trust which brought her in contact with the Department of Education and their Academy Ambassadors scheme (set up to introduce business people to school boards). She joined the board of Sarum Academy in January 2016 (for a period of 18 months) and the MLP board in June 2017. Julia strives to use the change and financial experience that she has for the good of our community and the young people in it, and in support of our fabulous teachers who now also have to run a business alongside delivering in the classroom.
Julia and her husband live to the west of Salisbury and have four children, two post University and two still in education in Salisbury. Since retirement Julia has enjoyed having more time for MLP and :Folks– Family, friends and her village community;Fitness– dog walking, pilates matwork classes and lane swimming;Fun– playing Bridge, growing flowers, theatre, reading, entertaining, sunshine holidays and watching U15 & Salisbury rugby.
Jean has worked in the Financial Services sector for over 40 years, having joined Barclays Trust Company Ltd direct from school and then went on to complete her professional exams through independent study.
She has extensive experience in both advisory and Governance roles and in management positions, where most recently she was Head of Operational Risk for a large life and pensions administration company. This involved running multiple operational risk teams across site, managing budgets and over-seeing the training and competence scheme. She was also previously Head of Client Services for a London based Stockbroker. Throughout her working career, Jean has been actively involved in training staff and seeing them progress and develop has been one of the most rewarding achievements in her career.
Jean lives locally and is married with 3 grown-up children and 1 grandson. Having been through the cycle of school, college and further education with her own children, she appreciates the opportunities and benefits that education can provide and strongly believes that every child should have the support and encouragement needed to help them reach their potential and achieve their dreams. She is delighted to have been appointed as a trustee of the Magna Learning Partnership and helping to support our children, teachers and staff.
Warren is currently Chairman of TT Electronics Plc and a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the audit committee at Tate & Lyle Plc. Before joining the Trust Board, he served as Chair of Governors at Wyvern St Edmunds from 2016.
Warren has over a decade of Non-Executive experience as Director and Chairman. He has just completed his terms as a Non-Executive Director of Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc (from 2010-2020) and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (from 2015-2020). As Chief Financial Officer and an Executive Director of Cobham Plc from 2003 to 2013, he has a track record of delivering profitable growth and value creation. He has extensive experience in large multinational organisations across several geographies and industries, including expertise in strategic growth and the delivery of successful M&A. Warren is a graduate of the University of Bristol, a Chartered Accountant and has an MBA from INSEAD.
Karen Walker has recently retired from a career in primary education after 40 years. She has spent the last 25 years as a headteacher of a local Church Aided Primary School in Salisbury. During her career, which began in Nottingham, she has served as a School Improvement Advisor for the Local Authority, represented headteacher colleagues on Primary Heads Forum and was Chair of Wiltshire’s Mentoring Executive for 12 years. This position ensured that all new headteachers within Wiltshire were able to access an experienced headteacher mentor to support them during their first year of headship in Wiltshire. During her time on the Mentoring Committee Karen has mentored over 30 new and experienced headteachers.
Karen is pleased to have been appointed as a Trustee to MLP and hopes her experience in education and leader of a church aided school will enable her to support and develop the schools within the Trust. She wants to be able to ensure that opportunities are developed, with support, to build on each school’s strengths in order to provide the highest level of provision possible for every child.
MLP Committee Chairs:
Chair of Trust Board: Mark Bower-Dyke
Vice Chair of Trust Board: Mark Allinson
Chair of Audit and Risk Committee: Jean Parr
Chair of Resources Committee: Warren Tucker
Chair of Standards Committee: Mark Allinson
Chair of Admissions Committee: Claire Foxley
Chair of Pay Committee: Julia Hastings
MLP Academy Governance Committee Chairs:
Amesbury Archer Primary School:Sara Bradbury
Amesbury Primary School : Richard Bellerby (Interim)
Bemerton St John Primary School: Gemma Taylor
Old Sarum Primary School:Gary Barker and Vannessa Shield
Pembroke Park Primary School:Vannessa Shield
Salisbury Sixth Form College:Anita Esser
Sarum Academy: Alex Thompson
The New Forest Primary School:Lianne Warner and Phil Smallman
