Members
Marion Rosen
Biography
27 years as a Headteacher in schools in Hackney and Newham, both areas of high social disadvantage. During that time I had extensive experience in all aspects of leadership and management, educational improvement and project management. I was seconded by the Local Authority to two headships, as both schools were in special measures and I was successful in bringing both out and on to further success. While still Headteacher of Keir Hardie Primary School, I was involved in designing the new school building and once retired I continued to lead on developing the design, working with the school and contractors to completion and handover of the new school building and subsequently through the defect period.
Since retirement I have continued to engage in work around social justice and building communities through going out to do charity work in some of the world’s poorest communities in Kenya, Zambia and Cambodia, including building (classrooms, centres for street children, houses) and micro-finance projects with women in the compounds to enable them to set up their own businesses.
Key Skills
- Leadership
- Education Improvement, Finance
- HR
- Data Handling
Bola Denby
Biography
Experienced governor of primary and secondary schools
Operations management
Quality assurance management
Project management
Business development
Business analysis
Data analysis
SEN
Education in general
Key Skills
- Collaboration
- Communication and interpersonal
- Research and strategy
- IT
- Business intelligence
- Negotiation and diplomatic
- Relationship management
- Behaviour management
Jo Cook
Biography
An experienced Primary Chair of Governors in Waltham Forest. Whilst the school expanded to 2FE, the buildings were significantly extended and the SMT changed.
I have experience across business and not-for-profit sectors in leading, securing funding for and managing projects such as government energy efficiency marketing campaigns and new IT systems for membership organisations. These projects require significant negotiation, business analysis, stakeholder liaison and influencing skills, between groups with different objectives and drivers.
I have also served as a trustee for environmental and community charities.
Key Skills
- Leadership and management
- Business process analysis and improvements
- Negotiation
- Project Management
- Stakeholder management and engagement
- Marketing
Pie Corbett
Biography
Has been a teacher, Headteacher, Registered Ofsted Inspector, English Inspector in Gloucestershire as well as PGCE and B.Ed. course leader. Science teacher-researcher attached to Sussex University; award winning author of over 250 books plus educational resources; many articles in educational press; advisor to BBC on education programmes; co-director of trans-national story making project based at the international teaching and learning centre; worked to the National Literacy Strategy for both Primary and Secondary; ran ‘teachers and teaching assistants as writers’ and ‘writing schools’ projects for the DFE; ‘Transforming Writing’ formative assessment research project with the National Literacy Trust. Currently runs ‘Talk for Writing’ across the country with 15 training centres and trainers. Sat on governing bodies of Higher Education Institutes, Secondary and Primary schools. Co-founder of Storytelling Schools. Honorary Doctorates from Open University for services to education/social justice and Winchester University for services to creative education.
Key Skills
- Leadership
- Evaluation of educational effectiveness
- Project development
- Creative, radical and responsible thinking
- Mentoring and coaching
- ‘Values’ education
- Research informed education
- Communication – writing and public speaking
Simon Elliot
Biography
Simon has been Headteacher at Forest Gate Community School since 2011 and Executive Headteacher of Cumberland School since November 2017. FGCS is the 6th best school in UK by Progress 8 outcomes (2017) and in 2016 was rated as “Outstanding” by Ofsted. FGCS is the most improved school in Newham 2012-17 with year on year results increase for last 5 years.
Simon’s school has received the prestigious “NACE Challenge Schools Award” in 2017 for more able students. His school was Evening Standard Secondary School of the Year 2017, received the London Mayor’s Office “Schools For Success Award” 2017, was a TES Secondary School of the Year Nominee 2017, and received the prestigious Chartered Institute of Assessors Excellence in Assessment Award 2017. Simon was named in 2017 by the Evening Standard as one of the 1000 most influential Londoners for his work in raising the achievement of disadvantaged students and has worked with the regional schools commissioner to spread good practice in narrowing the gap.
Simon has experience of change management and school turnaround, extensive knowledge of data and accountability structures and has worked as a school improvement adviser to support other schools.
Board of Trustees
Bola Denby
Biography
Experienced governor of primary and secondary schools
Operations management
Quality assurance management
Project management
Business development
Business analysis
Data analysis
SEN
Education in general
Key Skills
- Collaboration
- Communication and interpersonal
- Research and strategy
- IT
- Business intelligence
- Negotiation and diplomatic
- Relationship management
- Behaviour management
Keri Edge
Biography
1998 appointed as a deputy headteacher at Hallsville. Hallsville was placed into Special Measures in 1998, the term after I joined. In 2000 Hallsville was removed from Special Measures. In 2002 it was awarded a Very Good. Appointed as Head Teacher 2002. Hallsville judged Outstanding in every category in October 2007.
Became an NLE: worked with Scott Wilkie, Calverton and Keir Hardie.
Appointed as Executive Head Teacher for Scott Wilkie October 2012 when Scott Wilkie was placed in special measures. Scott Wilkie was awarded a Good in March 2014.
Worked as an NLE in a RI 2 days a week. This school was awarded a good in July 2017.
A member of 2 teaching schools. Lead Head Teacher of South West Newham Group (SWNG) where the philosophy is based on the sharing of best practise across the schools in Canning Town / Custom House area.
Key Skills
- Skilled in turning around failing schools.
- Clear values and vision.
- Ambitious aspirations for the pupils and staff.
- Highly led systems and procedures that ensure best outcomes for pupils.
- Ability to create self-reflective self-improving systems.
- Strong knowledge and understanding of Leadership,
- Education Improvement,
- Finance, HR, Data.
Dr Tunmise Usikalu
Biography
Dr. Tunmise Usikalu is a qualified dentist with an extensive background in teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level as well as conducting research and undertaking performance (value-for-money) audits. She holds a PhD in Dental Public Health from King’s College London and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
She previously served as a Governor and Vice-Chair on the Local Governing Board of Agate Momentum Trust. In that time, she demonstrated her commitment to the vision and values of the Trust by contributing robustly to various aspects of her role, to both challenge and support the senior leadership. Tunmise is proud of the contributions she made in her time on the LGB. In particular, she found it rewarding to see Scott Wilkie recognised as an outstanding school by Ofsted in the summer of 2023, bringing both schools within the Trust onto equal footing.
Tunmise is delighted to have been co-opted to the Trust Board, a sign that her strong contributions are recognised. She looks forward to continuing to contribute from her experience and the skills she has honed in her day job leading on and delivering high-quality, impactful performance (value-for-money) audits. She brings a broad range of skills including strategic and critical thinking, research skills and expertise, a fantastic eye for detail, a good balance of leadership and team working skills, the ability to engage and communicate with a wide range of stakeholder and audiences as well as a commitment to her personal development.
She looks forward to continuing to serve with her knowledge, skills and experience to help ensure the Trust is run efficiently and delivers against its outcomes including a high standard of achievement for all pupils. She also looks forward to learning from other trustees, deepening her understanding and further developing her knowledge and skills.
Dave Lee
Biography
Almost 40 years spent working in Primary Education as:
- Teacher
- Senior Teacher
- Deputy Headteacher
- Headteacher
- Lead Ofsted Inspector [32 inspections]
- Team Ofsted Inspector [20 inspections]
School Improvement Partner [LB of Newham, 1999-2011, latterly Senior SIP]
15 years as a school governor in Hertfordshire, LB of Newham, Cambridgeshire.
Currently governor of three schools:
- The Grove Primary School, Cambridge
- Grange Primary School, Newham
Scott Wilkie/Hallsville Primary Schools, Newham
Key Skills
- Sound knowledge of the pedagogy of learning
- Good knowledge and emotional intelligence around teaching and learning, differing strategies, impact on individual pupils and staff
- Good knowledge of how a Primary School works, the pressures, the joys, the challenges
- Sound knowledge and skills of managing and maintaining a school budget
- Good knowledge on Ofsted expectations and how to prepare a school for inspection
- Empathy with pupils, staff, but with a deep desire to see everyone in a school fulfil their academic and personal potential
- Leadership and management of a large team, including how to be a team player when you are a leader too
- As a Headteacher, my school was involved in several pilot schemes, being an “Oxford Reading Tree” exemplar school in the 80s and 90s, and designated in the late 80s as a “computer-literate” school! I always liked to challenge staff and children to “aim high” and achieve awards, etc.
Daniela Jung
Biography
Experienced governor of a primary school. Chair of Governing Board. Chair of Finance Committee. Co-opted member of the audit committee of a sixth form college.
Extensive experience of carrying out financial and operational audits at primary and secondary schools in two London boroughs.
I trained to be a teacher and have a longstanding interest in education even though I now work in a different field.
Key Skills
- Qualified accountant and auditor
- Sound knowledge of IT and school business risks
- Data analysis
- Report writing
- People management
- Contract management
- Project management
- HR
Sonali Rajakumar
I have a passion for learning and development of young minds. I have had the opportunity within my current role at Deloitte LLP in London, as well as in Deloitte South Africa, to be a mentor and coach to a number of young professionals that are starting in their careers. I would love the opportunity to add value to a school governing body/trust board and make an impact on strategy, direction and finances of a school in need. Further to this, I have a parent that is an Educator and have had first hand experience of the trials and tribulations that teachers face – as a trustee I would have the opportunity to volunteer and serve a greater purpose of helping others in my professional career.
I have a 3 year Bachelor’s of Commerce in Accounting Science obtained in 2017 and a postgraduate in Accounting Sciences obtained in 2018. I have audit 3 years experience in multiple industries such as Construction, Mining, Telecommunications etc as well as 2 years experience within the UK private equity. My majors at a university level in South Africa include Accounting, Financial Management, Auditing and Taxation.
Other skills
- I work extensively with multi-cultural and diverse teams within Deloitte LLP
- I am a current Early Careers Coach for junior graduates that are undertaking their ACA pathway and Qualification with the ICEAW.
- I have served as the group representative of my year/grade group as an assistant manager in 2022 and 2023.
- Coaching and mentoring of junior members
- Project management
Charlie Morris
I am a retired Headteacher in the primary sector. During my career, I was Head of four London primaries (in Brent, Islington, Ealing and Newham). One of these was Cleves, a neighbouring Newham school, where I worked closely with Dave Lee. My expertise was focused on the rapid improvement of schools in challenging circumstances.
Upon leaving Newham I started my own consultancy business and travelled around the South of England overseeing interim posts, again for schools in challenging circumstances. In 2017 I accepted the post as Director of Education in Oman. I spent the next six years there until my retirement in June 2023.
I think my background could offer support in the quality of teaching and learning, pupil voice, community relations and parent partnerships as well as learning environments.
