Members & Trustees
Members:
Andrew Clarke
(Chair of Trustees / Member)
Andrew is a commercial and employment lawyer. He is a barrister, KC and part-time Judge. He is also a qualified mediator and arbitrator. He lives locally and all three of his children attended Goffs. He has been a Trustee since the creation of the MAT and had been a governor of Goffs School for some years before that. He is the current Chair of Trustees and also sits on the Supervisory Board.
Vanessa Wright
(Vice-Chair of Trustees / Member / Co-Chair of Flamstead End LAB)
Vanessa Wright brings over twenty years of experience working at Pearson, the world’s largest education company, and includes the exam board Edexcel. She has previously held the positions of Vice President running the schools business in Australia and more recently, leading sales and marketing for schools in the UK. Vanessa has been a Trustee since 2017 and the co-Vice Chair since 2019.
Kay Leach
Content to follow
Trustees:
Alison Garner
(CEO)
Alison was formally Headteacher at Goffs, and has held two Headships in very different circumstances. She led her first school to an Ofsted rating of outstanding in all areas with no identified areas for improvement – one of the first schools in the UK to achieve this at that point in time. Her leadership has been identified by Ofsted as being outstanding in both Headships. She has worked as an Ofsted Inspector, a School Improvement Partner, and as a District Adviser for Hertfordshire, overseeing school performance in two areas of the County. In addition, Alison has undertaken consultancy nationally on school improvement and school leadership and accountability, with high levels of requests for her time both from within Hertfordshire and nationally.
Alison is highly versed in leadership, and strategies aimed at delivering ongoing whole school improvement. Alison is fundamentally child centred in her work, which is rooted in her belief that the core purpose of leadership at all levels is to deliver the best possible learning outcomes for children. Alison now provides expert advice and coaching to the Principals and leaders within the Trust, combining a clearly articulated view of a no excuses culture of leadership, with support, guidance and a listening ear, and is responsible for the outcomes of schools across the Trust.
Kacey Brown
Internal Auditor and Chartered Accountant since 2004 with experience undertaking internal and external audits, alongside risk management and project assurance. Problem identification and resolution is a very satisfying element of my role alongside building strong working relationships.
Passionate about the local community, having been a Cub Scout Leader, and a Primary School Governor.
Kacey expanded his educational knowledge within the secondary education sector in 2018 being appointed a member of the Goffs-Churchgate Local Academy Board and was appointed as Trustee in March 2019 with membership of Standards and Achievement Committee, Resources Committee and Goffs Local Academy Board.
Jean Holt
(Chair of Search Committee / Co-Chair of Flamstead End LAB)
Jean was a Governor at Goffs School for many years and became a Trustee of the Multi Academy Trust when it was formed. Jean was previously Chair of Standards and Achievement Committee and is now Chair of the Search Committee and Co-Chair of Flamstead End.
Originally a parent governor, Jean has 3 sons who were educated at Goffs School. Jean has a scientific background and although retired now, she was a research scientist and has a degree in Chemical Physics.
Jean also has considerable experience of analysing performance data. She has a passionate interest in the education of all students in the Generations Educational Trust and believes that every young person deserves the best education to allow them to reach their full potential.
Bernard White
(Chair of Goffs-Churchgate LAB / Chair of People Committee)
Bernard White is Chair of the Goffs-Churchgate Local Academy Board, Chair of the People Committee and a Trustee. He was Chair of Governors at Burleigh Primary School for several years and prior to that a Governor at Hurst Drive School. He has also supported Herts for Learning being an additional Governor where required. A varied career: thirty-two years with BT, some highlights would be – HR and Corporate Governance and Compliance. Currently, working with Sainsbury’s as a Logistics Coordinator. He is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Personnel and Development.
Grace Suleyman
Grace Suleyman is a lawyer with extensive financial services, governance, risk management and regulatory compliance experience within the asset management industry. Prior to moving into in-house legal and compliance roles, Grace worked at a number of international law firms in the City of London.
Grace has a BA (Hons) in History & Sociology from the University of Manchester completed both the Graduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice Course from the University of Law.
Grace has a young son and lives locally.
Golda Thompson
(Vice-Chair of Goffs LAB)
Golda Thompson is a Finance Analyst with a BEng in Electronic Engineering & an MSc in Accounting & Financial Management. Career experiences include The Metropolitan Police Service (professionally and voluntarily as a Special Constable), and various companies in IT and Retail Sectors. As a member of the Goffs LAB, Golda has a keen interest in strategic analysis, and how the findings can assist in providing an environment for all stakeholders at Goffs Academy to achieve excellence. A mother of three children, with one in attendance at Goffs, she seeks to encourage and support the inclusion, development, and academic progress of all children.
Janet O’Brien
(Vice-Chair of the Goffs-Churchgate LAB)
She is an Ofsted registered professional Childcare practitioner with over 11 years of experience in and around the Cheshunt community. Caring for children from age 1 to around 12 years old at various stages of their development. In additional to having a managerial background and over 34 years of experience raising my own children I have been able to set up and run a successful childcare business in which we implement enrichment programmes for children from the local community throughout the summer working in partnership with local sponsors and volunteers. She is passionate about children reaching their full potential and having respect for themselves and their community which is the reason why she has embraced the role on the Local Academy Board.
Hayley Stanton
Hayley is an experienced Facilities Management professional. A FM career between operational and strategic with extensive success in delivery with both, covering Retail, Logistics, Banks and office environments. An inspirational leader while putting inclusion and wellbeing at the heart of what we do. Hayley has recently had her first baby and hopes to drive and support the best education possible for our babies now and of the future. Hayley has joined us as a Trustee for the Generations Academy Trust supporting all schools.
