Multi Academy Trust Board for Southport Learning Trust

Stuart Bellerby, BSc (Eng), PGCE, PGDip, MBA 

Co-opted trustee 

Roles on the board: 

• Chair of the board 

The key skills I bring to the board are: 

• Education and School Improvement 
• Governance  
• Commercial in the public sector and finance. 

I have spent my professional career working in and with schools and local government and it is this experience, and the competencies gained, that I bring to the Board. Having spent the early part of my career teaching mathematics in secondary schools, I moved across to local government 20 years ago. I have had a variety of roles in school improvement including mathematics and ICT adviser roles, and then onto senior secondary school improvement adviser overseeing high schools in a Northwest Local Authority.  

More recently I have taken up roles in local government leading and coordinating school traded services, and developing and implementing the council’s commercial strategy. 

I have overseen school governance services at local government level, and have led training on governance matters. I have found my knowledge and experience of school governance useful during my time as a governor at Greenbank High School and then as one of the founding trustees of Southport Learning Trust. I have held roles as a governor at other local schools and academies over the last 20 years. 

In my spare time I enjoy music, especially live events, and also enjoy participating and watching sports. 

 Claire Buck  

Chair of Governors, Greenbank High School  

 Roles on the board:  

• Vice-chair of the resources committee 

I am a senior lecturer at Edgehill University, for primary English and early years foundation stage.   My research has included using reading groups to encourage reading for pleasure, and the use of technology to assist in the same field.    

 I am passionate about reading, and the access that this provides to the whole curriculum.  My work has me exploring many aspects, such as motivation for reading, successful boy readers, early reading and writing development, and child development.  

 Prior to joining Edgehill, I was a primary school teacher.  Alongside my role at Chair of Governors at Greenbank, I have gained a wide experience of education across all ages.  

I am very pleased to have the opportunity to serve on both the Greenbank and the Southport Learning Trust boards, and proud to be supporting so many of our children and young people to be successful. 

 Craig Clifford 

Parent trustee 

Roles on the board: 

• Chair risk and audit committee 

 Rich Cottier BA (Hons) 

Co-opted trustee 

Roles on the board: 

• Vice-chair risk and audit committee 
• Link trustee for SEND  

The key skills I bring to the board are: 

• Governance 
• Strategy 
• Finance 
• Marketing 

Initially gaining business experience in an accountancy practice, followed by a career in financial services, I have for the last 25 years worked for an IT services organisation. Most recently I have managed, within a Transformation Programme Management Office, multimillion-pound investments from conception to delivery. 

For the Trust this means I can effectively challenge the leadership team and provide direction and vision where appropriate. I am good with both detail and the bigger picture, and understand governance frameworks well. As an excellent senior level communicator, I can break down complex subjects into simple concepts. 

I am determined to do all I can to support the Trust’s provision of excellence, both educational and vocational. 

Over the last few years, I have raised funds for a Liverpool-based brain injuries foundation trust charity, with a series of activities, most recently with the ROC triathlon (2020). 

 

 Philip Power, BEng (Hons) Combined Engineering 

Chair of Governors, Kew Woods Primary 

Roles on the board: 

• Link trustee for disadvantaged children 

The key skills I bring to the board are: 

• Collaborator 
• People orientated 
• Passion for education 

I have been chair of governors at Kew Woods Primary School for eight years and a trustee at Southport Learning Trust for three years. Outside of education, my current role is with Homes England, “the government’s housing accelerator.” Previously, I have owned an engineering business, worked in education looking after assets and facilities, and spent several years as a retail manager.  

Throughout my career, I have championed the need for collaboration and the importance of a work culture that makes people feel involved and respected. These are the skills and passions that I bring to Kew Woods, Southport Learning Trust, and the golden thread of all I do. 

My passion is to help young people achieve their potential through education and ensuring children have the best opportunities to succeed whilst growing into responsible and caring individuals. 

In my spare time, you will find me treading the boards at the Little Theatre in Southport. I am the Chair of BOS Musical Theatre Company. We have been established for 60 years and we stage two fantastic musicals a year. 

 Catherine Rae, BA (Hons), QTS, NPQSL 

Teacher of English and Lead for Staff and Student Development at Stanley High School.  

Staff trustee 

The key skills I bring to the board are: 

• Educational knowledge and expertise 

• Experience supporting trainees and early career teachers 

I feel it is a privilege to be a Staff trustee on the Southport Learning Trust Board. I have been a Teacher of English at Stanley High School since September 2012 and Head of Year for five years. In September 2021 I took on the role of Lead for Staff and Student Development providing me with an exciting opportunity to embed a vibrant programme of student leadership at Stanley High School and support Early Career Teachers and trainee teachers develop their practice. These diverse roles provide me with a broad experience of school life and allow me to bring that experience and knowledge to the Trust board. Being a staff trustee enables me share how being part of the Southport Learning Trust impacts on the teaching and learning within the classroom and the wider life of school, promoting positive outcomes for all stakeholders.  

It has been a pleasure to see Stanley grow from strength to strength in recent years and develop strong links with the other schools in the Trust. As a member of staff, I can see the benefits of collaborating with other schools in the Trust and sharing examples of best practice. 

I am passionate about teaching and ensuring all students reach their full potential. It is my strong held belief that quality first teaching, along with exceptionally high standards for all students is key in achieving the highest outcomes. My educational philosophy is that every child should have equally high expectations placed on them, thus enabling them to have the best possible life chances and successful future, regardless of their starting point.  

I have a genuine desire to work with young people and I strive to make a difference to the lives of the students in our schools. 

 Ian Raikes BA (Hons), PGCE, NPQH, NPQEL 

Chief Executive Officer 

The key skills I bring to the board are: 

• Educational leadership. 

• Governance  

I was a Head teacher for 10 years with the school I led being consistently in the top 20% of schools nationally. I led the creation of the Multi Academy Trust in 2017 and in turn the sponsorship of a secondary school which moved from Inadequate to Good in 2020. I have an excellent knowledge of the local community we serve and sit on various strategic boards such as Southport Town Deal Board, Liverpool City Region Careers Hub, Sefton and Knowsley Sky Music Hub, Sefton Safeguarding Children’s Partnership and Chair the Southport Learning Partnership. 

I am passionate about the difference groups of schools working together in communities of school improvement can have on improving the life chances of the children we serve. I am dedicated to the growth of our Trust in the locality to support schools to grow, collaborate and achieve economies of scale.  

I have a love of sport, especially rugby, cricket, football and tennis, the environment as a Geographer, and the Arts. This translates into my vision for the wider curriculum for children. I am happily married with four children and fully aware of the demands of raising children as they grow through the different stages from nursery to higher education and the support they need. 

Ruth Williams, BSc (Hons), MBA 

Chair of Governors, Stanley High School 

Roles on the board: 

• Vice-chair of the board 
• Chair of the resources committee 
• Link trustee for safeguarding 

Key competences I bring to the board: 

• Business and finance. 
• Strategy implementation. 
• Governance. 

I gained these skills as a senior manager in an international corporation. I held a variety of roles beyond running the business, including managing global programs aimed at driving efficiency and improvements, working on turnarounds, and supporting acquisitions and mergers.  

The value of a strategic framework was apparent, not only to guide direction, but also to help with the necessity of reacting to short-term pressures without compromising the wider plan. Strong governance ensured the delivery of the required outcomes.  

I find my knowledge and experience transfers well into the role of chair of governors at Stanley High School, and to my role as a trustee of the Southport Learning Trust.  

I mentor chairs of governors in other schools, and I work closely with Sefton Governor Services, including developing and delivering training for governors. I also mentor managers outside of education, which helps to keep the overarching drivers of success in other sectors visible to me. 

When I am just having fun at home, I will often be gardening or making quilts.