Roles and Responsiblities
- Setting a clear vision, values, and long-term strategy for the Trust
- Shaping governance across the Trust – from the Trust Board to Local Governing Bodies (LGBs)
- Ensuring public funds are used properly, efficiently, and within the law
- Overseeing school improvement and Trust-wide outcomes
- Supporting and challenging leadership teams to raise standards and improve outcomes for all pupils
- Approving Trust statutory policies and working practices
- Holding LGBs to account for how each school performs
- Managing the performance of the CEO and senior leadership
About our Trustees
Dan was initially a governor at Brandles School from 2018 before joining the Trust in 2020. At the London School of Economics, he manages the careers operations functions and leads projects to develop and improve student experience and engagement, in addition to a role looking after student wellbeing in accommodation. He has previous higher education governance experience and is currently a trustee for the students’ union at the University of Bedfordshire. Dan is particularly passionate about widening participation and access, having been the first in his family to attend university.
Dave is currently Director of IT and Security for Parser and has worked in technology for over 19 years across financial services, software development, media and outsourcing. He also has experience in risk management, corporate governance, shareholder and stakeholder engagement, performance monitoring, information security, GDPR and audits. Dave is a father of two primary school age children and therefore education is of the upmost importance to him.
Ruth has spent her career in the NHS, initially as a nurse supporting children and young people, and for the last 20 years in senior leadership positions at both regional and national level developing strategic services and policy. She is currently the Regional Director of Commissioning for the East of England. She is particularly passionate about supporting children and young people to start well and to get the best from their education.
Chelsea is currently a Headteacher on the Hertfordshire/ Bedfordshire border and is deeply passionate about inclusion for all pupils. Having served as a Headteacher for many years, she brings a broad range of expertise and interests, including school improvement, curriculum and standards, finance, and sustainability.


With over 20 years experience in marketing across several private sector companies, Laura specialises in customer experience, business intelligence and research. Her personal journey as a parent to a Larwood School student gives Laura unique insights into the school’s positive impact on families.
Linda has recently retired from Middlesex University having worked within the Library and Student Support service for almost 30 years. Her experience is in administration, organisation, financial and staff management. Having started as a part-time Administration Assistant her final role was Head of Planning and Organisation.
Debra is currently Director of ISS Consultancy which provides a range of support for special schools. She is a senior educational leadership professional with over 25 years of experience ranging from design management in industry through to a wide variety of educational roles, including Executive Headteacher and Principal. She is widely experienced in both SEN and mainstream environments from primary, through secondary and up to adult FE. Outside of work, Debra enjoys drawing, painting and illustration.
Gemma has a background in accounting, spending 8 years as a bookkeeper in a disabled adaptations firm. She has family members with SEN which drives her passion for ensuring they get the same opportunities as everyone else. Gemma’s passion led her to become a parent trustee when her son joined Larwood school.
Coming soon
What do our Trustees do?
Trustees have key responsibilities, including:
- Shaping how governance works across the Trust – from the Trust Board to Local Governing Bodies (LGBs)
- Setting the strategic direction for the Trust
- Overseeing school improvement and Trust-wide outcomes
- Approving Trust policies and ways of working
- Ensuring public funds are used properly, efficiently and within the law
- Holding LGBs to account for how each school performs
- Managing the performance of the CEO and senior leadership
- Trustees carry out the same duties as school governors in local authority schools, but with added legal responsibilities as company directors.
Other important information:
- Trustees serve for a four-year term (as set out in our Articles of Association)
- Only one Trust employee can be a Trustee
- All Trustees must pass due diligence checks, including an enhanced DBS
- Trustees meet six times a year as a full Board
- Trustees are fully insured and their financial liability is limited to £20