Members and Directors
Members
Michael Punt (Education) - grew up in Brentwood, Essex and was educated at Brentwood School. He read Physics at Oxford University with sponsorship from the US chemical company Monsanto. In 1992, he left Oxford for Imperial College London, where he gained an MSc in Semiconductor Science and Technology. In 1993, Michael began teaching physics at St Dunstan’s College, SE London. He took a PGCE whilst teaching and variously held the positions of Head of Year, Head of Oxbridge and Head of Physics. In 2001, he moved to be Head of Sixth Form at the Perse School in Cambridge where, in 2004, he became Academic Deputy Head. In 2007, he moved back to Essex as Headmaster of Chigwell and in 2022 he became Headmaster of Bromsgrove School. Michael is married to Gill and they have three sons.
Tim Reid (Diocesan) – Tim was Deputy Director of Education since 2017, previously working as a Diocesan School Improvement Consultant and SIAMS Manager after being the Headteacher of a Church of England Primary School. He has contributed to the development of the vision for Church of England schools in the Worcestershire diocese to be places where all children can receive a high-quality education and live life in all its fullness
He was promoted to the position of Director of Education for the Diocese of Worcester in June 2021 and continues to support both Church of England Schools and academies across Dudley and Worcestershire.
Rosie Shorter (Business)- Chair of the Trust– retired Chair of Governors at St John’s CofE Middle School Academy, a role she held for 9 years and oversaw significant improvements. She was the first female Loss Adjuster in the country, back in 1980 and has recently retired from the Jewellery business after almost 30 years. More recently, she has been working part time for West Mercia Police handling 999 calls, a role which is challenging but immensely interesting. Rosie has twins, her daughter is Head of Year 7 at Parkside Middle School, Bromsgrove. Rosie has worked for a charity which supports breast cancer patients for over 10 years.
Fiona Lawson- Hughes (Legal) – Solicitor and Partner at Harrison Clark Rickerbys, based in Worcestershire, with 8 other offices around the country. She is head of the Childcare department and specialises in the law relating to safeguarding, as well as complicated parental disputes over children. She represents children (either through a Children’s Guardian or separately), parents and extended family members. She has extensive experience of representing children of all ages and at all levels of Court, from Lay Justices to the High Court. Fiona is the mother of 3 children one of whom started and completed her education with a statement of educational special needs. Her youngest child is still in full time education and attends Haybridge High School (as did his older siblings).
WDAT – Mr. Bryan Allbut - Worcester Diocesan Academies Trust is a corporate Member of the Spire MAT and will provide a representative when Members discuss matters.
Directors
Father Tim Williams - Father Tim is an ordained minister and a very experienced Chair of Governors. Father Tim was Chair of Governors at a large comprehensive in South Wales for a number of years AT Present he is Team Rector of Kidderminster West and Area Dean of Kidderminster & Stourport Deanery
Rosie Shorter (Business) - Chair – See Members
Bryan Allbut - A retired teacher who held senior posts in several schools Bryan was also a National Consultant and representative for ASCL. Bryan is a currently Chair of Worcester Diocesan Academies Trust and the Diocesan Board of Education.
Tony James (Education) - has lived in Bromsgrove for 19 years and both his children went to St John’s Middle School, Tony and his wife are now foster carers and their current foster-child also attends St John’s. Prior to becoming a Director Tony had been a co-opted member of the St John’s Governing Body for 12 years and actively supported the school as a Governor.
Professionally he has been involved in education throughout his working life as a teacher and ultimately a headteacher in a number of different settings. He is now self-employed and continues to support schools and their leaders in their many varied challenges. Tony has been lucky enough to provide this support nationally and internationally through his work with the DfE. He currently supports school governance and governors through facilitating training, coaching and mentoring for a national organisation.
Sue Schofield (Education) –I worked in a local high school for 34 years starting as a subject teacher, becoming Head of Department, Assistant Head for Teaching and Learning and finally Deputy Head for Progress and Achievement. Since, I have worked as a Professional Mentor in a Teacher Training school,and gone back into the classroom as a subject and supply teacher. I have lived in Bromsgrove for 33 years and both my girls attended St Johns Middle School.
Kate Lambert - Having worked for large multi-national corporations for almost 30 years, Kate joined Witton Middle School as a co-opted Governor in December 2019, after beginning a sabbatical to allow more time for personal projects and voluntary work. Along with her husband, she has recently been approved as a foster carer. Having travelled away from home for much of her career she is keen to focus on the local community, and with a particular passion for lifelong learning, she is keen to be part of setting the right foundations for every pupil in the Trust to realise his or her full potential. Through a career covering manufacturing and engineering through to IT, she brings broad business and management skills, such as budget management, data analysis, strategy setting, project management, people management and development.
Geraint Roberts (CEO) – Geraint Roberts MA, NPQH, CEO and Executive Headteacher of The Spire Trust - has over 25 years experience in Senior Leadership managing strategic change and whole school improvement as an Assistant Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher, Headteacher and currently Executive Headteacher. Geraint established The Spire Trust, a medium sized Trust five years ago and has extensive experience in leading and embedding sustainable improvement across a range of educational establishments. He became a teacher in order to improve the life chances of children and also to have the opportunity to inspire the next generation. This is a passion that burns as strong today as when he entered the profession over thirty years ago.
Stephen Cox, Executive Headteacher (School Improvement and Teaching and Learning) - attends the Board meetings in an ex officio capacity. Stephen has many years experience as a highly successful Headteacher, Ofsted Inspector and National Leader of Education including leading his own school from Osted "inadequate" to "outstanding" over a five year period and running a National Support School for 8 years.
Support Team
Barry Newton – is a consultant and former Local Authority School Improvement Advisor with over 30 years of experience. He has a proven track record of supporting school improvement.
Neil MIlls - is a consultant and former Headteacher with considerable experience of leading schools through change to secure improvement and successful outcomes for the children.
Katie Oakes - Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) - Maths
Sarah Pemberton - Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) - English
Dan McEvilly - Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) - SEND
Jan Perrey – Company Secretary and Clerk to the Trust. Her background was in administration and HR before joining St. John’s CE Middle School 20 years ago. She was Clerk to the Governors for the Middle School before moving over to the Trust. Jan is currently the PA to the CEO/Headteacher and Operations Manager for the Trust and HR/Office Manager at St. John’s Middle School.
Trustees Meeting Attendance
2021/2022
Appointed | Resigned | Role | Attended | Possible | |
Rosemary Shorter | Chair | 4 | 5 | ||
Bryan Allbut | 19/09/2019 | Director | 5 | 5 | |
Fiona Lawson Hughes | Director | 1 | 1 | ||
Father Tim Willaims | Director | 4 | 5 | ||
Anthony James | 19/09/2019 | Director | 4 | 5 | |
Sandra Berry | Director | 2 | 5 | ||
Kate Lambert | Director | 5 | 5 | ||
Geraint Roberts | CEO | 5 | 5 |
2020/2021
Appointed | Resigned | Role | Attended | Possible | |
Rosemary Shorter | Chair | 6 | 7 | ||
Bryan Allbut | 19/09/2019 | Director | 6 | 7 | |
Fiona Lawson Hughes | Director | 6 | 7 | ||
Father Tim Willaims | Vice Chair | 6 | 7 | ||
Anthony James | 19/09/2019 | Director | 6 | 7 | |
Sandra Berry | Director | 2 | 2 | ||
Kate Lambert | Director | 2 | 2 |
2019/2020
Appointed | Resigned | Role | Attended | Possible | |
Rosemary Shorter | Chair | 5 | 5 | ||
Bryan Allbut | 19/09/2019 | Director | 3 | 5 | |
Robert Barbour | 25/06/2020 | Director | 4 | 5 | |
Fiona Lawson Hughes | Director | 3 | 5 | ||
Jeremy King | 30/01/2020 | Director | 0 | 2 | |
Tim Gulliver | 24/09/2020 | Director | 4 | 5 | |
Father Tim Willaims | Director | 4 | 5 | ||
Anthony James | 19/09/2019 | Director | 3 | 5 | |
Sue Schofield | 20/11/2019 | Director | 3 | 4 | |
Raynan Anthony Khan | 23/09/2019 | Director | 0 | 1 | |
Geraint Roberts | CEO | 5 | 5 | ||
Jan Perrey | Clerk | 5 | 5 |
Register of Business and Pecuniary Interest
Rosie Shorter
None Declared
Bryan Allbut
WDAT member
Tony James
None Declared
Tim Williams
None Declared
Sandra Berry
None Declared
Fiona Lawson Hughes
None Declared
Kate Lambert
None Declared
Sue Schofield
None Declared
Geraint Roberts
CEO of The Spires Church of England Learning Trust