Members

The members of our trust are a small group of volunteers who oversee the governance of our trust and trust board. They ensure that our board is effective, seeking assurance from our trustees that our trust fulfils all statutory compliance obligations and responsibilities. Members attend the annual general meeting as a minimum, review and scrutinise the trust’s audited accounts, receive updates relating to the performance of academies, provisions and services of the trust and exercise their legal duties and powers, if/where necessary, relating to trust governance.

All of our members undergo enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS), identify and other relevant checks prior to appointment. They undertake safeguarding and prevent training, facilitated through the trust board clerk/governance professional.

Our Members

John Pallet – Member

Appointed 2017

John grew up in Forest Gate and attended local schools and London University where he studied Classics. On graduating in 1963 he taught in Ghana for nearly four years. Back in Britain he trained to be a teacher at Exeter University and the following year started teaching Classics at a comprehensive school in Leek, Staffordshire. In 1972 he became Head of Classics and Humanities.

He was also elected a councillor on Leek Urban District Council. In 1974 John began a one-year course of study leading to an M.A. in Education at Leeds University. The following year he took a temporary post lecturing at a college of education in Leeds.

In 1976 he began to work for Redbridge Education Department and in 1981 became Assistant Education Officer for Special Needs. In 1994 he became the senior officer with responsibility for special needs. Subsequently he was promoted to Deputy Chief Education Officer and for 15 months was Chief Education Officer.

In 2001 John retired; since then he has done a small amount of teaching at a secondary school in Tower Hamlets and for two years was Secretary to The Active Learning Multi-Academy Trust.

John’s interests include travel, music, reading, gardening, DIY and politics.

John married Catherine in 1974 and they have three children, now all grown up, two of whom are teachers.

Francis Saunders – Member

Appointed 2017

Francis was the Chair of the Schools Parents/carers and Friends Association, he stood down last year but now participates as a committee member. His daughter Juliet, who sadly passed away in 2020 aged 25, attended the school before accessing an adult’s centre. Francis has been involved in many school developments, supported the school with his charitable work and was always a very involved parent offering support and feedback to new initiatives during his daughter’s school career. He has vast knowledge and experience of the pathways and difficulties for pupils with SEN and their families. He has been involved in school improvement throughout the school, utilizing the PFA funds to support the wider work of the school to benefit the students, always referring to what the school has identified as important and areas that would further enhance the lives of the students and families

Ann Garrard – Member & Trustee - Trusts and Education

Appointed 2017

My background is within education. I trained as a primary school teacher and worked full time until my son was born. His disabilities took me way from the classroom, though I continued to teach part time, and this led to my involvement with school since 1985. This has evolved from being a member of the PFA, a parent governor, a co-opted governor and finally a Member and Trustee of Astrum MAT. At various times I have been Chair of the PFA, Chair of Newbridge Governing Body and Chair of the Astrum MAT Board.

Back then, after my son became an Ethel Davis student, it soon became obvious that many decisions affecting our students were made arbitrarily and I became involved with the voluntary sector and working in partnership with the London Borough of Redbridge. Currently I am a Trustee of Disability Redbridge, involved with Ilford Shopmobility, a Trustee of Redbridge Council for Voluntary Service, with a particular involvement and interest in issues affecting children and young people. My involvement as a voluntary sector representative includes working with the Children’s Centres, being a member of the Redbridge Local Safeguarding Partnership’s Learning and Improvement sub group and the independent member for children and young people of the Redbridge Health and Wellbeing Board. Most recently I am now part of the HAF steering group.

I continue to work for the neighbouring London Borough of Barking and Dagenham within the alternative education service. As a Home Tutor I work with students who are unable to attend school for extended periods due to health issues. I specialize working with SEND students and an important aspect of my role is supporting parents and carers.

I am very fortunate in having a strong support network from both my immediate family and our extended church family. For relaxation I read a lot and enjoy as much gardening as time permits.

Matthew Stanford – Member

Appointed 2019

Matthew lives locally to Astrum schools and is a chartered quantity surveyor with experience in building schools. Matthew has four children, three of whom have special needs and he has previously been a Trustee of an SEN charity.