The Board of Trustees
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Role of the Trustees The trustees should focus on three core functions:
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Kanta Wild-Smith - Chair of the Board of Trustees
Kanta has been a school governor for twelve years, seven of these as Chair and recently completed the Chair of Governors Leadership Development Course. Using skills developed in her professional life Kanta has been involved in the use of pupil, group and whole school data to monitor school and individual performance.
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Jan Atkinson - Trustee
Previously, I have served as a Governor in an Outstanding Essex primary school, serving on the Curriculum Committee. I spent 10 years leading a successful Sports College in Essex and have acted as an Essex and London Youth Sport Trust ambassador. I have used my experience in sport to create the Greenwich Schools Sport Partnership, providing staff training and sporting and health activities for 30 local primary schools. I am an accredited Ofsted Inspector, which has enabled me to provide rigour and challenge both as a Principal and as a Trustee at the College. I have recently restructured the Governing Body to ensure the Board has the necessary skills to drive the College forward. Having recently completed a CEO programme at Oxford Saïd Business School, I am now part of the alumni which gives opportunity to network with Chairs and CEOs nationally. I am an active member of the Sixth Form College Association, which allows further networking across the country.
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Ryan Duff - Trustee
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Chris Hearn - Trustee
A part of the Board of Directors developing strategy, monitoring performance and ensure controls in place.Chris worked as Finance Manager at the Girls' Day School Trust, the biggest educational charity in the UK, including two academies, for eighteen months. Responsible for all finance aspects, including monthly and annual accounts. Chris held the position of Trustee Treasurer of Centre 404 for 4 years to 2013. Centre 404 is a charity for children and adults with learning difficulties. Part of Board that developed long term strategy and ensured financial controls and best use of resources. Married to Alison since 1991, they have two children who both attended St Martin's School and have subsequently gone on to University to study Business Management and Fashion & Textiles.
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| Chris Holme - Trustee
Chris is a solicitor, and is a partner at the City law firm Clyde & Co LLP. He specialises in assisting businesses with all employment and people issues. He graduated from the University of Leeds with a first class law degree in 1999, and has worked in the law in London since 2000. Chris has lived in Brentwood for 6 years, and has two young children who take up much of his time, as well as his loves for sport, gardening, and DIY. He is a passionate supporter of equal treatment for all, and ensuring individual opportunity. This forms a large part of his working life, and also feeds his support for, and passion for, education.
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Trudy Nash - Trustee
Trudy left a 37 year career in Financial Services in the City of London at the end of December 2019. Most recently with RBS/Natwest as Business Manager to the Treasurer, a role she held for 10 years, Trudy has also worked for Citibank and HSBC as Head of Operations in the Treasury function. As Business Manager for the RBS Treasurer, Trudy's remit included such matters as staff engagement, facility management, training and development, pay and reward, conduct, accountability and operational risk. Prior to her appointment as a Trustee, Trudy was a Co-Opted School Governor at Larchwood Primary School, a role she took on in November 2016. Trudy is now looking for opportunities to use her transferrable skills in the Third Sector and has recently been recruited as a Trustee for a local charity. Trudy was born in Thurrock and recently moved from Billericay to Chalkwell.
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Karen Tucker - Trustee
Aside from school, she is married and has 3 children. This personal experience of the educational system as a parent has contributed to her developing role as a Headteacher. Although challenging, Karen continues to enjoy school improvement and giving the opportunity for every pupil to achieve their full potential.
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Helen Witty - Trustee
Helen has forty-two years teaching experience in secondary schools in London and Essex. Throughout her career she has been determined to help all children aim high and maximise their achievements. She has spent thirty years in senior leadership roles in schools, including responsibility for Curriculum and Timetable, Human Resources and Sixth Form. She first became a school governor in 1988. She is Chair of Governors of two local authority schools in London, one primary and one secondary. In addition, she has been a School Governor at Larchwood Primary School since 2001, first as a parent, latterly co-opted. Her extensive experience of governance has involved responsibility for SEND and Safeguarding, and chairing Finance & Resources, Curriculum & Development, and School Improvement Committees. More recently she has been a member of panels to examine parental complaints and appointed to undertake an independent investigation of Governing Board conduct.
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Kanta spent 10 years working in the field of adult and children’s mental health before becoming a qualified primary teacher in 1991. After working 3 years as a classroom teacher she worked in an advisory capacity with schools cross phase throughout Essex. Kanta was President of the National Association of Teachers of Travellers for 3 years. Since 2007 Kanta has worked in the local authority children's services as a multi- agency team manager with a group of schools and agencies in East Basildon and as a Commissioner of parenting and family support. As a local government officer Kanta has extensive experience of the performance management of staff and managing a substantial budget at a senior level. 
Currently I am in my fifth year as Principal/CEO at a large London Sixth Form Academy, serving a diverse and largely disadvantaged community, including over 200 High Needs students. Under my leadership the College has moved from Requires Improvement in all categories to Good and is now financially secure. 
A qualified accountant since 1992 - Chartered Institute of Management Accountants - ACMA CGMA , Chris has worked in senior financial positions throughout his career, specifically as a Regional Finance Director (not a Companies house director) from 2001 to 2009, Academy FD for ten months 2009-2010, and Chief Accountant/Finance Director from 2012 to date. Responsible for Monthly and Annual Accounts, Budgets, dealing with Auditors, etc. 
