This is the Compass Partnership of Schools’ Board of Trustees. The Trustees have been appointed for the variety of skills and expertise that they bring to a charitable trust.

 

Susan skidmore

Chair of the Board of Trustees

Retired head teacher

Susan’s background is in education, working with both children and adults. She has taught the whole primary age range, led maths and English, and been a special educational needs co-ordinator. After becoming a head teacher 15 years ago, Susan led the development of federating two very different schools, managing change for two sets of staff. This included managing a high level of external scrutiny, developing teamwork across the federation, and a robust framework of support and challenge for all staff, pupils and governors. She also secured significant funding for developing the leadership and infrastructure of the federation. Susan was appointed as one of the first consultant leaders, taking part in the national initiative and training programme, and was an assessor for the Quality Mark, working with the local authority inspection team. Her practice as a consultant working on strategic leadership has been influenced by the model of coaching and mentoring, using reflection and peer coaching to enable schools to successfully develop individually, as well as the precision of working to key criteria and standards. Susan was previously a governor and Chair of South Rise and is currently interim Chair of Cann Hall.

Mary Whitehead

Retired head teacher, national leader of education and school governor

Mary has taught in early years and primary settings and became a head teacher in Greenwich in 2000. Mary established the Royal Greenwich Teaching School Alliance, and became a national leader of education, before retiring in 2014. She is passionate about education in school and wider educational issues.

Hugh Lewis

Chair of Business Committee
Partner, Kirk and Partners

Hugh is a qualified solicitor of 37 years’ standing, and a partner in a high street practice specialising in land law and trusts, with knowledge of company and charity law. Hugh has a wide private client base that includes local charities. As a business owner, Hugh possesses key financial and analytical skills to ensure that his practice meets and satisfies ever-changing economic and regulatory demands. Having been a school governor for 16 years, Hugh possesses a good knowledge of the requirements of school governance, including the need to challenge and support school leaders, while always focusing on the well-being, safety and development of each pupil.  

Nathalie Fitzgerald

Chair of Standards Committee
Head Teacher, Hawkswood Primary School

Nathalie has a strong background in education, across both primary and secondary phases.  Nathalie is passionate about improving educational outcomes, experiences and life chances of disadvantaged children, and is the Headteacher at Hawkswood Primary PRU and SEMH school in Waltham Forest.  Her experiences in education have shaped and developed a strong moral purpose, which enable to her to champion the importance of holistic approaches to teaching, learning and the curriculum. Nathalie has nine years of experience as a governor and is passionate about supporting schools locally as a resident of the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

Rupinder Bansil

Head Teacher, West Thornton Primary School

Rupinder has recently become Head Teacher of West Thornton, having previously been Head Teacher at Foxfield Primary School from 2014. She was part of the leadership team that transformed the school from inadequate to Outstanding in just 16 months. Rupinder previously worked at Bannockburn Primary school, leading on the expansion of the site. She enjoys creating wonderful spaces for children to learn and for staff to work in, and always has culture and climate at the forefront of her mind. She has taught in all year groups and held many different leadership roles across the schools she has worked in. Rupinder is passionate about diversity and inclusion.

 

Simon Hayward

Programs Director UK portfolio, London & Continental Railways
Associate Partner, Parceman Hill Associates Consultancy
Co-deputy Chair of Trustees

Simon is an accomplished C-suite appointee, NED and experienced Board member across the nuclear, aviation, heavy engineering, retail, hospitality and education sectors where he is recognised for his independent perspective and diligent ability to balance corporate governance and regulatory compliance with the difficulties of operating in complex business environments.

Simon is both a polymath and experienced consultant who is frequently called upon for his broad knowledge of leading and mentoring senior management and boards of directors in the transition of complex business strategies and organisational change, intuitively seeing the threads of opportunity that wind through an organisation. He brings them together into a coherent whole, helps others extend their thinking to provide better visibility of key resources and capabilities to deliver significant asset growth.

A respected international speaker within the nuclear sector, Simon holds a degree in linguistics and economics from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). Simon is a keen sportsman and advocate for modern dance and the arts.

Alison riddle

Partner at Osborne Clarke

Alison Riddle is a partner at Osborne Clarke, an international law firm where she advises clients in the Built Environment sector. Alison has over 20 years of legal experience and focusses on funds, investment management and corporate matters. Originally from Essex, she grew up near Chelmsford before pursuing her law degree at the University of Bristol. Alison is also actively involved in promoting diversity and mental health awareness within her firm, and takes the lead in graduate and apprentice recruitment. She currently resides in the Greenwich area with her partner and three children.

 

Leavers over the last 12 months

Louise Rea - Resigned 3 July 2024

Alex Wasik-Hyde - Resigned 1 September 2024

Orla Ralston Resigned 28 November 2024