Governance

/74/headteachers-welcome

"I have been a school governor and trustee at Stratford Academy for over 10 years. Prior to that, I served at Elmhurst Primary School, one of Stratford Academy’s main feeder schools. During this time, I have served on numerous committees and have witnessed significant change, guiding Stratford from a foundation local authority school to academy status. The challenges have been considerable, but we successfully transitioned from two poorly maintained buildings to two newly built, modern schools. I have worked closely with the Head Teacher and board members to achieve the best results for our students, and I remain committed to shaping the school’s educational strategy for the future."

Kim is an experienced executive and non-executive leader with a strong track record across the education and charity sectors. She currently holds board-level roles as Governor and Chair of the Pre-Degree Committee for University of the Arts, London and Vice -Chair of Quality and Standards and Trustee of Orchard College and Academy Trust (OHC&AT). She has been Chair of Southwark College (NCG) and served on the Advisory Board of Big Creative Training.

Kim started her career teaching in secondary schools but moved to tertiary education where she has extensive experience in Post 16 education having held senior leadership roles, including Principal. She has expertise in curriculum and quality development to improve access and inclusion; education and training for those with special educational needs and higher education. Having served as a senior examiner for GCSE and A Level for many years, she became trustee of the awarding organisation, OCN London for 8 years, contributing to their agenda to enable every learner to thrive, especially those who have not previously benefited from education.

Kim has effectively overseen charity governance transitions, helped establish new boards, and led safeguarding oversight. She enjoys singing and acted as Company Secretary of the New London Community Choir, which she established as a charity in partnership with the London Symphony Orchestra. Her leadership is grounded in the Nolan principles and a collaborative, compliance-driven approach.

Mercy Akanimo is an international education specialist  with over 2 decades of experience helping global education providers and students’ recruitment agencies scale their international presence. Currently, she serves as the Chief Commercial Officer at Shabuj Global Education  where she leads a global team of business developers across  UK, Europe,  Africa, South Asia and MENA.

Previously, Mercy Akanimo worked at Global University Systems, where she built the business development team across sub–Saharan Africa  from the ground up, resulting in 23 team members operating across 12 markets  growing revenue for the business from the region.  She specializes in high value education products sales , international education business development ,  and new markets growth.

Mercy Akanimo holds an MBA from the University of Essex, is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management,  is certified by British Council for the promotion of UK education.

Outside of work, she serves at her local parish,  and mentors new aspiring professionals in the international education sector.

Sally's background in anthropology and history underpins her research skills and meticulous approach. A natural connector and promoter, she excels at building relationships and fostering collaboration, honed through years of international experience in Australia, France, Spain, and Tanzania. This global perspective enables her to identify and link diverse concepts and individuals, creating synergistic environments and empathetic connections.

Professionally, Sally is Co-Founder of a skills training provider that uses a blended teaching and coaching pedagogy. With a resourceful and inquisitive nature, Sally brings a researcher's mindset and creative spirit to challenges. She enjoys analysing complex issues, identifying patterns, and developing innovative solutions. She effectively identifies and implements strategies that can empower organisations and individuals to achieve their goals and potential. As an early adopter of technology, driven by her need to stay connected while living abroad, she combines a forward-thinking approach with a strong creative intellect. She consistently seeks novel and effective solutions to challenges.

Sally possesses extensive knowledge of apprenticeships and has authored several books on the subject for The Good Schools Guide, where she worked for over 20 years as the founding Director of their careers arm.

In her spare time, she runs a contemporary art group in London, enjoys working in her garden, plays padel tennis, and spends time with her globally dispersed family.

Wendy joined the Board of Trustees in June 2023, bringing experience of a Trustee role over a five-year period with the Institute of Hospitality. Two years were completed as vice-chair with an additional Ethics and Fellowship committee role undertaken. Chair roles on committees were also carried out for the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management. Wendy brings to the Board of Trustees experience in strategy development and implementation, procurement, people development and project management, which were some of the services provided when running her own consultancy business. Passionate about learning and personal development, as a lifelong learner, Wendy understands the importance of having excellent educational resources, accessible to all.

"My name is Zainab. I am proud to serve as a parent trustee for Stratford school academy. I decided to join the board so I could learn more about the school's progress and to contribute to the continued success of the school. I am committed to supporting an environment where all students have the opportunity to thrive.  I also would like to foster open communication between the parents and the school. I am looking forward to working with all the other trustees, staff members and families."