Interim Executive Board
As you know, from September Rossett School has been part of the Red Kite Learning Trust. We are delighted to welcome Rossett as a partner in our Trust and want to do all we can to support Mr Milburn and his team. We all share a desire to make Rossett a happy and successful place for our students and staff.
To help us ensure the school makes rapid progress towards its ambitious aims we have set up an ‘Interim Executive Board’ (IEB) as a temporary replacement for the ‘Local Governing Body’ we would normally have in our Trust schools. The IEB is a relatively small group, with strong educational and governance expertise, working with the Headteacher and leadership team to support rapid improvement. Following the next Ofsted Inspection, we will look to build back the Local Governing Body and hold elections for parent representatives to serve on the Board.
An IEB is set up by the Trust Board and Trustees continue to have legal responsibility for the school. The Trustees receive regular updates on the work of the IEB and several members of the IEB are themselves Trustees.
The IEB will be made very aware of the views of parents through surveys and feedback collected by the leadership team. Mr Milburn and the Chair of the IEB, Mr Ian Foy, are both very keen to ensure that parent and student voices are heard as they guide the school to a bright new future. Mr Foy is a former Rossett Parent, and you will know that, as a former Rossett student himself, Mr Milburn has a deep commitment to helping the school reach new hights.
You will find below details of the IEB members and if at any time you wish to raise any issues with them you can do so by contacting the school at office@rs.rklt.co.uk or 01423 564444.
Richard Sheriff, OBE
CEO – Red Kite Learning Trust
Please click here for a copy of the letter from Mr Sheriff
CHAIR – MR IAN FOY
Ian is an experienced financial services executive with over 25 years’ leadership experience. He has worked extensively across the UK and also internationally. His most recent role was as Managing Director of Age UK’s Community Interest Company. Past roles have included Managing Director for home, motor & specialist lines for Aviva UK; Chief Executive Officer of Equity Insurance Group, a leading UK motor insurer and broker; Chief Executive Officer of IAG NZ (New Zealand’s largest general insurer) and member nominated director of a major pension scheme. Ian also chairs Cambridge Judge Business School Executive Education Limited and is a Non-Executive Director of a local housing association. Ian has worked with our Trust as Chair for both Rossett Acre and Whitkirk Primary schools.
MR KEVIN PAYNES
Having previously held leadership roles including Head of Post-16 Education and Deputy Headteacher in a large secondary school in Bradford, he became an adviser within the School Improvement Service in Leeds where he led the secondary team in their work to monitor, support and challenge schools across the city. In addition, Kevin had the strategic overview of the developing traded arm of the wider 0-19 learning improvement team and, latterly, took on the role of Head of ArtForms Music and Music Hub lead in Leeds. As he moves into semi-retirement, Kevin expects to devote more time to music-related work. Kevin has recently retired after 35 years in the world of education.
DR MICHAEL MADDISON
Michael is an independent educational consultant with particular expertise in leadership and management and the curriculum. He served as one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools from 2006 to 2015 and for eight of these years he was also National Lead for history at Ofsted. Before this, Michael taught history and politics for over 25 years in schools across Yorkshire. During this period, he was also a senior examiner and moderator at both GCSE and A level. He has served as deputy president of the Historical Association and is now an associate vice president and honorary fellow of that organisation. He is also a fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and a member of that society’s Education Policy Committee. Michael is also a director of the Heritage Education Trust and a judge for the Sandford Award for Heritage Education.
MR MIKE ROPER
Mike is currently the Headteacher at Allerton Grange school in North East Leeds. He has 25 years of Senior Leadership experience in secondary schools in London, North Yorkshire and Leeds. For 13 years he was Headteacher in Selby in Leeds. He is a Facilitator for the National Professional Qualification for Headteachers. Mike is currently Chair of the North East Leeds Area Inclusion Partnership, a member of the Red Kite Alliance Steering Committee and a member of the Secondary Headteacher reference group for the Department for Education.
MS ERICA HIORNS
Erica joined Red Kite Learning Trust from September 2023 as Director of Secondary Education. She is committed to improving the life chances of children in Leeds and Harrogate by ensuring they receive a high-quality education in the schools in our trust which is underpinned by ethical leadership. Her particular interest is in raising the achievement of disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND.
After gaining a degree in English and French, Erica took a PGCE and qualified to teach both subjects; however, she also taught a range of other subjects including Spanish, Law, IT and PE. Erica spent 25 years as a secondary teacher, the last eleven as a senior leader and then joined the School Improvement Team in Leeds where she worked with school leaders in Leeds for 10 years. Erica is a practising Ofsted inspector.
