The Oak Trust

Our Trustees

The Role of Trustees

The Trustees have ultimate responsibility for the Academies and the Trust.  They are responsible for governing a charitable company and directing how it is managed and run and to ensure that the Trust complies with all legal and statutory requirements. The Board of Trustees manages the business of the Trust and focuses on the three core functions of governance;

  • Strategic leadership – defining the vision, fostering the trust’s culture and setting the strategy.
  • Accountability and assurance – robust and effective oversight of trust operations and performance.
  • Engagement – strategic oversight of relationships with stakeholders, ensuring decision-making is supported by meaningful engagement.

 

The Trust Board works closely with the senior executive leaders who are responsible for the day-to-day operational management of the Trust and its Academies.  Trustees are responsible for;

  • Determining the mission, values, and long-term ambitious vision for the Trust
  • Deciding the principles that guide Trust policies and approving key policies.
  • Appointing and appraising the senior executive leader and making pay recommendations.
  • Working with senior leaders to develop a strategy for achieving the vision.
  • Ensuing that stakeholders are involved, consulted, and informed as appropriate.
  • Ensuring that all academies in the Trust deliver a broad and balanced curriculum such that students are well prepared for the next stage of their education and life.
  • Taking ownership of the Trust’s financial sustainability and ensuring effective resource management across the Trust.
  • Agreeing that the Trust’s staffing structure and keeping it under review to ensure it supports delivery of the strategy.
  • Ensuring robust risk management policy and procedures are in place and that risk control measures are appropriate and effective.

 

Our Trustees

Iain Windeatt (Chair of Trust Board)

 

Lisa Brierley

I started as a North Chadderton parent governor many years ago and I was involved in the journey to become a multi-academy trust. The Oak Trust was established in Oct 2017 which brought into the fold, Fir Bank and Thorp Primary schools.  It has been wonderful to see the vision playing out, creating a seamless high quality learning journey from early years to 18, ensuring children are school ready, work ready and life ready. I am passionate about enabling all children to have a happy, successful and fulfilling learning experience, a place where they can thrive and achieve whatever they want too.  

Prof Rachel Cowen

Both of my sons attend Schools in the Oak Trust, and I am proud to be Chair of Firbank Local Advisory Committee and Chair of the Oak Trust Curriculum and Standards Committee. My aim is to support and challenge the Trust to ensure that all children have equity of access to a high-quality education and to learn in an environment that enables them to be themselves, to thrive and reach their full potential.

As a Professor at the University of Manchester with responsibility for advancing equality I hope that an education in the Oak Trust will be a springboard to a fulfilling life and successful career and that our alumni make a positive difference to society.

 

Lisa Needham

Lisa Needham has worked in mainstream primary schools in Oldham for over 30 years. She has had over 15 years of Executive Leadership within two MATs (Focus Trust and now Kingfisher Learning trust). She led Roundthorn Primary School through two Ofsted inspections receiving Satisfactory in October 2007 and then Outstanding in 2011 and Coppice Primary School taking the school from Serious Weaknesses to receiving a judgement of Good in 2015. Lisa’s leadership is impactful in terms of academic outcomes and personal development and wellbeing of all learners including staff and parents. She is now leading the rapid journey of improvement at Medlock Valley Primary School.

As Deputy CEO at Kingfisher Learning Trust Lisa is the strategic lead for Educational Excellence. She has a strong moral imperative and a very clear vision that ensures that children receive the very best education. She is driven by a commitment that all children, regardless of their starting point, will learn more and achieving more.

As an executive coach, she is passionate about developing and preparing current and future leaders to bring about positive and impactful improvements within and beyond their settings. She is a dedicated and hardworking system leader (LLE and Executive Leader) who strongly believes that improvements come about through collaboration. Lisa was a Commissioner on the Oldham Education and Skills Commission, helped with the development of the Oldham Partnership Board and sits on the Oldham Primary Heads Executive. 

 

Major Eddy Hardaker

I am currently serving as a member of the British Army and have been involved in education for many years. I have experience as both a Primary School Governor and Chair of Governors as well as serving as a member of the Local Advisory Committee for North Chadderton School. Having served for two terms as the Governance Professional for the Oak Trust I was appointed as a Trustee in September 2024.

Within the military I am employed as a Director of Human Resources, and I also act as an Internal Auditor of both Public and Non-Public funds for the MOD. Enthusiastic about helping others I am heavily involved in various local charities, and I serve on a variety of Veterans Committees across Oldham.

I live local and have a granddaughter who attends North Chadderton School. I am passionate about contributing to the development of young people to give them life experiences so that they will be successful in whatever they do in life. I commit to giving 100% and more in my role as a Trustee and will challenge and contribute to the organisation as needed.

 

Paul Nutter

 

Judith Rainford

My ties and commitment to the Oak Trust go back a long way….

I have lived in the local community for over thirty years, with all three of my children taking their education journeys through St Matthew’s CE Primary School and North Chadderton. I am passionate about providing the very best opportunities for our children, both within school and reaching out to the local area and beyond as they flourish in our care.

Indeed, I taught at St Matthew’s (then Chadderton Hall Junior School) for nine years, and regularly see around the amazing young people that our local schools helped produce. It is with great pride that I not only taught in the community but also served as a governor at North Chadderton School for over twenty years. I am now a Trustee of the Oak Trust, committed fully to working with our two primary schools and reaching out to work with other schools as the growth of multi-academy trusts evolves.

In my professional life, I am currently head teacher of a 2-form entry primary school in Rochdale, and Diocesan Director of Education for the Watergrove Trust. Prior to this, I worked for nine years as an education advisor for Rochdale School Improvement Service.

 

Rob Hollingsworth 

 

Zhara Parveen

With over 12 years NHS experience, I am an ACCA professional Accountant at NHS Greater Manchester ICB (Oldham). My current role involves monitoring the financial spend of mental health in young children.

In addition to working full-time I am a mother to three girls. Two of my daughters attend Schools in the Oak Trust. My aim is to help support and challenge the Trust. To ensure that all children are inspired and motivated to learn, which will lead to significant improvement in their academic performance and personal growth.

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