LOCAL GOVERNING BODY OF WARDEN PARK SECONDARY ACADEMY

INTRODUCTION

Warden Park Secondary Academy is for young people aged from 11-16 based in Cuckfield, West Sussex. The Academy operates as an independent school maintained by government funding. Parents do not pay fees.

MEET OUR GOVERNORS

Jonathan Ash-Edwards (Chair)

EXPERIENCE, SKILLS SET AND EXPERTISE

I currently serve as Chair of the Local Governing Body for Warden Park Secondary Academy and have over ten years of school governance experience across primary and secondary phases. As a former Warden Park student, I know the academy well and am committed to ensuring students have the very best opportunities to succeed.

I led the Board’s decision to convert Warden Park to academy status and establish Sussex Learning Trust. Since being Chair of Governors, governance has twice been rated as ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted. In April 2016, I was appointed by the Department for Education as a National Leader of Governance, a role which involves supporting Chairs of Governors in other schools and carrying out external reviews of governance. This role is part of the Government’s drive to give schools a central role in developing a self-improving and sustainable school led system.

As well as experience running a small business, I have been the Leader of Mid Sussex District Council, where I had responsibility for giving strategic direction and leadership to the local authority. My portfolio responsibilities included financial management, budget setting, performance management and estates.

Kevin Dean (Staff-nominated Governor)

EXPERIENCE, SKILLS SET AND EXPERTISE

I am a science teacher at Warden Park and also the staff-nominated Governor. 

Before joining the teaching profession, I was a research scientist working within the university sector but left the lab to complete a PGCE in 1997 and I have been a teacher ever since. I have worked at 4 different  state schools in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and in Essex and have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to take on a  range of roles from Year Leader, Head of Science and working within  SLT teams where I focused on teaching and learning and leading 6th form teams. Most recently I have had two years working abroad in Romania, where I got to work with students in Bucharest who were learning through an English curriculum. 

I have been lucky enough to have worked alongside some outstanding colleagues and to have taught wonderful students. I am so pleased to now live and work in beautiful Sussex, which is where my two children live and work, and to be part of the Warden Park team. Having taught for a very long time and gained a wide range of experience it is only right that I apply them to help support a school that is a happy place to work in and which strives so hard to support student development.

Sarmad Hashemi

Dom Kenrick (Headteacher)

EXPERIENCE, SKILLS SET AND EXPERTISE

My teaching career has been based in Sussex and prior to my arrival at Warden Park Secondary Academy I worked as a senior leader in three schools, most recently as Deputy Headteacher at Steyning Grammar School.

As a school boy sport was my passion and the opportunities I had at school helped steer me into university where I trained as a PE teacher. New opportunities here opened up as a judge in Sports Acrobatics and I had the enormous privilege of judging for Great Britain at European and World Championships.

Nolan Mortimer

EXPERIENCE, SKILLS SET AND EXPERTISE

I am a Partner in a national law firm where (amongst other things) I formulate strategy, approach things with a “can do” attitude and lead teams to success. Much of my recent work is operational and involves continually improving the business whilst trying to implement and drive change.

Throughout the many years I have lived in Mid-Sussex I have also been involved in the governance of local sporting clubs. In each of those roles I have sought to encourage participation in sports by young people, which I think is a hugely important part in building both confidence and life skills.

I have 2 young children (one currently at Warden Park) and we are lucky enough to live in Cuckfield.

I am keen to see young people achieve their ambitions and go on to do great things and appreciate the opportunity to input into their learning journey.

Gabrielle Stewart

EXPERIENCE, SKILLS SET AND EXPERTISE

I began my professional journey as a Social Worker and throughout my career have remained particularly focused upon people and the psychology of human behaviour. Having then adjusted my psychology experience to financial crime, I set up and managed a business for a number of years specialising in deception and insurance fraud. I now enjoy being a Foster Mum (to a current student of WPSA) and am a photographer, which has always been my passion. I also work with West Sussex County Council in supporting and training Foster Carers in Therapeutic Parenting.

Whilst my career choices have been a little varied, they have all focused on people, efficiency, being curious and listening. I hope to bring these skills to WPSA in my governor role and support the academy to be the best it can be for its many students. 

Rob Stoneley (Vice Chair)

EXPERIENCE, SKILLS SET AND EXPERTISE

I retired from Warden Park Secondary Academy in August 2018 having spent my entire teaching career, 38 years, at the school. I started in September 1980 teaching history primarily and some PE. I have a lot of experience in all school and educational matters having served as a Curriculum Leader, Head of Pastoral Care, Senior Teacher, Assistant Head Teacher, Deputy Head Teacher and Head of School. I am well known and respected within the local community having taught and worked with in excess of 12000 students.

It is an honour for me to maintain my association with the Academy and Sussex Learning Trust in the role of Governor. 

Retirement has given me the opportunity and time to pursue my hobbies and interests. I play golf regularly. I have 3 lovely grandchildren. I own a touring caravan and enjoy weekends away with my wife throughout the year in addition to foreign travel. 

Gregg Scutt (Parent/carer-nominated Governor)

EXPERIENCE, SKILLS SET AND EXPERTISE

Biography to follow.

Edward Upsdell

EXPERIENCE, SKILLS SET AND EXPERTISE

I have had a 30-year career in investment management covering the full spectrum of buy side and sell side activities from money management through client management via sales, product development and governance and am a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Securities and Investments. I am also a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society having recently obtained a PhD in Astrophysics where I studied the X-ray characteristics of galaxy clusters in order to constrain our understanding of the origins of the Universe. 

I had the good fortune of an international upbringing and sat the International Baccalaureate at school and am thus firmly, from first hand experience, bought into the benefits of a broad and rounded education.

I have three daughters; two currently at Warden Park whilst the eldest has moved on to college.

As a governor, I will always strive to ensure Warden Park offers our students the very best of opportunities.

SUSSEX LEARNING TRUST VIDEO LIBRARY

If you have visited this page,  you are probably interested to hear more about the workings of Sussex Learning Trust? What our values are that drive our work, how we organise ourselves to deliver the best for the children and to see and hear what some of our staff have to say about the Trust in which they work and serve the children.

Hopefully the video library will provide such information.

We suggest you start with 'Introducing SLT' but otherwise feel free to view those videos that are of most interest to you.

If you are still left with questions please do not hesitate to contact jmorris@sussexlearningtrust.co.uk. 

Policies

Constitution and register of interests of Local Governing Body for Warden Park Secondary Academy

Register of Interests for WPSA Senior Leadership Team

MINUTES OF MEETINGS:  COPIES OF MINUTES OF LOCAL GOVERNING MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST FROM THE CLERK TO THE LOCAL GOVERNING BODY

For enquiries or matters to be directed to the Local Governing Body of Warden Park Secondary Academy, please contact the Clerk

Contact the Clerk: click here

Contact the Chair of the Local Governing Body: click here

Warden Park Secondary Academy is part of Sussex Learning Trust.  The constitutional documents of Sussex Learning Trust, including the Articles of Association, Scheme of Delegation and Annual Report and Accounts, are available to view on the Sussex Learning Trust website click here