The Eveleigh LINK Academy Trust Directors/Trustees | The Eveleigh LINK Academy Trust

The Eveleigh LINK Academy Trust

for attendance at meetings please refer to the Annual Trustees' report

Directors/Trustees

Mr Rupert Baker - DOA 16th May 2016

Mr Bret Hawkins - DOA 1st July 2023

Mrs Jean Wells - DOA 1st July 2023

Mr Tim Woods - DOA 5th March 2020

Tim has been a school Governor for 14 years, at a school outside of The Eveleigh LINK Academy Trust. During his time as a school Governor, he has used his experience of the business world to support and challenge the school to ensure that each child achieves the best they can. He does this by applying the same principles that he would when running a successful business.

Currently, Tim is the chair the Curriculum and Standards committee which covers issues related to the content of the Curriculum and how it is delivered, how pupils are assessed and the standards that are achieved. As chair, he supports the Headteacher in setting ambitious targets for each year group and monitoring performance against these targets. He is married to a teacher, a father to two girls, and have been a Company Director for many years. During his spare time, he plays golf or walks his two dogs.

Mrs Sharon Roots - DOA 9th December 2019

Mr Joseph Figg CEO - DOA 1st April 2014

Joseph began his teaching career in 2001 and worked at Great Berry Primary School in Basildon for five years. During his time at Great Berry he taught Year 4 for two years and Year 6 for three. He became Year 5 & 6 Phase Leader after 2 years and was Key Stage Two Leader during his final year at Great Berry. In 2006 he was promoted to Deputy Headteacher of Perryfields Junior School in Chelmsford and taught Year 5 & 6. During his three years the school he enhanced the assessment proceedures, improved teaching and learning and revised the curriculum. In 2009 Joseph was promoted to Headteacher of Purleigh Community Primary School. Within three years the school was graded as 'Outstanding' by Ofsted. In 2012 Joseph supported Messing-cum-Inworth Primary School and ensured that the school was removed from special measures. During 2013 he worked with his governors at Purleigh to create The Eveleigh LINK Academy Trust and in September 2013 became Executive Headteacher of Purleigh Primary School and Meadgate Primary School. Meadgate was placed in special measures in January 2013 and with Joseph's support and guidance was removed within twelve months and was graded as a 'Good' School. He is an Ofsted inspector and this has given him a positive insight into school inspections. Joseph was recently awarded National Leader of Education (NLE) status. He is passionate about school-to-school support and working within a multi-academy trust allows schools to do this.

Joseph is married with three children and enjoy spending his free time playing cricket and golf as well family holidays.

Mrs Sara Kightley - DOA 1st September 2014

Sara qualified at St Matthias College, Bristol and Anglia Ruskin University in Chelmsford. After a career-break in accountancy and consumer credit she returned to teaching in 1989 and after 8 years in the state sector at Barnes Farm Junior School, Chelmsford she joined New Hall Preparatory School in 1997 where she taught Key Stage 2 for 14 years, latterly as Deputy Headteacher prior to her retirement in 2011. She continued there as a supply teacher (EYFS to end of Key Stage 2) until 2020.

In 2014 she completed the Chairs of Governors’ Leadership Development Programme under the auspices of the National College for Teaching & Leadership. She is regularly refreshing her education skillset focusing on Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment.

Sara has been a governor of Meadgate Primary School for over 13 years and in her six years as Chair led the Governing Body through the inevitability of requiring special measures and the rapid recovery plan to Good in just thirteen months! She was the first Chair of Maltese Road Primary and is currently a governor of Maltese Road and Larkrise Primaries and Interim Chair of Tiptree Heath. She is a governor of Messing Primary and a Director of New Hall Multi Academy Trust, Messing’s private sector sponsor.

In 2014, Sara was appointed as a Director and Trustee of The Eveleigh Link Academy Trust and became its Chair in 2016. She has led the Board through a period of significant and continuing growth and is privileged to work alongside the CEO and his Executive Leadership Team. Recruiting and retaining the best school leaders and peer group trustees are among her top priorities. She has been instrumental in forming the Trustee Nomination Committee and also sits on the Audit & Risk, Standards and Pay Committees.

Sara is married to David with two grown-up daughters, one in primary education, and interests other than education include walking, gardening, reading, quizzing and equine activities - her lifelong passion!

Mrs Susan Randall - DOA 10th January 2019

Sue Randall has been teaching since 1977, with just a short break when her two sons were young. She presently teachers at Finchingfield C of E Primary School.

For the greater part of her career Sue taught in the Pre-Prep at Felsted School, but before that she was head of music in a comprehensive school in Romford, a year 5 and 6 teacher, in charge of extracurricular activities at Bulphan Village School and a reception teacher at a church school in Ealing.

Sue loves working with children, especially discovering their strengths and using them to develop their confidence in the areas in which they are less self-assured.

In her spare time Sue visits her father and is the secretary of the David Randall Foundation.