Governance
Strong governance is fundamental to the success of Place Partnership. As a Multi Academy Trust, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of accountability, transparency and strategic leadership to ensure every decision supports the best possible outcomes for children and young people across our academies. Place Partnership publishes key governance, statutory and Trust information in line with Department for Education requirements and is committed to operating with openness and integrity.
Members
Members are the guardians of the Trust's constitution and play an important role in safeguarding the vision, values and charitable objectives of Place Partnership. They provide independent oversight of the Trust's governance arrangements, appoint Trustees where required, and help ensure the Trust remains focused on its purpose and long-term sustainability.
While Members do not oversee the day-to-day running of the Trust, they provide an important layer of accountability and assurance, helping to protect the integrity of the organisation.
Richard Stubbs
Previous roles/posts and experience
Professor Richard Stubbs is Chief Executive of Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, leading the NHS, academia and industry to accelerate innovation adoption and drive economic growth.
As one of the most senior UK leaders in health innovation he holds several national and international roles, including sitting on the national commission for the regulation of AI in healthcare. A strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, he co-chairs the NHS Confederation’s BME Leadership Network and has led national work on innovation equity.
Richard is supporting WHO Europe to create a European-wide Public Health Innovation Platform and is a member of the International Hospital Federation’s Global Scientific Committee.
Amongst his local roles he is a member of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Economic Advisory Council and is an Honorary Visiting Professor at both Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Sheffield.
Richard is an ex-student of Maltby Comprehensive School and a former Trustee of the Maltby Learning Trust.
Proposed responsibility
Business, Finance, Leadership and Governance
John Ruane
Previous roles/posts and experience
John works as a Business Analyst within the digital team of a large finance sector organisation and he has previously served as a Governor at Ossett Academy and has carried out various roles such as Training Link Governor, where he assisted the governing body in achieving Governor Mark accreditation. John was a Vice Chair at Ossett School when the initial change to Academy status was implemented.
Proposed responsibility
Business, Finance, Leadership and Governance
Pete Sorsby
Previous roles/posts and experience
Pete’s career has spanned banking and investing focused on the Region’s SME community.
Pete first got to know Maltby Academy back in 2014 through engagement with Rotherham’s Business Growth Board and Chamber of Commerce and their engagement with the education sector, to drive the skills agenda for the area’s employers.
That lead to Pete joining Maltby Academy’s Local Governing Body, subsequently Chairing it, before moving on to a Trustee and now Member role.
Proposed responsibility
Leadership, Business, Finance and Governance
Nick Adams
Previous roles/posts and experience
Nick is Founder and Managing Director of NPA Associates Ltd, a Sales and Marketing Consultancy specialising in Commercial Skills training, Interim Management and Consultancy to clients worldwide. Nick joined the Board of Trustees through the Academy Ambassador Programme in 2016 and later became a Member of the Trust in 2022.
Proposed responsibility
Leadership, Finance, Business and Governance
Charlotte Haigh
Previous roles/posts and experience
Charlotte has worked in higher education for the last 25 years and is currently a Professor of Physiology Education and the Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for Enhancement and Student Experience at the University of Leeds . Charlotte had 6 years’ experience of being a school governor at South Parade Primary School in Ossett. Governor at South Parade Primary School – 2014 to 2020. Member (AMAT) – 2022 to present
Proposed responsibility
Leadership, Education and Governance
Trustees
Trustees are responsible for the strategic leadership and governance of Place Partnership. Working collectively, they ensure that the Trust is financially sustainable, educationally effective and compliant with all statutory and regulatory requirements.
The Board delegates the operational management of the Trust to executive leaders, while retaining responsibility for setting the strategic direction, monitoring performance, overseeing risk and ensuring public funds are used effectively and responsibly.
Andrew Lancashire
Previous roles/posts and experience
Andy has been a strategic transformational leader in Education – with positions including Service Director, Head of Service, Principal Adviser, School Improvement Advisor and Headteacher within complex and diverse local authorities – delivering strong outcomes for children and young people.
Andy has experience of leading teams across a range of services including SEND, School Admissions and Transport, Early Years and School Improvement.
Most recently, Andy held the position of Service Director for Education and Inclusion as part of a highly effective Children’s Services Leadership Team in Wakefield judged ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted in 2021.His role involved delivering change management programmes across Inclusion and SEND, involving key stakeholders and partner organisations.
He is currently the Independent Chair of the Barnsley Schools’ Alliance and delivers training programmes nationally and regionally on behalf of Staff College to Local Authorities.
Andy has worked as a coach and mentor throughout his senior career and brings a wealth of experience to the role of Chair of Trustees.
Proposed role and responsibility
Chair of Trustees; Leadership, Education, Finance, Business, HR, and Governance
Glyn Staves
Previous roles/posts and experience
Glyn joined the Board of the Maltby Learning Trust soon after its inception in 2014. His legal experience and expertise have proved invaluable through numerous legal conversions, disputes, and transactions.
Serving on the Board for over 10 years, Glyn sat in the Vice Chair position until December 2024 when he stepped into the Chair.
Proposed role and responsibility
Chair of Trustees; Leadership, Legal, Finance, Business and Governance
Anita Barnwell
Previous roles/posts and experience
Anita’s previous role involved all aspects of HR, including business transformation and change management across multiple sites and, consequently, she brings a broad understanding of strategic, risk and change management, together with performance and staff management, training, and development.
Proposed role and responsibility
Leadership, Finance, HR and Business
Paul Woodcock
Previous roles/posts and experience
Paul is an experienced Strategic Leader with expertise in asset management and property, with a particular focus on economic development and regeneration. Over many years he has worked in partnership with businesses, managing major building projects, engaging with planning and building control, and overseeing emergency planning and business continuity across a range of sectors.
Proposed role and responsibility
Leadership, Finance, Business, Asset Management, Economic Regeneration and Governance
Michael Clements
Previous roles/posts and experience
With a background spanning senior leadership roles in local government, the NHS, criminal justice and social housing, Michael brings a number of transferable skills to the Board. Michael has volunteered his time to support Governance in several local schools and Trusts, including being a Governor at Horbury Academy. Michael made the move to join the Board of Trustees, with a view to utilising his specific skill set.
Proposed role and responsibility
Leadership, Finance, Audit, Risk, Business, HR and Governance
Emma Peach
Previous roles/posts and experience
Emma has served on all levels of Governance across the Trust and seen the organisation grow from her first joining in 2015. She first joined as a community governor at Ravenfield Primary Academy and then later at Maltby Redwood Academy.
She then stepped onto the Trust Board, bringing expertise in Business, Finance and HR. The blend of financial expertise and people-oriented skills supports her role as Chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk committee.
Proposed role and responsibility
Leadership, Finance, Audit, HR, Business and Governance
Andrew Crossley
Previous roles/posts and experience
Andrew is a Director of Primary Education for an Academy Trust with 28 schools in South Yorkshire and Cambridgeshire. As the director with responsibility for teaching and learning, he leads the Trust’s approach to primary pedagogy.
He sits on a number of governing bodies for both primary and secondary academies and, as a former headteacher and executive headteacher, has a wealth of experience in school improvement and leadership.
Proposed role and responsibility
Leadership, Education and Governance
Dean Fenton
Previous roles/posts and experience
Since retiring from the Council, Dean has worked part-time for a local Multi-Academy Trust as the Trust Risk Manager.
The transferable educational skills, knowledge and experience that Dean has acquired over his career has enabled him to play an active part on the MLT Board, and he is currently the chair of the Standards and Performance committee.
Proposed role and responsibility
Leadership, Education, Risk and Governance
Nicky Parr
Previous roles/posts and experience
Nicky brings over 14 years’ experience in education governance, including serving as Chair of Governors at Wath Academy and holding senior governance roles within the ECM Trust, where she was a Trustee, Vice-Chair and Chair of Resources. She has also supported governance within the Maltby Learning Trust, bringing a strong track record of strategic leadership, financial oversight and effective decision-making.
Alongside her governance experience, Nicky has held senior finance roles with BT and Openreach, developing extensive experience in business transformation, operational delivery and stakeholder engagement. She is passionate about using her professional expertise and governance experience to support Place Partnership Trust in delivering outstanding opportunities and outcomes for its pupils and communities.
Proposed role and responsibility
Leadership, Finance, Audit, Risk, Business Development,
Rachel Denton
Previous roles/posts and experience
More recently, Rachel has led Human Resources and Safeguarding across a local Multi-Academy Trust.
In this part-time role, Rachel has worked closely with the CEO, Trustees and Principals from across the Trust, as well as engaging with external safeguarding partners.
Rachel is the Safeguarding Trustee for MLT and connects with the Trust Strategic Director for Safeguarding and Link Governors for Safeguarding, providing the necessary assurances to the Trust Board around policy and practice.
Trustee (MLT) – 2023 to present.
Proposed role and responsibility
Leadership, Education, HR, Safeguarding and Governance
Jennifer Yaqub
Previous roles/posts and experience
Jennifer is a strategic People & Culture leader with extensive experience across HR, talent acquisition, learning and development, organisational development, business transformation, and commercial operations. Working across the UK and globally, she has led national People functions, aligning workforce and people strategies with business objectives to drive organisational performance, strengthen culture, and support sustainable growth.
With a background in business development, operational leadership, and business ownership, Jennifer brings a strong commercial perspective to people strategy. She has a proven track record of building high-performing teams, developing leadership capability, driving employee engagement, and delivering people initiatives that achieve measurable business outcomes.
Jennifer works closely with Boards and senior leaders to enhance organisational effectiveness, develop future talent, and support long-term success. She brings valuable expertise in governance, people, culture, and organisational performance, offering a balanced perspective shaped by both executive leadership and business ownership
Proposed role and responsibility
Leadership, HR and Business
Mike Dyson
Previous roles/posts and experience
Now retired, Mike worked in the finance industry for almost 40 years, specialising in risk management. Having worked as a senior executive in the Middle East, Mike brings risk management experience, as well as commercial and leadership skills to the Trust.
In 2017, Mike successfully completed the Financial Times non-executive director diploma.
Proposed role and responsibility
Leadership, Business, Finance, Audit, Risk and Governance
Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees brings together individuals with a diverse range of skills, knowledge and experience. The Board works closely with Trust leaders to provide challenge, support and strategic oversight, helping to drive continuous improvement across all academies within Place Partnership.
The Board's key responsibilities include:
- Setting the Trust's strategic vision and priorities.
- Holding executive leaders to account for educational and operational performance.
- Ensuring effective financial management and value for money.
- Monitoring risk, compliance and safeguarding arrangements.
- Promoting strong governance and accountability across the Trust.
Governors
Governors provide local support and challenge to academy leaders, helping to ensure that pupils, families and communities remain at the heart of decision-making. Through their local knowledge and oversight, Governors help monitor school performance and support the delivery of the Trust's vision and priorities
Full information on our Governors can be found on the websites of our academies.
All Members, Trustees and Governors complete an annual declaration of business interests and declare any pecuniary interests within meetings.