Christopher Watt was a founding Member of Tove Learning Trust and is Chair of Trustees. Chris has extensive experience of being a governor for over 20 years at Sponne, with 11 years being Chair of Governors. He has seen the school through foundation, trust and then academy status.  Chris was previously Chair of Governors for 5 years at a primary school.  Chris is an active trustee representative on many of the local governing bodies and leads the Chairs of Governors group across the MAT.

Business Experience

• 15 years as director and shareholder of a privately owned corporate finance company. Role included business recovery and restructuring, HR, debt recovery and premises management.
• 5 years as a business recovery specialist.

Tove Learning Trust

• CEO of the MAT leading 7 secondary and 3 primary schools across Northamptonshire, Milton Keynes and a regional hub in the West Midlands.
• Previously CEO of Grace Academy Trust from 2014-2019, leading 3 secondary schools across the West Midlands. Grace Academy merged with Tove Learning Trust in April 2019.
• Leads the strategic vision, growth and development of the trust; collaborating with other academies who share our aims and values.
• Proven track record of school improvement: drives improved outcomes for pupils striving for good or outstanding ratings
• Executive Headteacher at Sponne School, an outstanding academy.

Outcomes at Tove Learning Trust

• Led a team of School Improvement Directors to facilitate improvements in teaching and learning in maths and science, with improved GCSE and A level exam results and P8 scores improving year on year.
• Improved governance structures within academy schools, improving challenge and accountability.
• Implemented core service support to increase financial stability and legal compliance.

Outcomes at Grace Academy

• Improved teaching and learning standards significantly along with student outcomes; all 3 have made strong improvement.
• MAT was performing poorly and it was at risk of closing in 2015 by the DfE.
• Implemented an organisational restructure; appointed key leaders; remodelled the central team; effective structures put in place; financial responsibility and accountability established.
• Student numbers have improved strongly and local reputation of academies have strengthened.
• Supported challenging communities e.g. all have around 55% Pupil premium.
• One Academy had the Secretary of State visit in September 2015 as it was the most improved in the Birmingham area.

 NLE Experience

• NLE work at leadership level, Maths & English support through NSS (National Support School) at Coventry. Impact was that leadership improved in 2013-14, Maths results significantly improved and English went up.
• Worked with two other secondary schools in Northants long term – one for around a year with leadership and Maths support. All had positive impact with improvements in standards; both were through brokering arrangements with the LA.
• Continuing school improvement work with a range of schools demonstrating improvement.
• Consultancy work on Pupil Premium Reviews for schools within the region.

School Experience

• Governor at Primary school level for 10 years.
• Governor at Sponne since 2009. Previously Vice-Chair of Governors at Sponne from 2015 to 2017.
• Chair of Water Hall Primary School Academy Improvement Board.
• Member of TLT Pay and Performance Committee, including oversight of Headteacher Performance Management.
• Headteacher recruitment and selection.
• Safeguarding and safer recruitment experience.

Business Experience

• Works for the NHS supporting children with speech and language difficulties.

Secondary School Experience

• 2018-date: Rushden Academy; Chair of Governors.
• 2012-17: Sponne School governor; chair of Students & Personnel Committee.

Primary School Experience

• Primary School Governor for 8 years including Chair of Governors for 2 years.
• Previously member of various Governing body sub-committees.
• Working with Diocesan Board of Education with regard to church related priorities.
• Recruitment and selection of Headteachers & Senior Leaders.

Business Experience

• Duncan is a qualified lawyer with an extensive background in various legal firms.
• Duncan has been a Managing Partner at Tollers Solicitors since 2011, and established the first Insolvency Business Unit in Tollers.
• Duncan became Head of Tollers Commercial Services Practice in 2008, and was responsible for the performance and direction of all of the Tollers Commercial Business Units, with leadership of Corporate, Commercial, Real Estate, Dispute Resolution, Employment and Insolvency.
• Recognised in ‘The Lawyer Hot 100’ list in the ‘Leaders’ section in 2015

Leadership and Voluntary Community Experience

• Previously Governor of Tresham College (Higher Education) until 2017
• Active runner and cyclist, taking part in marathons and cycled to Paris as charity fundraising challenges.

Professional Memberships

• Member of R3 Midlands Region Committee until 2008

Business Experience

• Thomas is a skilled senior international HR specialist who has worked in various industries and commercial sectors, both for corporate and SME’s. He is passionate about delivering high quality HR services through focusing on HR operations. 
• Specialist HR experience includes: HR Information Systems, HR Administration, Change Management, Outsourcing and Vendor Management, Talent Management, International Reward and Mobility. 
• Thomas is an international executive who speaks three languages. He has a proven track record as a competent project manager, delivering on agreed outputs. Thomas also speaks at conferences.  

Leadership and Voluntary Community Experience

• Leadership roles include Lieutenant in Army, and Senior HR roles. 
• Chair of Governors – Paulerspury Primary 2008 - 2013.
• Charity fundraising – London Marathon (2006), 3 Peaks Challenge (2009), MKMarathon (2014).

Professional Memberships

• Member of the Chartered Institute Personnel and Development (CIPD)
• Member of the British Psychometric Society (BPS)
• Member European Federation of Psychologists Association (EFPA)
• Member of the Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce

Business Experience

• Amit is an IT and Risk Management leader having worked in various senior roles in Information Security, Cyber security, IT risk management, Operational Resilience and in delivering large scale $500m+ IT programmes and projects.
• He has communicated IT issues and risks in business terms at Board level in multiple multi-national organisations. He currently heads up the IT risk, Third Party Risk and Fraud Risk Management area at one of the major banks in the world. 
• Amit has spoken at various international conferences and published papers, chapters in books and articles on Information Security, Peer to peer network security and Trusted computing. 

Leadership and Voluntary Community Experience

• Managing Director level roles in IT at financial institutions, oil and gas and in government.
• Charity fundraising efforts in various charities, keen supporter for Great Ormond Street Hospital and Child Rights and You (CRY) in India.

Professional Memberships

• Certified Information Security Manager and Auditor (CISM and CISA)
• Member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)

Tracy is a strategic leader and as a trustee she brings high level transferable skills to the trust. She has wide ranging project management experience, proficiency in leading people, executing change, and delivering outcomes within budgetary and regulatory frameworks.

Tracy currently works as Head of Operations & Compliance for a Primary Academy Trust where she provides strategic vision and leadership across all operational functions of the multi-academy trust including HR, Payroll, Risk Management, Governance, Facilities, Marketing, H&S, data protection & associated regulatory matters.