Governance

A message from David Evans, Chair of Trustees :

All Trustees of Alderbrook School are unpaid volunteers who play a crucial role in helping students reach their full potential. Trustees support the Headteacher, the Senior Leadership Team and staff by sharing their diverse expertise and experience, offering valuable insights, celebrating successes and learning lessons from any setbacks. While we do not play any direct role in day-to-day management or make decisions that require teaching expertise, we work closely with the school through committees and scheduled visits to help guide key decisions and ensure accountability to the community. My background was in Further Education and financial training, and I’ve been a trustee of Alderbrook for over fifteen years. I’m also Chair of Solihull Symphony Orchestra, and a committed lifelong learner – I sat Classical Greek GCSE at the school this summer!

It’s a great honour to have been elected Chair, and I’d like to pay particular tribute to my predecessor Annette Scott for her nearly twenty years of selfless service. She has left a proud legacy to follow. I look forward to working alongside Annette and my fellow Trustees in supporting a thriving school that continues to grow and adapt to the changing needs of the locality.

Contact with the Chair should be made through the Governance Professional – Claire Hawkes on s201chawkes@alderbrook.solihull.sch.uk

Governance Information

Please click on each name to open the ‘pen-portrait’ of each of the ABK Trustees.

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Tom Beveridge - Headteacher

David Evans - Chair of Board Trust

Suha Ahmed - Trustee

Jane Benton - Trustee

Dimple Chauhan - Parent Trustee

Kevin Cheung - Parent Trustee

As a Parent Trustee at Alderbrook School, I bring a passionate commitment to supporting the educational development and well-being of every student. With a vested interest as a parent, I am deeply invested in the school’s long-term success and the provision of an inclusive, nurturing environment for all.

My role involves collaborating with fellow trustees, teachers, and staff to shape the school’s strategic direction, ensuring that the policies and practices reflect the needs of both students and their families.

With a background in Business Development and Management, I am equipped with strong problem-solving skills and a collaborative mindset, which I use to foster positive relationships between the school and families, always working toward a brighter, more successful future for the students of Alderbrook School.

Dave Hawkins - Trustee

Gurpreet Flora - Trustee

Martin Gollogly - Parent Trustee

Tarandeep Khehra - Trustee

Working in the public sector I understand the challenges and I was looking for an opportunity to understand strategic leadership and how they aim to tackle some of those challenges.

I have experience with safeguarding through my line of work and can bring a unique perspective, being a critical friend to the senior leadership team.

As father I have a vested interest education and understand some of challenges faced by children today.

I have previous experience of training in adult education settings and understand the need to create an inclusive environment, which is where learning will thrive.

Roger Leith - Chair of Business Management Committee

I have served on the governing board of Alderbrook for around 25 years, having started as a parent governor and staying on as a community trustee.

I am retired from a long and varied career in telecommunications, where I began as an apprentice and retired at consultant level with an honour’s degree in computer science. Through my career I developed a range of skills including performance management, interviewing job applicants, complex project management, team leadership, customer and supplier relationships, quality management, technical auditing, health and safety, software and service support and development.

I am married with 3 children, 2 grandsons. I volunteer at a local charity shop, and I am the secretary / treasurer of the Marjorie Willis Educational Foundation.

Seamus Murrin - Trustee

I’m a Technology Manager and manage an operations team, which is responsible for a set of critical applications in the production environment. I have over 20+ years’ experience in IT working across various financial institutions.

My experience in building a global team from the ground up has taught me the importance of understanding different cultures and individual’s characteristics to ensure that I get the best out of the team. I have learned skills such as planning, risk management, team leadership and problem solving all of which I think would be extremely useful for this role. I also believe I will personally gain additional experience and be able to expand my own skills further, working and learning from experienced trustees and the school’s leadership team.

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family, running and the occasional game of chess

Ann Perks - Chair of Curriculum and Staffing Committee

Having taught here for 22 years, I felt that this experience, together with my knowledge of Alderbrook, could usefully contribute to the role of Trustee and support the Board’s work in steering the future development of the school.

I’ve lived in the local area for over 30 years and appreciate, as a parent and teacher, how important good schools are to the people who live here. Retirement provides an opportunity to devote the necessary time to the role.

I’m delighted to be in a position now to give something back in the place where I spent a happy and fulfilling career. Most importantly, I’m able to continue to participate in the ongoing and future success of Alderbrook School.

Kelly Pougher - Vice Chair of Trust Board

Annette Scott - Chair of Risk and Audit Committee