We are making some changes to our Foundation Leadership for April and September 2024. For some time, in order to further its mission to improve education in Birmingham, the Foundation has been increasing the level of collaboration between its schools, improving the support offered to them and enhancing the processes of accountability for them.
At the heart of the changes is the principle that that the Foundation’s mission must be driven educationally and that organisational structures must be as efficient and effective as possible in order to allow the maximum amount of resource to go to educational activity and supporting pupils. The purpose of these changes is to create an efficient structure which maintains and develops an ongoing dialogue and accountability, with strong strategic leadership.
In terms of timing, the Cluster Leads will begin their roles in September 2024, which is when the Executive Committee will be formed. All other changes to Foundation Office departments will take place from April 2024.
There are no additional costs to the Foundation Office staffing budget or to schools as a result of these changes. All appointments have been through a robust selection process.
Executive Committee
As of September 2024, the executive leadership of the Foundation and Academy Trust will be steered by an Executive Committee (EC), unifying educational, strategic and operational executive leadership across the Foundation. The Foundation Education Group will continue to contribute to educational policy. The Executive Committee structure will be:
The newly formed Executive for the first time will bring experienced senior leaders together from across the Academy Trust, the Independent Schools and the central team with clear responsibilities covering all the Foundation’s activities.
Education
Julie Waddington will continue to lead educational strategy for the Foundation as Director of Education, managing the existing Foundation Education department, leading school improvement, quality assurance and educational development and coordinating the work of the existing Education Department, Foundation Leaders of Education and Subject Research Leads. She will chair Cluster Lead meetings.
Kirsty von Malaisé will become Headmaster of the Foundation in September, chairing the Foundation Education Group (FEG).
Becky Elcocks, Matt Brady and Karen Stevens will take on the roles of Cluster Leads, each coordinating the work of a cluster of schools. These are two-year, 0.4 secondments to the Foundation Office, with the three individuals remaining substantive headteachers of their respective schools.
Northern Cluster
Cluster Lead: Matt Brady
KE VI Aston School
KE VI Handsworth School for Girls
KE VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys
KE VI Handsworth Wood Girls’ Academy
Central Cluster
Cluster Lead: Karen Stevens
KE VI Camp Hill School for Boys
KE VI Camp Hill School for Girls
KE VI King’s Norton School for Boys
KE VI Lordswood School for Girls
Southern Cluster
Cluster Lead: Becky Elcocks
KE VI Balaam Wood Academy
KE VI Five Ways School
KE VI Sheldon Heath Academy
KE VI Northfield School for Girls
The key responsibilities of the Cluster Leads will be:
- Setting a strategic plan for the cluster grounded in the Foundation Strategy
- Initiating and executing a plan for the effective use of resources, human and otherwise, across the cluster
- Within a framework set by the Director of Education, coordinating school improvement and educational development activities across the cluster
- Ensuring the Foundation Strategy KPIs are met
- Supporting and challenging the Headteachers in regular performance conversations
- Supporting the Chairs of School Governing Bodies in exercising their accountability
- Participating in Headteacher appraisal
- Contributing to organisation-wide strategy through being a part of the Foundation’s Executive Committee
- Supporting Foundation-wide initiatives
People and Systems
Sarah Cunningham will take on the role of Chief People and Systems Officer, creating a new department overseeing HR and digital and data systems to transform ways of working and develop a culture of one organisation.
Ather Abbas will become Director of Digital, Data and Transformation, responsible for the strategic design and operational use of digital systems, learning applications, cyber security and digital safeguarding, network and infrastructure, data, devices and hardware in order to transform operations and improve efficiency and collaboration.
Finance and Estates
Greg Langston will take on the role of Chief Finance Officer, with responsibility for Finance, Procurement and Estates, ensuring a coordinated approach between the financial and physical resources and planning of the organisation and an integration of strategic estates asset and financial planning with a focus on infrastructure development.
Strategic Management
Grace Cousens will lead a new department as Director of Strategic Management, overseeing Risk and Compliance, Governance and Strategic Projects in order to ensure strong organisational processes and strategic and operational management. Within this department, Deb Canton remains as Head of Governance and Jeni Butler becomes Head of Strategic Projects, including Growth. A Risk and Policy Manager will be appointed in due course to replace the former role of Head of Risk and Compliance.
External Relations
Jo Bullock, in her role as Director of External Relations, will take on the oversight of the Foundation’s admissions and participation responsibilities, alongside all marketing and communications and the Archive, supported by Amy Hannah as Head of Engagement.
