This month we say a fond farewell to our Executive Director, Heath Monk.
During his four years as our Executive Director, Heath has implemented many large scale changes across The Foundation. Firstly, he has modernised the Foundation Office, developing a better-equipped operation, in tune with the changing demands of the 21st century. Drawing on previous experience and expertise, Heath has harnessed the potential of our Academy Trust by redeveloping our Admissions Policy to include catchment areas and make it more accessible for disadvantaged Birmingham children to obtain a grammar school education.
Heath has also encouraged increasing collaboration between our Independent, Selective and Non-selective schools whilst also incorporating 3 further schools in Handsworth Grammar School, Handsworth Wood Girls' Academy and Balaam Wood Academy to the Schools of King Edward VI family during his time here.
Patrick Burns, Chair of the Foundation Board comments “Heath's achievements have been little short of Herculean, combining an epic turnaround project with fundamental reconstruction and strategic innovation.”
Tom Rowland, Director of Finance & Operations talks of his time working with Heath: “It has been an absolute pleasure working with Heath over the last three years and his knowledge of the education sector and ability to work with a wide group of stakeholders has taught me a great deal. Heath’s passion for the Foundation’s overarching mission of making Birmingham the best place to be educated in the UK, and in particular his commitment to making our schools more accessible and representative of the communities they serve, has been a real inspiration. He, like all of us, has his faults – his continued support for West Ham United is unfathomable and he has on occasion been a sore loser on the fairways of Moseley Golf Club – but for his humour, dedication and leadership Heath will be sorely missed.”
As Heath leaves to become CEO of The British School in the Netherlands we are sad to see him go, but we wish him and his family every happiness and success in their new life in The Netherlands.
During his four years as our Executive Director, Heath has implemented many large scale changes across The Foundation. Firstly, he has modernised the Foundation Office, developing a better-equipped operation, in tune with the changing demands of the 21st century. Drawing on previous experience and expertise, Heath has harnessed the potential of our Academy Trust by redeveloping our Admissions Policy to include catchment areas and make it more accessible for disadvantaged Birmingham children to obtain a grammar school education.
Heath has also encouraged increasing collaboration between our Independent, Selective and Non-selective schools whilst also incorporating 3 further schools in Handsworth Grammar School, Handsworth Wood Girls' Academy and Balaam Wood Academy to the Schools of King Edward VI family during his time here.
Patrick Burns, Chair of the Foundation Board comments “Heath's achievements have been little short of Herculean, combining an epic turnaround project with fundamental reconstruction and strategic innovation.”
Tom Rowland, Director of Finance & Operations talks of his time working with Heath: “It has been an absolute pleasure working with Heath over the last three years and his knowledge of the education sector and ability to work with a wide group of stakeholders has taught me a great deal. Heath’s passion for the Foundation’s overarching mission of making Birmingham the best place to be educated in the UK, and in particular his commitment to making our schools more accessible and representative of the communities they serve, has been a real inspiration. He, like all of us, has his faults – his continued support for West Ham United is unfathomable and he has on occasion been a sore loser on the fairways of Moseley Golf Club – but for his humour, dedication and leadership Heath will be sorely missed.”
As Heath leaves to become CEO of The British School in the Netherlands we are sad to see him go, but we wish him and his family every happiness and success in their new life in The Netherlands. 
