Meet the Directors (ID 1068)

• Rob Smith
  Chair of the board of Directors 17 Oct 2021 - 16 Oct 2025
  Rob Smith

  I am a reader in Education at Birmingham City University. I have taught in Birmingham schools, colleges and higher education institutions for 25 years. I trained as a secondary English teacher and I was teaching at Holt Schools in Lozells when the National Curriculum was introduced.

  In 2012, I co-founded the Centre for Research and Development in Lifelong Education at the University of Wolverhampton. I am a staunch believer in comprehensive education as a basis for every young person achieving excellence. I also believe in the necessity of pursuing a multicultural ethos. My body of work explores the impact of funding and marketisation on Further Education provision in England. I have researched and written extensively in collaboration with FE and HE practitioners.

  Recent articles include: Rob Smith (2015) College Re-culturing, Marketisation and Knowledge: The Meaning of Incorporation, Journal of Educational Administration and History, Smith, R. and O'Leary, M. (2015) Partnership as Cultural Practice in the Face of Neoliberal Reform, Journal of Educational Administration and History.

• David Brown
  Director 10 Dec 2019 - 09 Dec 2023
  David Brown

  David is a specialist Interim CEO supporting Trusts. He has supported Trusts to grow as well as acting on behalf of a DfE Intervention Board to deal with highly significant financial challenges. He was described by ESFA in 2019 as an 'experienced specialist in turning around failed trusts'.

  David has worked as a national policy adviser, an Executive Director of Education and Children's Services, an Executive Headteacher several times, and the Chief Executive of an Academy Trust. Throughout his career he has been focused upon the improvement of challenging and high profile urban schools and larger structural change solutions in the sector and beyond.

  Educated at his local state school in Birmingham UK, he has an Economics degree and MA from Cambridge University, an MBA in Education (International) and qualified in teaching at the renowned Institute of Education, London. David has been a Visiting Professor and Visiting Fellow at UK universities.

  From his first Headship he has led and supported many schools, all of them in deprived areas or challenging circumstances. He has helped schools to achieve top 5% nationally/most improved schools on several occasions from 2001 to 2016 across many different assessment measures. He was one of the first phase of Executive Headteachers in the UK and has written about executive leadership across schools.

  David was Chair of the West Midlands UK Directors of Children's Services and Education and as Director led the procurement of the largest public-private education contract in Europe in 2008. In the same year the local authority was in the top 10 local authorities for improvement at both GCSE and Primary results.

  As a pioneer in the trending world of Executive Headship, he has worked with universities, central and local government, faith groups and charities whilst still leading challenging schools himself. David was national adviser on education for the Church of England and the Secretariat for the Church of England's 'Church School of the Future Report'.

  David is a regular public speaker including at the Houses of Parliament and Tjanjin, China, and has written extensively on change and improvement. He has experience of schools in South Sudan, Brazil, India, China and USA in March 2017 was a member of the first FCO UK Trade Mission to Kyrgyzstan on behalf of Cambridge University Press Education Reform.

• Surinder Buray
  Director 17 Oct 2021 - 16 Oct 2025
  Surinder Buray

  I have been a Governor at the Trust for over 26 years, having held office as Member (current), Director (current), Chair of Directors for 3 years, Chair of Governors for 6 years, Vice-Chair of Governors for 3 years and Chair of Staffing and Fulfilment Sub-committee for 9 years.

  Both my children were schooled at the Trust, went on to gain Honours Degrees, post graduate studies and successful careers. As an educationalist, I understand that a child's life ambitions can be realised through education. However, it is equally important that standards are maintained and raised in both teaching and learning through challenge, target setting, monitoring outcomes, strategic management including working with and challenging the senior leadership team. In my working life I am a Magistrate of 25 years standing, I am chair of the Bench sitting at Victoria Law Courts, Birmingham. I am a director of a firm of multi-disciplinary architectural, civil, structural consultants, having links with schools wherever possible to enhance career aspirations of pupils in this area.

• Trystan Shaw
  Director 23 June 2020 - 22 June 2024
  Trystan Shaw

  I am a Chartered Accountant working at Mazars LLP in Birmingham. I am in the Transaction Services Team providing due diligence and other financial advice on a wide range of corporate transactions for both private and not for profit businesses. Prior to this I worked in the Internal Audit team reviewing risks and internal controls for not for profit businesses including housing associations and educational academy trusts.
  I have been on the Board of Directors for Hamstead Hall Academy Trust since June 2020. My roles and responsibilities include scrutinising the financial performance of the Trust, advising on financial performance indicators, and ensuring that there are appropriate controls in place regarding financial risks.
  I am connected to the Trust via my Grandad who worked at Hamstead Hall for over 20 years as both a teacher and Head of Lower School.

• Dr Paulette Osborne MBE
  Co-opted Director - Safeguarding 14 June 2023 to 14 June 2027
  Dr Paulette Osborne MBE

  After 10 years of Headship at St Matthew’s CofE Teaching and Research School, I became the Assistant Director of Continuous School Improvement, at Birmingham Education Partnership.

  I am a designated National Leader of Education, accredited Pupil Premium Reviewer, an accredited RE Quality Mark Assessor and a member of the Birmingham Diocesan Board of Education .

  I describe my leadership style as ‘calm and approachable’. My strengths lie in my ability to balance high professional aspirations, with a desire to ensure wellbeing and advancement, across the school community.

  I am a founder member of BAME LEAP, a professional development group that aims to accelerate the career progression of teachers, middle and senior leaders from global majority backgrounds in and around Birmingham.

  My work to raise school standards and impact the life chances of generations of young people has been recognised, at the highest levels. In 2016 I was awarded an MBE for her Services to Education - we took the whole school down to London, to meet the Queen!

  I was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Aston University, for my ‘significant contribution to raising attainment amongst young people, in the Aston and Nechells areas of Birmingham’.

  I am a Yorkshire girl by birth, and it was here that I developed a love of the theatre. In 1992 I was awarded the Yorkshire Achievers Award for my contributions to the development of the black arts movement in the region. In my spare time I can be found in a theatre near you, transporting myself off into a world of comedy, melodrama or historical enactment!

  Getting involved as a trustee is a great way to put my professional skills to use and is also a fantastic opportunity for me to learn new things. The role of a trustee enables me to give something back and make a difference to a trust, supporting its growth and development. I feel that my unique additionality means that I can bring different ideas, views and perspectives to the ‘board’ table.

• Hickesh Parmar
  Director January 2023 to January 2027
  Hickesh Parmar

  I have over twenty years experience in property rentals and estate management. I run my own property investment company and have a wealth of knowledge regarding acquisition and refurbishment. I personally manage a large portfolio of properties (both residential and commercial) across the UK.

• Daniel Stone
  Director September 2023 to September 2027
  Daniel Stone

  I studied at Hamstead Hall from Year 7 until the end of Sixth Form. After leaving the school in 2007, I went on to read Economics and Management at the University of Oxford. I also have a Masters from UCL in Educational Planning and Economics. I have led a number of national initiatives designed to help young people access top universities and gain employment with top employers in the UK. I worked as a Project Manager for the University of Birmingham and am currently working as a civil servant in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. I am proud to be an ongoing member of the Hamstead Hall community and to work with teachers, parents and pupils to create a learning environment in which all can achieve success.

• Julia Postin
  Director (Start date: pending)
  Julia Postin

  I am an HR Generalist with operational and strategic experience within education, automotive, manufacturing and ‘not for profit’ industries. I currently work as People Business Partner to Ark Schools in Birmingham since January 2017.

Local Government Body Chairs (ID 1276)

• Mr Daniel Stone
  Chair of Hamstead Hall Academy LGB
  Mr Daniel Stone

  I studied at Hamstead Hall from Year 7 until the end of Sixth Form. After leaving the school in 2007, I went on to read Economics and Management at the University of Oxford. I also have a Masters from UCL in Educational Planning and Economics. I have led a number of national initiatives designed to help young people access top universities and gain employment with top employers in the UK. I worked as a Project Manager for the University of Birmingham and am currently working as a civil servant in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. I am proud to be an ongoing member of the Hamstead Hall community and to work with teachers, parents and pupils to create a learning environment in which all can achieve success.

• Tracy Stone
  Chair of Grestone Academy LGB
  Tracy Stone

  Retired Head Teacher; Leadership Consultant; Ofsted Inspector

  Over a period of almost 30 years working in Handsworth schools - most notably as the Head Teacher at Rookery School for over 15 years, I developed a reputation as a highly skilled and effective practitioner who enjoys the challenge of school development. As a teacher and a leader I worked with others to create well resourced and imaginative environments that supported communities of learners to achieve their full potential across a wide ranging curriculum. As a resilient, pragmatic, positive leader I've always been passionate about improving the life chances of young people and offering second chances to those in school communities for whom education did not 'hit the spot' the first time round - it's never too late to engage, to learn, to succeed.

  Since retirement from headship I have continued to support school leadership teams (including governing bodies), as I had previously done in an advisory role for the local authority. As a schools inspector, I'm considered empathetic, fair but rigorous when holding schools to account.

  My over-riding motivation in any role that I undertake is to ensure that young people are getting the best possible deal in order for them to achieve the best possible standards - this will certainly be at the centre of my thinking and decision making in my role at Grestone.

Members (ID 1069)

• Rachel Burroughs
  Member 17 Oct 2017 - present
  Rachel Burroughs

  Having taught in the West Midlands for 30 years, I have expanded and used my pedagogical knowledge to support the academy trust. I believe in promoting inclusivity and cultural diversity. My extensive knowledge of critical governance spans over 20 years and includes pastoral, safe- guarding, strategic leadership and management. I am passionate about every student's achievement and believe that every young person should leave school with life skills which will enable them to encounter and overcome difficult tasks, be tolerant and remain learners throughout their lives. My daughters, who were previously educated at Hamstead Hall, achieved very well and have gone on to undertake very good careers. I live locally, have strong links with parents and through my role as a Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator am able to reach out towards the community.

• Pam Garrington
  Member 17 Oct 2017 - present
  Pam Garrington

  I have a background in Secondary education where I taught for 27 years. I was a member of the Senior Leadership team before moving to a Local Authority School Improvement Service in 2003 -2012. I retired in August 2012 and wanted to devote more time to pursuing my interest in governance. I became a National Leader of Governance in March 2012, in the very first cohort. I have an MA in Educational Leadership and Innovation.

  2019 marked my 25^th year as a governor and I have served on governing boards in the Primary and the Secondary phase, as well as being a trustee in a multi-academy trust.

  I am firmly committed to the importance of high-quality and ethical governance and am dedicated to ensuring that the children and young people in our schools have access to great teaching and resources to enable them to be the best they can be.

• Peter French
  Member 17 Oct 2017 - present
  Peter French

  I have been a governor at Hamstead Hall since 1997 when I was the Vicar at St Andrew's Church in Handsworth. I have been Chair of Governors and have served on the Professional Fulfilment and Finance and Resources Committees.

  Prior to this I have been a governor of another secondary school in Bury, Lancashire and Chair of Governors of a primary school in Bury. Part of my current job as the Assistant Director of Education for Church of England schools in the Birmingham area is to support and train governors. I am also a National Leader of Governance. As well as leading governor training I have participated in governor training to ensure my skills are up to date. As a governing body we have worked hard to ensure Hamstead Hall, and now Grestone Academy, provide high quality all round education for the pupils.

• Phillip Riggon
  Member 17 Oct 2017- present
  Phillip Riggon

  My experience to date has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge and valuable skills which have been developed over forty years as a Science teacher.

  I have taught in a variety of Schools across the West Midlands which has given me the opportunity to work with a diverse and dynamic group of people. Early in my career, as a qualified teacher I worked in the Ethnic Minorities support service in Sandwell. My task was to implement changes to the curriculum for students who were struggling academically, this resulted in pupils becoming empowered and engaged by the lessons that they were taught. After working in this area for three years, I returned to mainstream education until I retired. As well as this I have served in middle management roles as a head of department in two large secondary schools in the area.

  Throughout my time teaching I have enjoyed working with other colleagues to ensure pupils are supported in an environment which enables them to achieve their best. Working in inner city schools in some of the poorest areas of the West Midlands has enabled me to appreciate the challenges that many young people face. I have also been influential in breaking down the barriers many have to overcome to achieve their full potential.

  I recently completed my tenure after 5 years at the Teacher Regulatory Agency; Professional Conduct Panel, as part of the Department for Education. As a panel member I was able to work with professionals from a range of disciplines including Law, Academia and Public Relations. This role required team work and critical thinking when analysing the evidence brought in front of us, in order to arrive at a just and fair conclusion.

• Rob Smith
  Member 29 Sep 2022- present
  Rob Smith

  I am a reader in Education at Birmingham City University. I have taught in Birmingham schools, colleges and higher education institutions for 25 years. I trained as a secondary English teacher and I was teaching at Holt Schools in Lozells when the National Curriculum was introduced.

  In 2012, I co-founded the Centre for Research and Development in Lifelong Education at the University of Wolverhampton. I am a staunch believer in comprehensive education as a basis for every young person achieving excellence. I also believe in the necessity of pursuing a multicultural ethos. My body of work explores the impact of funding and marketisation on Further Education provision in England. I have researched and written extensively in collaboration with FE and HE practitioners.

  Recent articles include: Rob Smith (2015) College Re-culturing, Marketisation and Knowledge: The Meaning of Incorporation, Journal of Educational Administration and History, Smith, R. and O'Leary, M. (2015) Partnership as Cultural Practice in the Face of Neoliberal Reform, Journal of Educational Administration and History.