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Orion Education

Trust Board

The Board of Trustees is the Governing Body for the organisation and remains accountable in law and to OFSTED for the exercise of its functions. It is the accountable body for the performance of all Academies within the Trust and has four key functions:

  • Ensures clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
  • Holds the CEO to account for educational performance and the performance management of staff
  • Oversees the financial performance of the Trust, ensuring financial probity and value for money
  • Holds the Local Advisory Bodies (LABs) to account

The Trust board meets at least termly and has a number of committees which meet at least termly. Trustees have decision making powers described fully in the Scheme of Delegation and are both company directors and charity trustees as academies have the legal status of both company and charitable trust.

To support the work of our schools and Trustees, Orion Education ensures that local stakeholder voices are represented and heard through our Local Advisory Boards (LABs). LABs provide an important channel for local accountability and engagement with parents and carers, operating within a collaborative framework that strengthens partnership, trust and connection across our communities.

Through LABs, the voices of individual pupils, parents and carers are listened to, understood and reflected in decision-making. They provide a vital link between the Trust and its communities, enabling lived experiences of our education provision to be heard, explored and triangulated alongside other sources of assurance and insight, helping to inform continuous improvement and strengthen outcomes for all learners.

Governance documents related to the Trust can be located here

Information about our Trustees can be found below:

Board of Trustees (ID 1265)

  • Dr Rachel Norman
    Chair of Trustees

    Dr Rachel Norman

    (Chair of Quality of Education Committee and Under-resourced and Pupil Progress Link Trustee)

    I started my career in education 25 years ago as a History teacher in a Lambeth Secondary school and currently work with primary and secondary schools across London as a School Effectiveness Adviser. As a former Secondary Headteacher, I am passionate about education and I have a Doctorate in Education from King's College, London. I am currently Chair of the Local Governing Board of a Merton secondary school. I seek to use the latest educational research to apply best practice in driving school improvement and my main objective is to enhance the quality of teaching and learning to secure aspirational outcomes for pupils of all abilities. I firmly believe in education as a liberating, powerful and empowering force that changes lives and brings about social justice and equality.

  • Simon Garrill
    CEO (Ex-officio)

    Simon Garrill

    (Chief Executive Officer)

    Having taught and led, in and around London for the last 25 Years, I established two new schools in Haringey, running a small multi academy trust. Passionate about social mobility, fairness and opportunities for young people, I am looking forward to leading Orion Education to ensure that all of our schools achieve excellence through collaboration.

  • Kevin Blakey
    Trustee

    Kevin Blakey

  • Indrajit Dey
    Chair of Finance, Audit and Resources Committee, and Whistleblowing Link Trustee

    Indrajit Dey

    (Chair of Finance and Resources Committee, and Whistleblowing Link Trustee)

    I am a global finance leader with experience in driving business in IT and ITES industry covering Growth Markets (Asia Pacific, S Africa, LATAM), for Accenture and the technology sector. Led large global teams with Profit & Loss accountability for over $1B business. Led Business Finance with strategic focus on delivering the key business outcomes including all aspects of financial management. Successfully led several global mergers and acquisitions including due diligence & reporting. Driving the Innovation & Transformation framework to build capabilities for Next Generation Finance Leaders.

    I am passionate about education and have been supporting a school for specially abled children in Bangalore, India for the last several years. I was previously based out of Singapore & currently live in Cambridge with my wife & son.

  • Peter Gregory
    Trustee

    Peter Gregory

    I am ahighly experienced HR professional with over 40 years' experience in senior leadership roles across a diverse range of sectors, including automotive, banking, utilities, pharmaceutical and central government. Most recently, I haveworked in higher education, serving as HR Director at three universities, whereI led organisational development, workforce strategy and cultural change initiatives.

    Throughoutmy career,I have maintained a strong professional focus on personal and organisational development, helping individuals and teams to achieve their full potential. I bring a strategic yet people-centred approach, underpinned by extensive experience in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.

    I live locally in Beckenham, where my children were educated. I havean active connection to education and the community, including volunteering as a schoolboys' football coach, and hold a strong belief—shaped by personal experience—in the power of education to transform lives.

  • Aysha Haynes
    Trustee

    Aysha Haynes

  • Guillaume Hemery
    Trustee

    Guillaume Hemery

    (Link Trustee for Estates)

    With over 17 years of international experience in the Professional Services, Banking, FMCG, and Industrial sectors, Guillaume Hemery is an accomplished corporate real estate leader. He has a solid track record of creating and implementing integrated real estate solutions for large organisations, delivering portfolio strategies that add value and savings. Guillaume manages annual budgets of over $30 million and has led teams of up to 120 employees across various functions, including real estate transactions, project management, environment health and safety, energy management, and integrated facility management. Guillaume is passionate about understanding his clients' company ecosystems to craft real estate strategies that benefit the business, attract and retain talent, and reflect the firm's culture. He values building strong relationships and fostering a respectful environment, helping teams achieve their goals. Originally from France, Guillaume acquired British citizenship after more than 10 years of living in London. He and his wife, who is also French, have two boys aged 7 and 3.

  • Penelope Jones
    Trustee

    Penelope Jones

    (SEND Link Trustee)

    I have a wide range of experience to support the continued development and improvement of Orion Education and its schools. I began my professional life in retail leadership for a number of national chains. I moved into education teaching and leading in a range of settings, mostly inner London. My first Headship was of the first primary academy in the UK. My latest role was as Leading Headteacher of an Multi Academy Trust in Kent and Bexley. I now work in a number of voluntary sectors including courts, prisons and adult mental health.

  • Lolade Onabolu
    Trustee

    Lolade Onabolu

    Lolade is a Mechanical Engineer turned Management Consultant turned Civil Servant. She is currently a Director with the Home Office with the responsibility of leading transformation programmes aligned to the Departments' outcome. She has experience of leading major transformation programmes across a number of Government departments including the Cabinet Office, Ministry of Justice, Department for Health and Social Care, and NHS England. Lolade is married and has 4 adult sons.

  • Krupesh Patel
    Trustee

    Krupesh Patel

    (Chair of Audit and Risk Committee and Health and Safety Link Trustee)

    I have over 25 years of executive experience within the financial services industry focusing on compliance, business management, investor relations, risk management and governance. During the course of my professional career, I have worked in London, Asia and Ireland, for global banks and privately owned businesses. I am a keen advocate of early education and youth development. In addition to being a trustee at Orion Education I serve as a member of the Development Board for The British Exploring Society. My past voluntary roles have included being a trustee/board member at Le Cheile Mentoring (Ireland), The Hygiene Bank (Ireland), Stepaside Educate Together National School (Ireland) and East Oxford Primary School.

If you would like to contact the Trustees then please in the first instance email: Governors@orionedu.org.uk