Members and Trustees

The Trust Board has strategic oversight and ultimate responsibility for all of the management decisions within the Trust. The Board consists of up to nine Trustees, three of whom are appointed by the Members. The Trustees are appointed purely on a skills basis. The Board’s key responsibilities are to ensure, through their governance structure and leadership teams, that the Trust is making proper and effective use of public funds and for the quality of provision. The Trust Board will meet as often as is necessary to carry out their duties, but at least five times per year with Board Committees meeting in addition to this.

We currently have vacancies on our Trust Board. If you are interested in becoming a Trustee or would like further information please contact our Governance Manager via trustoffice@affinitylp.co.uk

Members

James Tye

Appointed: 05 January 2021

Declarations: 
Founder of Hammersbach Consulting
Chair of Trustees of Your Emotional Support Service (YESS).

Fee Stagg

Appointed as: Chair of the Trust Board

Appointed: 16 January 2023

Declarations: 
Associate Consultant and Clerk for Entrust
Chair of North Mids Maths Hub
Member - Golden Thread Teaching School
Member of Independent Governor Support (IGovS)
Trustee - The KEY Educational Trust
Owner of SBW Governance
Associate Expert for GovernorHub Knowledge
Member of Confederation of School Trusts (CST)
Consultancy for Second2None School Support
Governor/Vice Chair - Hanley St Luke's CofE Primary
Trustee - Mighty Oaks Academy Trust
Member - Invictus Education Trust
Chair of Trustees - St Chad's Academies Trust
Member - Warren Farm Primary

John Clark

Appointed: 11 June 2024

Declarations: 
Vice Chair of Academy Transformation Trust
Ambassador for the Foundation for The Education Development
Special Advisor to Board of Association of Education Advisers

Dioces of Lichfiled Education Trust (DLET)

Corporate Member

 

Trustees

Fiona Stagg

Chair of the Trust Board

36 (1)

First Appointed: 16 July 2020
Term of office: 16 July 2024 - 15 July 2028
Appointed as Chair: 16 September 2025
Appointed by: Members

Committee Membership: Eductation, Resources.

Declarations:
Associate Consultant and Clerk for Entrust
Chair of North Mids Maths Hub
Member - Golden Thread Teaching School
Member of Independent Governor Support (IGovS)
Trustee - The KEY Educational Trust
Owner of SBW Governance
Associate Expert for GovernorHub Knowledge
Member of Confederation of School Trusts (CST)
Consultancy for Second2None School Support
Governor/Vice Chair - Hanley St Luke's CofE Primary
Trustee - Mighty Oaks Academy Trust
Member - Invictus Education Trust
Chair of Trustees - St Chad's Academies Trust
Member - Warren Farm Primary

Bio: Fee runs her own Governance consultancy and has been a Governor and Trustee since 2004 in a number of schools and academies.  

Fee is also a Governance Professional and clerks for a range of schools across the country.  Fee is a blogger on governance, conference speaker, and former Chartered Town Planner.

John Fitchett
 

42 (1)

First Appointed: 08 September 2020
Term of office: 08 September 2024 - 07 September 2028
Appointed by: Diocese

Committee Membership: FAR, Resources.

Declarations: 
Governance role for Lion Clubs International
Consultant for Young Enterprise.
Director of Manor Hall Academy.

Bio: John retired from Rolls Royce at the end of 2019 after 34 years. He has worked in their Civil Aerospace, Defence and Submarine sectors. During that time he held a number of senior management and executive positions, primarily in Strategic Procurement and Supply Chain Management.  

Since leaving Rolls Royce, John has been appointed as a Director of the Manor Hall Academy Trust and is Chair of the Trust Board of Home-Start Staffordshire Moorlands.  

John is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply.

Ahsan Ashraf
AhsanAshraf

First Appointed: 12 December 2023
Term of office: 12 December 2023 - 11 December 2027
Appointed by: Trust Board

Committee Membership: Education.

Declarations: 
Employed at partner school of John Taylor MAT
Elected Staff Governor at Partner school of John Taylor MAT

Bio: With a passion for education and over a decade-long commitment to teaching,  Ahsan proudly considers himself a perpetual student, always seeking new ways to inspire, innovate and learn. He currently serves as the Strategic IT Lead, Creative Technologist and is Head of Business & Computing. His influence extends beyond the confines of a single school as he leads computing across the Trust, where he strives to instil a love for computing, technology and its creative applications in the minds of students. He has previously served as the progress and achievement co-coordinator, leading parts of the Pupil Premium strategy, dedicated to narrowing the educational attainment gap for students from deprived backgrounds. This experience fuelled his commitment to raising aspirations and fostering an inclusive learning environment.

Beyond the academic realm, his journey has included several roles as a web developer, a role he continues to embrace in a personal capacity. This multifaceted background reflects his belief in the symbiotic relationship between technology, education, and personal growth. As he navigates the dynamic intersection of education and technology, his mission remains rooted in empowering students and fostering a future generation of creative thinkers and leaders.

Thomas Deery

Thomas Deery

First Appointed: 01 October 2025

Term of office: 01 October 2025 - 30 September 2029

Appointed by: Trust Board

Committee Membership: TBC

Declarations: Employed at East Staffordshire Borough Council

Bio: Coming soon

Rebecca Beaver

Rebecca Beaver

First Appointed: 03 February 2026

Term of office: 03 February 2026 - 02 February 2030

Appointed by: Members

Committee Membership: TBC

Declarations: 
Owner of RBMA Consultancy Ltd, providing SRMA consultancy services to the DfE
Governor at Shobnall Primary School
Daughter employed at Granville Academy
Best Practice Network Associate tutor/Assessor on the DSBM. 
DfE accredited SRMA and SRMA/SBP mentor accreditation panel member.
DfE regional in person training author & trainer in association with ISBL
ISBL Fellow.

Bio: Rebecca demonstrates a strong dedication to improving outcomes for disadvantaged groups and is committed to supporting delivery of an education system that provides a supportive, collaborative and empowering environment in which all pupils and staff can grow and develop.

As Director of RBMA Consultancy Ltd and an ISBL Fellow, she brings 35 years of operational experience, including over 20 years in primary and secondary leadership.

An accredited DfE School Resource Management Adviser (SRMA), Rebecca contributes to national mentoring panels and was the first delegate accredited by ISBL as a strategic leader in operational excellence. Her expertise informed the ISBL operational excellence framework, and her commitment was recognized with the 2023 ISBL CEO Award.

Drawing on extensive experience, Rebecca assists MATs and local authorities in achieving effective resource management. From implementing strategic business plans to leading major expansions—such as sixth-form provision at The de Ferrers Academy—she remains a key figure in developing DfE-backed training and shaping the future of school business leadership.

Karen Robinson

080A0141

First Appointed: 09 February 2026

Term of office: 09 February 2026 - 08 February 2030

Appointed by: Trust Board

Committee Membership: TBC

Declarations: None declared.

Bio: As an Independent HR Consultant and Business Leader Coach, I am a great believer that “Happy People are Productive People” and I help leaders grow their business through their greatest asset - their people.

With nearly 20 years’ experience as a HR generalist working with SLT's and Boards, I am perfectly placed to support the Trust.

I have lived and breathed the entire employee lifecycle; day-to-day transactional needs, people challenges, specialty people projects and people strategy. There isn’t a lot I haven’t dealt with!

As an accredited Coach I have supported Senior Leaders and Boards with clarity, confidence and accountability. Helping put structure behind thought processes, supporting and challenging difficult decisions, and guiding personal and professional journeys.

I am very passionate about what I do, and gain true satisfaction from making a difference to people's working lives by helping build something truly successful.

I am looking forward to being part of Affinity Learning Partnership's journey.

VACANCY 

 

VACANCY 

 

Finance, Audit and Risk (FAR) Committee

Name Appointed as
Vacancy Trustee
Rebecca Beaver Trustee
John Fitchett Chair of Committee 
Fee Stagg Non-voting Member

 

Education Committee

Name Appointed as
Fee Stagg Trustee
Ahsan Ashraf Trustee
Jason Brooks Trustee

 

Resources Committee

 

Name Appointed as
Fee Stagg Trustee
Jason Brooks Trustee
Vacancy Chair of Committee

 

Historic

 

Kevin Gaunt

Member

Appointed: 31 October 2017

Resigned: 14 October 2026

Declarations: 
Proprietor of NJ&W Consultants Limited.

Jason Brooks

Trustee

First Appointed: 01 July 2025

Term of office: 01 July 2025 - 30 June 2029

Resigned 12 October 2026

Committee Membership: Education, Resources

Declarations: 
Headteacher at Maplewell Hall School

Miles Elcock

Trustee

First Appointed: 09 February 2026

Term of office: 09 February 2026 - 08 February 2030

Resigned: 13 July 2026

Declarations: None declared.

Peter Jenkins

Trustee

First appointed: 18 January 2022

Term of office: 03 February 2026 - 02 February 2030

Resigned: 07 May 2026

Committee Membership: FAR, Resources.

Declarations: Director of RPR Ventures Ltd; Director of The Rossall Foundation; Chairman at Long Mynd Adventure Camp, Treasurer of Hope Bowdler Village Hall; Family link to Trust employee, Governor at Arboretum Academy; Governor at Ashby Willesley Primary School.

Dr Keerthi Devendra

Trustee

Term of office: 18 January 2022 - 17 January 2026

Committee Membership: FAR, Education.

Declarations: Trustee of Sri Lankan Engineers and Scientists in the UK.