Our Trustees
Chair of Trustees – Keith Hall
Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management, BA (Law) Hons, PGCE, NEBOSH, IOSH.
On leaving university Keith worked in a solicitor’s office for 4 years specialising in criminal and civil litigation. The rest of his career has been focussed on education. Initially Keith was employed as a lecturer in law and then progressed to become Director of Human Resources, Student Services, Health & Safety and Equal Opportunities at a large College of Further Education.
Since 2004 Keith has been the Managing Director of a company with responsibility for strategic development, financial and human resources together with compliance with all statutory requirements. The business offers a range of services including health & safety consultancy. In addition to this, Keith has worked with a number of schools in terms of carrying out safety and safeguarding audits on organisations offering work experience placements to school students.
In recent years Keith has worked with several secondary and primary academies offering specialist clerking services particularly with regards to admission appeals, exclusions and complaints. His training is fully up to date in the relevant Codes of Practice. He has also delivered training to teachers, governors and panel members in these areas.
Chair of Finance – Rev. Debbie Loughran
Debbie Loughran is currently a Vicar of four churches within Telford. She holds a Masters degree in Theology and Transformative Practice. Debbie has been a trustee of Mighty Oaks Academy Trust since 2018. She is committed to her role as a trustee and considers it a privilege to work with committed colleagues to ensure the Trust provides very best possible education for the children within each of the academies. schools.
Reverend Debbie is also a Foundation Governor at two further Church of England schools and a Governor at an Independent secondary school. She brings with her to this role a vast experience of Governance within the education sector.
Debbie’s previous employment included being an Ofsted Registered Childminder and an Accountant. This enables Debbie to bring early years and financial experience to the Trust board and puts her in a strong position to chair the current Finance Committee.
Debbie has extensive Safeguarding training and understanding and has completed further, advanced training in, Child Protection, Safer Recruitment, Prevent, Pupil Premium, Child Exploitation, Restorative Justice, Unconscious Bias and Equality and Diversity.
Debbie brings with her to this role, eleven years of experience of being a Chair of three governing boards.
Mrs Mim Hall
Mim has been Principal at Sandwell Valley School (SVS) since July 2016. SVS is an independent school with a charitable status and has a PAN of 175. The school provides alternative provision for a range of students including those referred from secondary schools, international new arrivals, looked after children and SEN from a number of education authorities.
As Principal Mim has experience and knowledge of setting up a new independent school and charity with both strategic and operational management. She was involved with the establishment of the school from the registration process with DFE and Ofsted to securing and adapting new premises. Mim has direct experience with Ofsted involving material changes and full inspections. During June 2022, Ofsted rated Sandwell Valley School as Outstanding, under Mim’s leadership. She has experience of a range of school related issues including business, compliance, HR, finance, Inspections, safeguarding and curriculum.
In addition to her current role as Principal of a secondary school, Mim is the Executive Head for Regis Primary School (KS2-KS6) managing the strategic direction of the school and reporting to Governors and Directors of the West Bromwich Albion Foundation.
Mim’s previous experience includes Management of departments including Apprenticeship programmes with approximately 700 Apprentices across all trades, ESF projects. In addition the development of bespoke curriculum across schools, colleges and with employers such as National Express, Automobile Association and Sandwell Community Caring Trust. Mim has experience with Ofsted inspections across pre sixteen and post sixteen provision and was previously seconded to work shadow Ofsted HMI during an a full inspection at an Early Years Centre.
Current Memberships/Governors experience
Sandwell Secondary Heads Partnership, Police and Schools Partnership, Member of West Midlands Lieutenancy Education Forum, Trustee at Sandwell Community Caring Trust, Governor for Safeguarding at Sandwell Academy, Trustee at Sandwell Valley School
Mrs Christine Thomas
Christine is currently in the twelfth year of running her own Limited company advising and supporting a cross section of small to medium business owners on all HR related matters.
Her portfolio of customers includes an early years nursery and a number of academies.
Christine is currently a Trustee of the charity Support Staffordshire and has held this position for seven years. She has also been a trustee of a secondary school MAT. Christine has “rescued” an independent early years nursery by making a significant financial investment and is delighted to report some 3 years later the nursery is thriving without her involvement. Christine was instrumental in developing business policies and procedures in line with OFSTED requirements.
In the past Christine has led a local cub scout group and was Assistant District Commissioner for the Cub Scout movement.
Christine brings to this role an understanding of safeguarding and a strong interest in the education of young children. She also has significant experience and knowledge of business management and HR systems.
Mr Mark Pugh
Appointed September 2023. Awaiting Pen Portrait.
