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.

• 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 - June 2028
  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 January 2024 to January 2028
  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.

• Nadeem Bashir
  Director June 2024 to June 2028
  Nadeem Bashir

  Having begun my career in secondary education before moving to primary, I have a strong understanding of what is involved, not only in the education provided, but the leadership at all levels, within primary and secondary, and within challenging contexts. I am currently a Headteacher of an Ofsted graded outstanding primary school in Birmingham. I have fostered a culture of trust, empathy and love for the children. Everything we do is for the children and this feeds through everything we do. I have driven this culture through clear vision and direction. This strong belief in doing the right thing for our children can be applied to the role as Trustee. I have a passion for improving the life chances and outcomes for young people and this has been at the forefront of my mind when making decisions in school. Strong relationships, with all stakeholders, has been key to our success but the strong interpersonal and communication skills that I have developed over time and through leading by example, are able to be applied in all contexts, including this role as Trustee. Alongside my busy leadership role, I have recently completed the NPQEL and it has taught me evidence based research with the very best practice as well as the fundamentals of working across a number of schools whilst having the opportunity to apply the latest techniques and research findings. I am now delivering the NPQH for a delivery partner which is allowing me to help shape the leaders of tomorrow.

  I have previously volunteered as chair of an Interim Executive Board for 12 months for a school in Birmingham. The role allowed me to appreciate and experience first hand how vulnerable schools would need careful support and guidance from skilled professionals. I was able to hone my skills of supporting schools during this role, and have since then gone on to apply these skills in schools by supporting as an Executive Leader. I have been able to appreciate how sensitive this work is, and how approaching support with empathy and compassion can have the best impact. Holding leaders to account is also vital as children only have one chance when in your setting and I do not lose sight of the fact that as demanding as the job can be, it is also a privileged position and children should always be at the forefront. As a Headteacher I have developed a strong understanding of governance, finance and risk management. The role of a headteacher has evolved so much during my time and I have grown as an educator and manager. I have experienced leadership through a local authority model and the academy era including MAT leadership. I have previously been a Director of Education for a MAT which gave me the experience to work at a senior level across a number of special, primary and secondary schools. I worked alongside middle leaders, headteachers and also MAT leaders which was then a new venture for schools, particularly primary schools, many of whom were still resistant to an academy process. As a trustee I can use this experience to support trust leaders and maintain the reputation Hamstead Hall Academy Trust holds whilst growing as a MAT and ensuring schools have the right level of support and challenge as the MAT grows and strengthens.

  As a non-executive director, not only will I learn from other people, but also work together bringing all our experiences and skills for the benefit of young people. I see the position to be an honour and privilege.

• Sal Khan
  Director 18 March 2024 to 17 March 2028
  Sal Khan

  My reasons for wanting to join the Trust Board are varied and summarised below:

  Make a positive contribution to the wider society:

  On a personal level, schooling in East Lancashire in the 1970s and 80s was not a positive experience for me however my children have had the opposite, and all have had a very positive school experience in the West Midlands, at the Walsall Academy, Queen Mary’s High School, and Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School. This was due to a combination of things, the curriculum, the extra-curricular activities, the teaching and leadership within the schools. Living in Walsall, as a parent of three grown-up children who loved their school experience, I believe that I have incurred ‘a debt’ to those that helped create that environment, and so if there is an opportunity to contribute positively, indirectly, and usefully to some other young peoples’ situation then I would relish that opportunity. Aligned with this, the mission and values of the HHAT resonate strongly with me, particularly the ‘feeling of a community’ – with the socio-economic climate in the 2020s this is probably more important than ever.

  Skills and experience that can still be utilised:

  My CV demonstrates a range of skills and experience which are transferable and would be useful in many settings. These range from senior financial stewardship, senior strategic and operational management, strong governance and HR experience and significant business improvements at senior and operational levels. I believe that these would be useful to the Trust and whilst I completely appreciate that the NED roles are not a hands-on delivering roles, the experience that I have would be beneficial.

  Ability to commit:

  I left full-time permanent employment in Summer 2023 and now work on interim contracts in local government working four days a week. I intend to continue with the four-day week approach as this allows me a better life/work balance enabling me to carry out activities which I was not able to whilst in a demanding, time-consuming, and politically restrictive role, such as reimbursing the debt previously mentioned and looking into other non-renumerated positive activities. Whilst I was permanently full time employed, due to the high numbers of regular evening Council meetings, it was always difficult to genuinely think about carrying out other useful/charitable activities and being able to fully commit to it. I now have that time available and would like to commit some to the HHAT.

  Personal continuous development:

  I believe that I will genuinely benefit and continue to develop as an individual and as a professional by undertaking a role within the HHAT, getting experience as a NED, getting involved in the education sector and by meeting and working alongside the other Members and Board Directors.

  Whist my CV demonstrates a successful career in the public and private sectors, I was also a Director of the East Staffordshire Community and Voluntary Service between 2010 and 2014 (East Staffordshire Borough Council was a major funder) and therefore also have experience in a trustee role.

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.