Members
Members have an overarching responsibility for the viability and performance of the AAT through the appointment of trustees and approval of the annual report; they have the power to amend the Articles of Association that govern the way the Trust is constituted and managed.
Geoffrey Copeland CBE
Appointed 29/01/2018
Skillset and experience
A physicist and former Vice- Chancellor and Rector of the University of Westminster from January 1996 until July 2007. Previous positions also held include Vice-President of
Universities and Chair of its England and Northern Ireland Council, Chair of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association, Trustee of Council for Industry and Higher Education, Vice-Chair of London Higher, Board member of the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education and other education bodies including TECs. Vice Chair of Harrow Tertiary College and Chair of the HEFCE Sustainable Development in Higher Education Steering Group from 2006 until 2012. A former Trustee of the Helena Kennedy Foundation and former Governor of University of Bedfordshire. Geoffrey was awarded a CBE in the 2007 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to higher education
Geoffrey is currently Chairman of Thomas Wall Trust, President of ASET, Vice Chair of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. He is also a trustee of the Quintin Hogg Trust and of the Quintin Hogg Memorial Fund.
Following a series of university posts engaged in post- doctoral research, lecturing, and senior management in various universities in London. Since retirement Geoffrey has undertaken a number of consultancy projects for higher education including reviewing the governance structures of two higher education institutions. He has written a report for the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education on issues of good practice and challenges of university governance.
Geoffrey has a career long interest in improving the higher education student experience and access for those who have encountered barriers to conventional academic achievement at pre university level to enable all to achieve their full potential.
Rev. Graham Clarke
Appointed 29/01/2018
Skillset and experience
Graham has had a long career involving young people and their personal development in formal and informal settings – beginning as a Youth Worker in Liverpool and Leeds 1977-87
He was Minister of Marshalswick Baptist Free Church St Albans (2003-2021) and Community Governor of a local primary school ( 2014-2021) He is currently a Trustee and volunteer with St Albans and Harpenden Education Project which works in schools across St Albans and Harpenden, and is also a Trustee of The Baptist Housing Trust.
Graham holds a BA (Hons) Degree in Applied Social Science; A Postgraduate Diploma in Biblical and Theological Studies from Oxford University and is a Member of the Institute of Personnel and Development.
Other professional and voluntary roles have included Moderator (Chair) of the Central Baptist Association; Trustee of West Herts YMCA;. Regional Director YMCA South and South and South East England; Programme Development Director England YMCA, responsible for the development of new projects., charity governance and Management Consultancy.
Graham knows many of the communities served by AAT Schools well and is committed to seeing all children and young people fulfill their potential
.
Nicholas Daymond
Appointed 18/07/2022
Skillset and experience – Now retired, Nick spent his entire career in Hertfordshire schools as a teacher of Modern Languages and RE. His last two posts were as Headteacher of Roundwood Park School in Harpenden (2004-2010) and Headmaster of Parmiter’s School in Garston (2010-2017). He was proud to lead both schools through Ofsted inspections from “Good” to “Outstanding”.
At different times Nick was Chair of the Links ESC Management Committee in St Albans, Chair of STASSH (St Albans and Harpenden Secondary School Headteachers) and Chair of the St Albans and Harpenden SAPG (Strategic Area Partnership Group 16-19). As an elected member of Schools’ Forum between 2012 and 2016 he worked with colleagues from Hertfordshire primary and secondary schools to make sure that monies retained centrally were spent wisely. He is a strong believer in schools working together for the benefit of their students and staff and always worked hard to improve collaboration.
Since retiring from teaching, he has worked for Herts for Learning as a Secondary School Effectiveness Adviser and as a freelance educational consultant. He is a strong advocate of lifelong learning and recently completed an MA in Children’s Literature.
Lady Flora Letanka
Appointed 18/07/2017
Skillset and experience
Executive Director of School of Partnerships and Innovation at Teach First. After graduating from Oxford University with a degree in History, Flora taught History and A-Level Politics at Albany School, Enfield (now Oasis Hadley Academy) in one of the first cohorts of the Teach First programme. Flora spent 4 years advising on market brand and growth strategies at Lighthouse Global, a strategy consulting firm.
A leader in Teach First from 2010, leading and developing high-impact alumni programmes, including the well-reputed Teach First Innovation Unit, which has resulted in 23 new education ventures prototyped, 15 ventures incubated and over 40 growing social enterprises supported to work with 2564 schools and 209,600 pupils in the lowest socio-economic areas in England and Wales. Flora lives in St Albans and is a Governor of St Michaels Church of England VA Primary School.
Jim Wright
Appointed 18/07/2017
Skillset and experience
PhD in Chemistry. Previous roles include leading a research team in the pharmaceutical industry; global Head of Human Resources; self- employed business consultant liaising with blue chip companies on strategic thinking, change implementation and leadership development; parent Governor in a comprehensive school in Surrey.
Jim has lived in St Albans for 27 years. After research in the pharmaceutical industry he transferred into general management where he eventually headed up the global HR function in R&D . During that period his interests included working closely with secondary and tertiary education to support the development of scientists and to promote awareness of career opportunities in the scientific sector. He has served as non-executive Director on the boards of several not-for-profit organisations. He is currently involved with supporting investment in small businesses in Central and Eastern Europe to promote employment and alleviate poverty and in developing business leaders in these countries. Jim has previously been a member of the Sandringham Governing Body for the 14 years where he has chaired the CAW committee and is currently Chair of the HR Committee. Jim was also a Governor at Ridgeway Academy.