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Governance
BackExcelsior Academy is overseen by a Local Governing Body responsible for ensuring the highest standards of teaching and well-being. The Local Governing Board is a ‘critical friend’ to the Academy as well as a champion of pupils, teachers and the wider community.
As the Academy is part of the Laidlaw Schools Trust, there is a board of trustees who are responsible for the work of the Trust, including the running of the academies. Further information is available on the Governance section of the Trust’s website. To support the effective operation of the Trust and the academies, the board has established Local Governing Bodies for each Academy in the Trust.
Diversity is important to our governing boards and we strive to be reflective of the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for school governors from all areas of our school community. If you are interested in becoming a school governor or finding out more, please contact the Clerk to Governors.
The Governance Administrator can be contacted at rebecca.mayo@laidlawschoolstrust.co.uk, Laidlaw Schools Trust, Suite 2, 3rd Floor, St Nicholas Building, St Nicholas’ Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1RF or 0191 662 2416.
Details of the Governors at Excelsior Academy can be found below:
Jeff Lough
Chair of Governors
Jeffrey worked in a wide range of schools within the Newcastle community over a 37-year career, working with young people with special needs in mainstream schools as well as those with significant needs in specialist day and residential settings. His previous role as Deputy Headteacher of Newcastle EOTAS service gave him an insight into the work of the Local Authority for those children and young people who needed support outside the normal range of educational settings.
He was Headteacher of the Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) in Newcastle for 17 years. Jeffrey was the lead officer in Newcastle LA for Elective Home Education, and from 2013 to 2017, he was the North East representative of the National Association of Elective Home Education Professionals (AEHEP). Currently, Jeffrey is involved in school governance in several schools and academies within Newcastle.
Contact Jeff Lough: jeff.lough@laidlawschoolstrust.com or 0191 22 88 400 (Excelsior Academy)
William Messer
Vice-Chair of Governors
During William’s 39-year teaching career, he held a variety of roles which included leading successful departments, coordinating ‘STEM’ subjects across the large catchment area for feeder schools and as Internal Project Manager for a ‘new-build’. As an A-Level Assistant Principal Moderator for AQA, over many years William was responsible for training teachers and supervising moderators across the North of England, Scotland and the Isle of Man.
William, who holds an M.A. degree in ‘Professional Practice: Leadership in Education’ and a second M.A. in ‘Art History’, has experience of teaching in Higher Education as a visiting lecturer for Northumbria University.
This is William’s third school governorship and at Excelsior he links with staff and subjects in that area which encompasses The Arts, Community and Creativity. William is a passionate advocate of Artsmark and is committed to ensuring that a broad cultural and creative education is accessible to all.
Fiona Fairless
Associate Governor
Fiona Fairless has been a teacher for nearly 24 years, specialising in Primary years. During this time Fiona has worked within all year groups from Nursery to Year 6 and has been a Subject Leader for a variety of subjects including History, MFL and Science. Fiona is currently the curriculum lead for Science and MFL and responsible for PGCE and BEd trainees working at the school, in conjunction with Sunderland University.
Fiona has recently gained her Master's in Education with her thesis focusing on outdoor learning, something she enjoys supporting in schools. When required Fiona works for Sunderland University as an SLT (school liaison tutor) visiting trainee teachers on placement in other schools.
Claris D'cruz
Local Governor
Claris D’cruz is a consultant lawyer with Wrigleys Solicitors LLP. Claris qualified as a Barrister and has been practising as a charity lawyer for over 20 years. She worked as an in-house legal adviser for a registered charity and as a Charity Commission lawyer before going into private practice. Prior to becoming a consultant, Claris was Head of Charities at a large Newcastle firm.
Claris advises charities on a range of legal issues, including good governance. She regularly provides trustee training for small, medium and large charities, including independent schools and academy trusts.
Claris has also been a visiting lecturer at Leeds University Law School and Newcastle University Law School. In addition, Claris has over 8 years of experience as a governor and trustee of a major independent school.
James Edge
Associate Governor
James has been employed within the education sector for seven years, working in a range of Middle and Senior positions. Prior to education, he worked within the Aviation sector across a range of disciplines. James is currently the Head of the Rail and Civil Engineering Academy in Gateshead, part of Newcastle College. He is responsible for all aspects of the curriculum, which ranges from Level 2 up to Degree level. He teaches the FdEng Railway Engineering course, specialising in Strategic Marketing and Management. He has extensive knowledge of education-based strategy and has completed Level 7 research into the strategic direction of Further Education Colleges that offer Higher Education.
He is passionate about embedding high levels of teaching, learning and assessment and was previously an Improvement Practitioner in the Engineering disciplines within Newcastle College. He has an extensive range of teaching experience delivering modules on a BA (Hons) Aviation course, Level 3 Railway Engineering, Entry Level 1 employability and Level 2 Tourism.
Mahima Zafar
Local Governor
Mahima Zafar is a School Business Manager at West Newcastle Academy with a passion for education and community development. Her journey at Excelsior Academy began as a pupil in 2008 and she has since held various roles within the institution. After completing her studies at Excelsior Sixth Form, Mahima embarked on a Marketing and PR apprenticeship, making her one of the first apprentices at the school. Following the successful completion of her apprenticeship, Mahima joined the EA team and served in various capacities, including Marketing, Reprographics, and HR, over a span of 7 years. With a decade of experience in the education sector, Mahima possesses a wealth of knowledge about Excelsior and the local community. She is committed to leveraging her expertise to make meaningful contributions to the EA Governing Body.
David Seifert
Local Governor
David is a mathematician with extensive experience of higher education. He works at Newcastle University, where he is a member of the Pure Mathematics group in the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Physics. His research and teaching interests lie in an area of Mathematics called Functional Analysis.
Before moving to Newcastle in 2019, David worked at the University of Oxford, where he had previously completed his degree and PhD in Mathematics. He cares deeply about fair access to high-quality education, and he has contributed to a number of university outreach initiatives.
Neil Smith
Local Governor
Neil has been involved with music education since 2011 and currently holds the Director of Music position at the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle. He has previously lectured at Newcastle University and has conducted local community orchestras and choirs. Neil graduated with a degree and masters from Newcastle University, specialising in composition and conducting, as well as spending a year studying at the Gothenburg Academy of Music and Drama, Sweden.
Neil has a passion for extra-curricular programmes within schools and advocates the many benefits that reach beyond the classroom.
Anna Redfearn
Associate Governor
Anna Redfearn is a recently retired Consultant Community Paediatric doctor, whose work, caring for and supporting children with additional needs and disability has involved working with schools and educational colleagues throughout her career. Her particular areas of interest and involvement have been in assessing and supporting children in care, in long term placements with relatives and those placed for adoption, as well as in safeguarding. Recognising the life-long impact of adverse childhood experiences, she is keen to promote positive experiences of education, which are critical in building resilient young people and she is keen to use her knowledge and experience to the benefit of her local community in the West End. She is a Christian and active member of St Joseph’s church where she is also involved in youth work and supporting asylum seekers and refugees.
Claire Lewis
Parent Governor
Claire is an actress and journalist. She has recently performed in Sunderland’s “Summer Season of Shakespeare Plays in the Park” and toured with a production of “A Christmas Carol”. She has years of experience in drama education and a degree in Drama from Northumbria University.
Claire worked for ten years as a BBC Broadcast Journalist. She reported and produced on live radio programmes across the BBC Local Radio output from Newcastle to Birmingham, Worcester and Shropshire. She has a Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism from UCE.
Claire is a trustee and/or volunteer with several local charities and is the warden and treasurer at her local church.