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Governance

Walthamstow Academy is a part of United Learning whose Trustees hold the ultimate responsibility for the governance of each United Learning school.

The Department for Education’s governance handbook 2020 identifies the essentials of effective governance as follows:

  • Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
  • Holding the executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff; and
  • Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.

United Learning’s Trustees delegate certain key roles and responsibilities to the school’s Local Governing Body (LGB) and these are set out clearly in our Scheme of Delegation which can be seen on the United Learning website.

Click here to view the Scheme of Delegation


Governor's Portraits

Geoff Skewes

Trust Appointed Governor

I've been a governor at Walthamstow Academy and its predecessor school since 1994. I have worked in the education sector since 1973 initially as a teacher of economics in Walthamstow and latterly running my own educational consultancy. I bring a range of skills and have experience in working with a wide range of schools, from primary through to Higher Education.

Governor responsibilities -  Chair of the Local Governing Body. Member of the United Learning Education Board. Leadership and Management. Safeguarding

Isabelle Gregory

LGB Appointed Governors

I joined Walthamstow Academy as a governor in 2022. I started my professional life in marketing, focusing on raising money for charities. Since then I have been working with local authorities around England, most recently helping their Children’s Services improve through collaborative partnerships.

James Wragg

Parent Governor

I have been a parent governor since 2022. I live locally with two children that attend the Academy. In my day job I am Chief Operating Officer of a national grant-making charity. This involves overseeing the running of day-to-day operation and administration of the charity. Outside work, I am a Governor of a local primary school, and a Trustee (and former Chair) of a Children's Charity working across Waltham Forest. I look forward to working with the Governors and Executive team, to support the continued development and success of the school, and help it be the best it can be.

Governor responsibilities – Health and Safety

Leon Jacob

Parent Governor

I have been a parent governor since 2019. After obtaining my BSC in Politics & Economics I became part qualified in ACCA. After a 15 year career in accounting and finance I embarked on my entrepreneurial journey. I was fortunate enough to have benefited from an amazing secondary school. Installing in each and every one of us that we can achieve our goals, if we are willing to work hard and smart. I have always known that I wanted to give back to the education system. I have been mentoring and giving motivational talks in schools and communities to install the same self belief ethos that has served me so well into the young children in our community. I am proud to a member of the board of governors at Walthamstow Academy.

Governor responsibilities - Vice-chair : Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)

Oliver Duke-Williams

LGB Appointed Governors

I've been a governor at the Academy since 2017. I work as a Senior Lecturer at UCL, and have a background as a geographer. Professionally, my work includes making census and other data sets available for research, and doing so in a way that respects privacy, and I'm interested in how schools and families can make good use of data. I have two children at Walthamstow Academy, and have observed through them both the experiences of new year 7 pupils, and the experiences of public exams.

Paul Tannahill

Staff Governor

I've been a governor at Walthamstow Academy since August 2017. I originally trained as a lawyer in New Zealand, and have lived and worked in the UK in government litigation for 10 years. I switched careers to become a teacher in 2015, and hope to bring a range of legal skills and organisation to the board and to represent interests of the staff.

Governor responsibilities – Teaching staff representative.


Governor's Information

Members who have stepped down