Governance at Harbour Learning Trust

As a multi-academy trust, Harbour Learning Trust (HLT) is a charitable company limited by guarantee. This means that HLT is a single legal entity, but it has several academies within its family of schools.

HLT is an education charity that runs a family of seven primaries and one secondary school, in Greater Lincolnshire. After a substantial period of growth starting in 2018, Harbour Learning Trust now serves over 3000 children and young people across its eight academies. We are now entering the next phase of development and are looking to continue to drive school improvement, as well as growth and our development agenda. We are a values-driven organisation with a commitment to integrity, collaboration, and excellence. We strive to be a caring employer who values all our staff, providing genuine and exciting opportunities to develop expertise, share best practice and form strong partnerships both within and beyond our Trust. We know that education really can change lives for the better and we passionately believe that every child should receive the very best education in order to fully prepare them for the future.

Members, Trustees and Governors

The Trust has established three key layers of governance:

Members
Trustees
Local Governors

Please see below for the detailed governance structure and all other relevant documents.

Members

Members are the guardians of the governance of our Trust Partnership. They need to be assured that effective governance practice is taking place. To do so, they keep in touch with the work of the Board of Trustees by meeting at least twice per year (including the Trust’s AGM), and receiving regular updates after each Board meeting. Our Members receive the Trust’s annual report and accounts, an annual governance report, and they are able to appoint and remove Trustees.

Trustees

As HLT is a charitable company, the Board of Trustees are regarded as directors in company law, and Trustees in charity law. Reflecting the charitable objects at the core of the Trust’s work, members of HLT’s Board are referred to as our Trustees. They meet as a minimum four times per year.

The Board of Trustees is responsible for three core strategic governance functions:

Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
Holding the CEO and Headteachers to account for the educational performance of each school and its pupils, and for the performance management of staff
Overseeing the financial performance of each school and the Trust overall, and making sure that the Trust’s money is well spent

In May 2022, the Board launched a new three-year strategy, including the HLT Vision and Values. The Board has established key priorities for the Trust: pupil Academy Improvement, To Build an Effective and Efficient Central Services Infrastructure and To Ensure High Quality Leadership and Governance across the Trust.

The Trustees bring together knowledge, expertise and skills linked to the Trust’s core areas of: education, inclusion, environmental sustainability, governance and finance.

Local Academy Councils

Although the Board of Trustees is accountable for all of the academies within HLT, it highly values the work undertaken by local governors in supporting, and challenging, our academies and senior leadership teams to deliver high quality and inclusive education. The Trust has one Local Academy Council that meets four times a year for our Healing Schools. Our Local Academy Councils for Grimsby and Lincoln schools were disbanded on 31st August 2025 and replaced by direct governance from the Board of Trustees.

To find out who the governors are for Healing Academies, please see the ‘Our Schools’ areas on each academy website.

The different responsibilities overseen by Members, Trustees and Local Governors are set out in the HLT Scheme of Delegation, which is reviewed on an annual basis.

Member, Trustee and Governor Recruitment and Appointment

The recruitment and appointment of Members, Trustees and Governors is set out within the Articles of Association and Scheme of Delegation. The term of office, number and types of trustees and specific role are all clearly defined.

If you are interested in becoming a Member, Trustee or Governor of the Harbour Learning Trust, please see recruitment packs below.

Get in Touch

To contact any of the Members, Trustees or Governors, please email: [email protected]

To send correspondence to the Chair of Trustees, please either send a letter addressed to:
Chair of Trustees
c/o Governance Professional
Harbour Learning Trust
Low Road
Healing
Grimsby
DN41 7QD
or by email to: [email protected]

Position		Chair of the Board of Trustees
Experience		Over twenty-five years of experience in education, predominantly post-14 education in the UK and overseas. Teaching and inspecting (for Ofsted and ISI) in secondary schools, further and higher education. Latterly working in the wider civil service advising on policy reform and large national programmes such as apprenticeships. Currently a broadcaster, trainer and education consultant, which includes training inspectors of education in the UK and overseas and advising schools and colleges on processes and systems working with inspectorates.
Career		Trustee and Non-Executive Director with fourteen years of experience. Vice Chair of NCFE (Awarding Body) between 2009 and 2011, Chair of the Vision 2015 Committee and Change Project. Currently Trustee of the Thermal Insulator Contractors’ Association and the Independent Trade Training Council, leading on assessment. Non-Executive Director of Saffron Cherry Television Ltd and The Strategic Development Network. Chris is the Chair of the Board of Trustees of Harbour Learning Trust.
Pecuniary Interests		C Cherry declared his interest due to his work with the Department of Education (DfE), Labour party and post 14 education. C Cherry raised work with DWP for next 6 months.
Start Date		16/12/2024
Term Ends		15/12/2028
Appointed By		Members

Position		Vice Chair of the Audit, Risk, Finance and Estates Committee; a Member of the Education and Standards Committee; and is the Trustee Whistleblowing Lead
Experience		Experience and skill in delivering briefings and communicating with the public across various media platforms, has presented cases before Employment Tribunals, and was a member of the Home Office Stephen Lawrence Working Group. Experience in risk management at both operational and business levels. He has been involved in business changes during which he implemented and managed the impact on staff and customers. He is a trained coach and utilises this skill by offering support to colleagues and referrals. Mentored learners and apprentices undertaking a PGCE and MBA degrees. Trained to carry out equality impact of organisational changes and advises on how to mitigate the impact. Has a postgraduate degree in Law and lecture on project management and strategic thinking, and is a qualified football coach.
Career		Retired from the Police Service after 30 years of public service having attained the rank of Chief Inspector. He continues to contribute to development in the police service by coaching and mentoring officers and staff still in the service. Was the Vice Chair of the Corporation of TEC Partnership a further education institution in the North of England and is an Associate Lecturer at the University of Lincoln. His personal guiding mantra in all his adult life has been a commitment to public service and continuous professional development. As a member of an underrepresented group in society, he has a unique perspective and understanding that allows him to provide alternative solutions to social and academic challenges. Kai is the Vice Chair of the Audit, Risk, Finance and Estates Committee; a Member of the Education and Standards Committee; and is the Trustee Whistleblowing Lead.
Pecuniary Interests		No
Start Date		02-10-2024
Term Ends		01-10-2028
Appointed By		Members

Position		Chair of People, Welfare and Search Committee; and a Member of the Education and Standards Committee
Experience		Senior Manager with nearly twenty years’ experience working in and across public services (Local Government and Health and Care Sector including time at NE Lincolnshire Council and in NHS England). Held a variety of key corporate roles focused on strategic leadership and operational delivery in partnership and organisational change; service transformation; programme and project management; planning and performance management.
Career		Currently working across Health and Social Care Organisations in Northern Lincolnshire, Hull, East Riding, York and Scarborough, to develop through partnership working, integrated care. Karina is Chair of People, Welfare and Search Committee; and a Member of the Education and Standards Committee.
Pecuniary Interests		Spouse works for North East Lincolnshire Council (Local Authority) as Strategic Lead Business Practice and Performance (Data Protection Officer and Statutory Complaints Manager)
Start Date		12/12/2022
Term Ends		11/12/2026
Appointed By		Members

Position		Chair of the Education and Standards Committee; a Member of the People, Welfare and Search Committee; and the Trustee Safeguarding Link
Experience		Served as a member of the board at GIFHE from 2001 - 2021. Governor at St James Grimsby from 2020 until it was sold in 2021. I am currently a Director of The Lincoln Anglian Academy Trust.
Career		38 years teaching in the Secondary Sector, working in Hull, East Riding, North Yorkshire and North East Lincolnshire. Most recent position was Principal of Oasis Academy Wintringham from 2001 until 2013. Jane is Chair of the Education and Standards Committee; a Member of the People, Welfare and Search Committee; and the Trustee Safeguarding Link.
Pecuniary Interests		No
Start Date		30/04/2022
Term Ends		29/04/2026
Appointed By		Members

Position		Member of the Education and Standards Committee; a Member of People, Welfare and Search Committee; and is the Trustee Attendance and Wellbeing Link
Experience		Over 20 years’ experience in Information Services, Curriculum and Quality Improvement in the FE & Skills sector. Focus areas on improving teaching practice and collaboration with sector peers such as on boards, and committees, in education.
Career		An experienced leader in the education sector across a large FE & HE provider in multiple senior roles including Subcontracting Manager, Quality Manager and Group Head of Quality. Additionally, a part time Ofsted Inspector since 2019. Michaela is a Member of the Education and Standards Committee; a Member of People, Welfare and Search Committee; and is the Trustee Attendance and Wellbeing Link.
Pecuniary Interests		No
Start Date		12/12/2022
Term Ends		11/12/2026
Appointed By		Members