Members
Trust Members are responsible for ensuring the trust meets its charitable objectives and can control changes in the constitution (subject to DfE approval) and other fundamental decisions relating to the academy trust.
The role of member is a sometimes defined as “eyes on and hands off”. This describes their responsibility for overseeing the governance of the Trust rather than operating the schools or the central functions.
Clare Sanders
Member
Term of Office 10th April 2023 - 9th April 2027
Clare became a Member of Elmlea Schools’ Trust in April 2023, following a period of Chairing the Board of Trustees. She was also involved with the setting up of the Trust. Her career began in International Banking following by working and consulting as a Business Manager in a number of primary and secondary schools. She was also involved in the setting up and working as Chief Operating Officer of a large Multi Academy Trust. She now enjoys retirement hobbies including craft work and reading. Although still undertaking some school and governor consultancy work, her main focus is on leisure activities including walking in the UK and abroad.
Ian Venn
Member
Term of Office 10 July 2021 to 9 July 2025
Ian is a recently-retired chartered secretary, who was employed as Head of Corporate Services at the City of Bristol College. His work there included acting as Company Secretary to Trust in Learning – a federation of Bridge Learning Campus (formerly Hartcliffe Secondary and Teyfant Primary) and Orchard School Bristol – and their subsequent move to academy status in 2011/12. He is a Bristolian, who was commissioned into the Army on leaving school, and returned to live in Westbury at the end of his service in 1990.
Nick Hester
Chair of the Board of Members
Term of Office 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2024
As an Elmlea parent, Nick was very pleased to join the team of Elmlea Infant School Governors in 2014. In July 2019 Nick was appointed as a Trustee on the newly formed Elmlea Schools Trust Board of Trustees and has more recently made the move to become a Member. His day job for more than twenty years is as a co-owner of a local recruitment consultancy. Nick is also a football coach at Rockleaze Rangers and enjoys the odd game for the Elmlea Dads football team.
Phillipa Miles
Member
Term of Office 23 March 2022 to 22 March 2026
Philippa became a Governor of Elmlea Infants’ School in April 2017 and following the formation of the Elmlea Schools’ Trust has been appointed as Chair of the Members Board.
Philippa was previously the Vice Chair of Governors at Stoke Bishop Primary School around 18 years ago and since retiring in 2016 she wanted to use her 40 years experience and skills in senior management posts as an Inspector of Taxes for HM Revenue and Customs to help support her local school.
Philippa enjoys getting to know the children and teachers and hopes to meet more parents over time.
She also volunteers at Bristol Civil and Family Courts where she supports people who represent themselves at court. She loves travelling, reading and trying to walk 10,000 steps everyday!