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Governors

The Corporation currently comprises:

Edgar Williams - Clerk to the Corporation

Dr Charles Freeman – Chair

Professor Tony Dugdale - Deputy Chair

  • Mrs Helen Pegg - Principal
  • Miss Rachel Basnett - Support Staff Governor
  • Mr Adam Clarke
  • Mrs Karen Clarke
  • Balvir Dhillon
  • Joan Durose
  • John Gething - (Co-opted member)
  • Professor Garth Hastings
  • Mr Rob Hewitt
  • Mr Colin Hunton
  • Mr Karl Lawton - Parent Governor
  • Mr Kevin Onions - Parent Governor
  • Thessalie Robinson - (Co-opted member)
  • Ms Sarah Robinson
  • Mr Torben Schwartz - Student Governor
  • Mr Paul Stanier - Teaching Staff Governor
  • Mr Ian Starkie
  • Miss Shannon Taggart - Student Governor
  • Dr Stephen Wyn Williams

Members of the Public who are interested in becoming members of the Corporation are welcome to contact the Clerk to the Corporation, Mr Edgar Williams, for further information. (01782 854209)

CITY OF STOKE-ON-TRENT SIXTH FORM COLLEGE

MEMBERS’ PEN PORTRAITS

Rachel Basnett

As a former student of the Sixth Form College (2001-2003) Rachel returned to work at the College as the Schools Liaison Officer in July 2006 after studying Sports Studies at Staffordshire University.

Rachel joined the Corporation in December 2009 as the support staff governor and she was re-elected in December 2011. She is a member of the Audit Committee.

Adam Clarke

Adam is a Chartered Accountant and a director of a local accountancy business, Mitten Clarke. He has a top-four accountancy firm background together with six years industrial experience and has worked extensively overseas.

He holds the corporate finance diploma and advises corporate clients, UK subsidiaries of overseas companies and specialist audit clients.

Adam has been a governor since March 2006 and chair of the Audit Committee since November 2007.

Karen Clarke MA, ACA

Karen joined the Corporation in October 2006. Currently she is Chair of the Finance and Resources Committee. She is Director of Finance and IT at Keele University, Staffordshire. She commenced working at the University in January 2004 prior to which she worked in the NHS where she was a Director of Finance and IT for an NHS Trust. She was originally trained as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG.

Karen is also Treasurer for a local charity, Arch.

Balvir Dhillon, MBA, PGCE, MCIM, MIfL

Balvir is an educationalist with 25 years experience in the FE and HE sectors in Wales and England. She is a qualified Estyn Peer Inspector. She owns her own business, Golden Ethics , which focuses on spiritual leadership, entrepreneurial development, employability and self awareness. She is also a non-executive director of voluntary charity organisation, Nishkam Civic Centre, and a Governor for the local primary and junior school. She joined the Corporation in July 2010 and currently is a member of the Curriculum, Quality and Standards Committee.

Tony Dugdale BA, BCL

Tony joined the Corporation in 2005 and was the Chair from June 2007 until September 2010 and Vice-Chair from September 2010 until July 2011. He was a Law Professor at Keele University where he was a member of the senior management team, retiring as Deputy Vice Chancellor in 2004. He has also been a governor of Harper Adams University College and of a Shropshire secondary school. He has been an auditor for the QAA which is responsible for auditing the standards and quality of educational provision in universities and currently provides consultancy advice to universities on management and standards issues.

His hobbies include walking, gardening and cooking - subject to instruction.

Joan Durose PhD, MSc, DMS

Joan Durose has been a member of Corporation since 1996 and in that time has served on each of the committees of Corporation. She currently serves on the Search and Governance, Remuneration and Finance and Resources Committees. Her first introduction to the College was many years ago when her daughter was a student.

Joan is a Senior Associate of the Health Services Management Centre at Birmingham University. Her role includes consultancy, teaching and research in matters related to health service management. Previously she held several roles in health service organisations within North Staffordshire, particularly in the field of human resources, was a community worker in the area and began her working life in teaching.

Joan is also a member of the Trustee Board of Stoke-on-Trent Citizens Advice Bureau. She lives in Wood Lane, near Audley and is enjoying working with her husband to recreate a cottage garden around her recently renovated house

Charles Freeman PhD, MA(Ed), BSc

Charles has served the College as Governor since 2002 and became Chair with effect from September 2010. He has also been the Chair of the Curriculum, Quality and Standards Committee since 2005. From May 2000 to August 2008 he served as Headteacher of Wolstanton High School, Newcastle-under-Lyme which is an 11-16 mixed comprehensive school with 1100 pupils coming under Staffordshire Local Authority. Previously Charles was Deputy Head in a similar sized school in Hampshire and prior to that he was Head of Year in two schools also in Hampshire. Having studied Physiology and Biochemistry at Southampton University and then researched a Biochemistry Ph.D. (Mechanistic Aspects of Cholesterol Biosynthesis!!) it is not surprising that he taught Science at as his main subject. In September 2008 Charles retired from teaching after 32 years service.

In his spare time Charles is an avid gardener, wildlife photographer and all things practical. He is an expert rifle shooter having shot for the Great Britain Junior team in his younger days. Together with his wife he is trying to reach any form of golf handicap that would allow him to play in the company of other people.

John Gething

John has served as a co-opted member on the Corporation's Audit Committee since 2010. He is a Chartered Town Planner and is a graduate of the Common Purpose Programme. Formerly the Business Support and Investment Manager for Stoke-on-Trent City Council, John has worked in the public sector for over thirty years. His experience includes master planning, community regeneration, housing renewal and leading major bids for external funding.

He is currently Vice-Chair of EPIC Housing Association, a board member of Urban Vision North Staffordshire and a member of the Supervisory Committee of Staffordshire Credit Union.

John enjoys travelling, the theatre, running, and is interested in art and urban design

Garth Hastings, DSc, PhD, BSc
Garth joined the Corporation in 2003 and has served on the Finance and Resources, Audit and Curriculum (AP&Q) committees as well as being a link governor for student pastoral matters. He was a Foundation Professor in Biomedical Engineering at Staffordshire University, specialising in research into new materials for surgical use, mainly for orthopaedic surgery. He became an Associate Director of the IRC in Biomedical Materials at Queen Mary & Westfield College, University of London and subsequently Programme Director in the Institute for Materials Research & Engineering & Visiting Professor of National University of Singapore. As a Consultant for the UN (UNIDO) he has
had experience in several countries advising on medical uses of plastics materials and particularly in SE China for an artificial limb project. He has had active engagement with the development of Standards for Surgical Implants and represents the UK on ISO Committees.
Locally he was Chairman of the PPI Forum for the University Hospital until a recent government revision. This was concerned for adequate representation of the public and patient voice in health care matters. He is an active Reader in the Church of England.
His hobbies include theatre, concerts, films and photography. Gardening is always a delight. Books are ever present too.

Rob Hewitt

Rob joined the Corporation in October 2011 and is a member of the Audit Committee. He is a Chartered Member of the CIPD (HR professional body) and works as a HR manager with Michelin Tyre plc. He has worked in a number of management roles within the manufacturing industry including strategic planning before moving into HR in 2007. He has studied both business and management and completed several post-graduate qualifications at Staffordshire University including the CMS, CBA and DBA. Since moving into HR in 2007, Rob has completed a three year post-graduate CIPD qualification also at Staffordshire University.

Rob enjoys travelling, DIY, gardening, keeping fit and trying to maximise his family time with his wife and daughter.

Karl Lawton

Karl joined the Corporation as a parent Governor in May 2011. His son currently attends Sixth Form College

Karl has held varied management roles and is currently a Line Leader in Food Manufacturing. He has studied Management Studies initially at Cauldon College (NEBSM) and Staffordshire Polytechnic (CMS) and then a Post Grad Degree (1998 to 2000) at Staffordshire University; the Diploma in Business Administration. As a Manager he has experience in motivation, communication, production, counselling & disciplinary, recruitment and attendance.

He also worked for 12 months (2009 to 2010) at Stoke-on-Trent Council, Governor Support Unit as a Governor Support Officer and he still clerks Governor meetings for the Local Authority. He has been a Primary School Governor since 2000 (when both of his children were at Waterside Primary) and has been Chair of Governors since September 2007. He finds the role very rewarding and interesting and has met with Ofsted on many occasions. Waterside Primary School went from Special Measures in March 2006 to Good with Outstanding features in October 2010. As a Governor he has experience in Finance and Budgets, Health and Safety Legislation, Curriculum Subjects, SEN, EAL, Inclusion and Assessment.

Kevin Onions MSc CGeol FGS SiLC

Kevin worked for over 18 years as an underground mine geologist for British Coal in South Wales and North and South Staffordshire. He joined Technical Services in the early 90’s and advised on remediating contaminated land left by the mining legacy.

On the closure of the Coal Industry, Kevin has been employed as a consultant, leading teams of specialists and advising the public and private sector on the risks of land affected by the industrial past and its remediation in building a new future.

Kevin now lives and works in Stoke-on-Trent, he has a wife and three children and his interests include swimming, gardening, Bridge and if absolutely necessary, the gym.

Helen Pegg

Helen was born and raised in Zambia, as her father worked in agricultural research and development. Helen’s parents were Welsh speaking and as a child Helen spoke Welsh at home and learnt a range of African dialects. Educated in many schools in Zambia and later in Wales, she graduated from Cardiff University with early ambitions to be a lawyer. However, she chose to be a teacher, working in 11 – 18 and post 16 institutions in the south of England and the West Midlands and specialising in the teaching of Law and Economics.

Helen was appointed as Principal at Stoke on Trent Sixth Form College in August 2002 following a year as Acting Principal at New College, the Sixth Form College in Telford. As a recently appointed Principal Helen successfully completed one of the first LSIS/CEL programmes, ‘The Art of Leadership’.

Helen is currently a member of the following external bodies:

  • AoC Board Member
  • Member of AoC West Midlands Management Committee
  • Member of North Staffordshire Post 16 Concordat
  • Governor at Stoke on Trent College
  • Governor at Staffordshire University
  • Governor at two local High Schools
  • Chair of two High School Trust Boards
  • Member of Staffordshire University Regional Federation Board
  • Member of Stoke on Trent Young Persons 14 – 19 Strategic Partnership
  • Member of Stoke on Trent Safeguarding Board
  • Member of University Quarter Steering Group
  • Member of Keele University Court
  • Trustee of Maddock Leicester & Burslem Education Charity

Sarah Robinson

To be provided

Thessalie Robinson

Co-opted member of the Curriculum, Quality and Standards Committee - To be provided

Torben Schwartz

Student Governor - To be provided

Paul Stanier

Paul has a background in teaching having taught in schools and further education (Stockport College for 13 years and currently employed at the Sixth Form College as a teacher of Law, since 2002). He has also worked in retail and distribution and the manufacturing industry.

Paul is from Stoke but has lived and worked in other parts of the country before returning to the area.

His academic qualifications include a BA Hons degree, MA in Government and Law, Certificate in Legal Studies and Post Graduate Certificate in Education, having attended Liverpool, Leeds, Keele and Staffordshire Universities.

His interests include an involvement in community associations, music and football - helping to run local teams and supporting his local team, Stoke City FC.

Ian Starkie

Ian re-joined the Corporation in December 2007, having previously been a member between 1993 and 2005. He currently serves on the Corporation's Audit Committee.

A history graduate who converted to accountancy, Ian was previously the Director of Finance at Staffordshire University. He has more recently worked in the Further Education sector as a freelance consultant. In September 2008 Ian joined Foundation Degree Forward, a small organisation which promotes the creation of markets for Foundation degrees, as Director of Corporate Affairs. He has responsibility for the leadership and management of Foundation Degree Forward's business support services.

Ian's outside interests include travel, reading contemporary fiction and the increasingly despairing support of a Midlands football team!

Shannon Taggart

Student Governor - To be provided

Steve Wyn Williams BA, PhD, FRSA, FRGS

Steve has been a member of the corporation since 2004 Currently he serves on the Curriculum, Quality and Standards Committee, is chair of the Search and Governance Committee and Deputy Chair of the Corporation. Steve has worked in the region for a number of years, initially in the Geography Department at Keele University and subsequently at Staffordshire University. In the latter institution he has held a number of roles including Head of Geography Department, Associate Dean Science, Head of the Academic Development Institute and currently Director of Academic Policy and Development. Steve believes that it is vitally important to continue to be involved in the practice of learning and teaching and lectures in geography (when permitted by colleagues!) and is a Chief External Examiner at the University of West of England. He also is closely involved in the University Quarter project and the Academies developments in the City and is Governor and Trustee of the Cooperative Academy at Brownhills.