Our Trustees

Laura Holland joined Soke Education Trust as a Director in September 2023. Since joining the Board, she has been the Trust Safeguarding Lead. working with the central team to develop an overarching safeguarding strategy which continues to ensure that our practice supports the most vulnerable children and families.  Laura has been actively involved in school governance and multi academy trusts for more than fifteen years and has been the Chair of the Board of a Single Academy Trust for the last ten. Laura has extensive experience of working in the charity sector and in supporting and developing  volunteers and community groups.  Laura understands charity compliance, as well as leading and managing teams of people.

Otsaye is a Management Consultant specialising in Operations Transformation. He has nearly a decade of experience designing and delivering large scale transformation projects in the Consumer and Industrial Products sector. Otsaye graduated from Newcastle and Leeds University gaining masters in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, respectively.  He has always had a passion for education, volunteering at school events and taking several school governor roles in recent years. 

Steve has  a passion for primary education, having had over 12+ years within primary school governance and leadership, taking on the roles of vice chair and chair of the resource and finance committee. Two key achievements within these roles has been playing a part in governor team that was a finalist in the National Governance Association Awards UK, as well as being the project lead to build and deliver a purpose built stand alone Pre- School building and setting which now operates a complete wrap-around care facility.

Steve has extensive leadership and commercial expertise having worked in the drinks Industry for over 32 years, the last 8 years as Director of International Sales for a multi million pound premium wine business. This allows him  to support the Soke Education Trust and its schools communities in delivering on its vision and strategic direction so it can navigate through the challenging education landscape.

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I have deep experience in technology companies, and I am currently the Chief Operating Officer at The Key Group – a group of EdTech companies.

I am passionate about improving education in the UK. I really believe that if we help students, teachers and schools then everyone in society benefits in the long term.

I am also passionate about making things as simple as possible within organisations - processes, tools, structures.

I am an experienced practitioner and school leader, specialising in computer science across KS3-KS5.

I am passionate about my professional development and have recently completed the NPQH and work with exam boards to examine and moderate GCSE level work, allowing me to stay at the forefront of developments within education.

I have experience of school Governance, having previously been the lead of quality of education and vice chair at Hartford Infant school in Huntingdon and a parent Governor at my child’s school.

John has extensive experience of education, having been a PE teacher and school leader. John has significant experience in personal development and coaching staff to help them achieve their best. John has been a local governor at John Clare Primary School prior to becoming a Trustee of Soke Education Trust.

www.aldermanjacobs.cambs.sch.uk

Martin Fry, Headteacher

Laura Hemmaway, Chair of Local Governance Committee

www.gunthorpeprimary.org.uk/Governors

Christopher Scales, Headteacher
Karen Armstrong, Chair of Local Governance Committee

www.johnclareschool.org/governors

Sarah Nicolson, Headteacher
Emma Stephens-Dunn, Chair of Local Governance Committee

www.northboroughschool.co.uk/Governors

Andrew Pattison, Headteacher
Lindsey Taylor, Chair of Local Governance Committee

www.werringtonprimaryschool.co.uk/Governors

Rachel Simmons, Headteacher
Hannah Benn, Chair of Local Governance Committee

www.wittering.peterborough.sch.uk/Governors

Charlotte Blake, Headteacher
Laura Andrew, Chair of Local Governance Committee