Our Trustees
St Benet’s Board of Trustees 2026-27
Name | Role | Relevant interests | Date appointed | Term of office start date | Term of office end date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Dunning | Trustee Chair, Trust Board | Diocese of Norwich Board of Education, Secretary/Employee (ended 31/12/2025) Employee, Diocese of Norwich Trustee, Keswick Hall Trust Trustee, Horstead Centre Trustee, DNEAT Trustee, Quiet Waters Christian Retreat House Trustee, Bungay Honeypot Centre (Bungay Community Centre) | 26/03/2018 | 26/03/2026 | 25/03/2030 |
| Chris Allen | Trustee Chair, Joint Policy Development Committee | Diocese of Norwich Board of Education, Secretary (from 01/01/2026) Employee, Diocese of Norwich Trustee, DNEAT SIAMS Inspector, Inspect schools under S48 of Education Act in Ely, St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, Chelmsford, Peterborough and Lincoln Diocese. (01/09/2022-) RE Hub Lead, Lead for East Region, RE Regional Hub lead fro Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. (01/09/2022-) RE Council / REQM, Assessor and Advisory Board Member (01/09/2022-) | 21/05/2019 | 21/05/2023 | 20/05/2027 |
| Rachel Beeson | Trustee | LGB Chair, Emneth Academy Trustee, Community and educational social enterprise, March 2020 | 21/05/2019 | 21/05/2023 | 20/05/2027 |
| Sarah Brownsword | Trustee | Employee, University of East Anglia Partner, VNET Chair of Governors, Roydon Primary School (01/09/16-14/07/2023) Personal or close family relationship, UKLA (UK Literacy Association) Individual licenced practitioner - delivering EAL training to teachers, schools & trusts in the East of England, Bell Foundation (from 01/09/2025) | 17/09/2024 | 17/09/2024 | 16/09/2028 |
| David Carlin | Trustee Vice Chair, Trust Board Chair, Finance, Audit and Risk Committee | Director, Diocese of Norwich Education Services Company (DoNESC) (from 29/04/2026) | 08/12/2022 | 08/12/2022 | 07/12/2026 |
| Priscilla Crane | Trustee | Employee, Unity Education Trust; | 01/09/2020 | 01/09/2024 | 31/08/2028 |
| Terry Huggins | Trustee | Director, Diocese of Norwich Education Services Company (DoNESC) (from 04/06/2026) | 15/03/2023 | 15/03/2023 | 14/03/2027 |
| Simon Morley | Trustee | Employed as Independent Chair of Steering Group, Julian Teaching School Hub, 01/05/2025 Education Consultant, Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust 01/09/2025 | 03/11/2025 | 03/11/2025 | 02/11/2029 |
| Alastair Smyth | Trustee | Links to school, Acle Primary Academy Chair of Governors, Acorn Partnership (until 31/12/2025) Employee of parent company, Integral UK Ltd, Integral UK is a subsidiary of JLL UK that carries out property maintenance work in the public sector. 16/09/2019 Spouse is Trustee, Acle St Edmund Primary Friends of School Association. 01/11/2022 Spouse employed by Acle Parish Council. 28/03/2023 | 03/11/2025 | 03/11/2025 | 02/11/2029 |
| Dani Williams | Trustee | Employee, The Wherry School Shareholder, Wellyboot Weddings Links to school, Pulham Primary School | 15/03/2023 | 15/03/2023 | 14/03/2027 |
St Benet’s Board of Trustees Previous Academic Year 2025-26
Name | Role | Relevant interests | Date appointed | Term of office start date | Term of office end date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Dunning | Trustee Chair, Trust Board Chair, Pay Review Committee | Diocese of Norwich Board of Education, Secretary/Employee (ended 31/12/2025) Employee, Diocese of Norwich Trustee, Keswick Hall Trust Trustee, Horstead Centre Trustee, DNEAT Trustee, Quiet Waters Christian Retreat House Trustee, Bungay Honeypot Centre (Bungay Community Centre) | 26/03/2018 | 26/03/2026 | 25/03/2030 |
| Chris Allen | Trustee Chair, Joint Policy Development Committee | Diocese of Norwich Board of Education, Secretary (from 01/01/2026) Employee, Diocese of Norwich Trustee, DNEAT SIAMS Inspector, Inspect schools under S48 of Education Act in Ely, St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, Chelmsford, Peterborough and Lincoln Diocese. (01/09/2022-) RE Hub Lead, Lead for East Region, RE Regional Hub lead fro Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. (01/09/2022-) RE Council / REQM, Assessor and Advisory Board Member (01/09/2022-) | 21/05/2019 | 21/05/2023 | 20/05/2027 |
| Rachel Beeson | Trustee | LGB Chair, Emneth Academy Trustee, Community and educational social enterprise, March 2020 | 21/05/2019 | 21/05/2023 | 20/05/2027 |
| Sarah Brownsword | Trustee | Employee, University of East Anglia Partner, VNET Chair of Governors, Roydon Primary School (01/09/16-14/07/2023) Personal or close family relationship, UKLA (UK Literacy Association) Individual licenced practitioner - delivering EAL training to teachers, schools & trusts in the East of England, Bell Foundation (from 01/09/2025) | 17/09/2024 | 17/09/2024 | 16/09/2028 |
| David Carlin | Trustee Chair, Finance, Audit and Risk Committee | Director, Diocese of Norwich Education Services Company (DoNESC) (from 29/04/2026) | 08/12/2022 | 08/12/2022 | 07/12/2026 |
| Priscilla Crane | Trustee | Employee, Unity Education Trust; | 01/09/2020 | 01/09/2024 | 31/08/2028 |
| Terry Huggins | Trustee Chair, Standards and Performance Committee | Director, Diocese of Norwich Education Services Company (DoNESC) (from 04/06/2026) | 15/03/2023 | 15/03/2023 | 14/03/2027 |
| Simon Morley | Trustee | Employed as Independent Chair of Steering Group, Julian Teaching School Hub, 01/05/2025 Education Consultant, Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust 01/09/2025 | 03/11/2025 | 03/11/2025 | 02/11/2029 |
| Alastair Smyth | Trustee | Links to school, Acle Primary Academy Chair of Governors, Acorn Partnership (until 31/12/2025) Employee of parent company, Integral UK Ltd, Integral UK is a subsidiary of JLL UK that carries out property maintenance work in the public sector. 16/09/2019 Spouse is Trustee, Acle St Edmund Primary Friends of School Association. 01/11/2022 Spouse employed by Acle Parish Council. 28/03/2023 | 03/11/2025 | 03/11/2025 | 02/11/2029 |
| Dani Williams | Trustee | Employee, The Wherry School Shareholder, Wellyboot Weddings Links to school, Pulham Primary School | 15/03/2023 | 15/03/2023 | 14/03/2027 |
| Edward Frankland | Trustee Chair, Finance, Audit and Risk Committee | Employee, The Pensions Regulator Member, The Law Society Director, Diocese of Norwich Education Services Company | 26/03/2018 | 26/03/2022 | 25/03/2026 |
| Geoff Rivers | Trustee | Director, Hollesley Bay Prison and Warren Hill Self-Employed/Consultant, Geoff Rivers Associates Local Government Consultancy Services | 26/03/2018 | 26/03/2022 | 25/03/2026 |
| Kathy Griffiths | Trustee | Chief Executive Officer, Aquinas Church of England Education Trust; Vice Chair, Anglican Association of Secondary School Headteachers (AASSH); National Professional Qualification for Executive Leadership (NPQEL) Facilitator, Church of England Foundation for Educational Leadership (CEFEL); Steering Group Member, Church of England Foundation for Educational Leadership (CEFEL) | 06/04/2022 | 06/04/2022 | 05/04/2026 |
| Eve Dewsnap | Trustee | Director, Active Norfolk | 22/01/2021 | 22/01/2025 | 20/07/2026 (resignation) |
Trustee Attendance 2025-26
| Name | Committees | Attendance at Board Meetings 2025/26 | Attendance at Committee Meetings 2025/26 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Dunning (Chair, Member) | Standards and Performance Committee (until May 2026) Finance, Audit and Risk Committee (from May 2026) Pay Review Committee (Chair) Joint Policy Development Committee (Chair, until December 2025) | 4/4 1/1 (AGM) | 3/3 (S&P) 2/2 (FARC) 1/1 (Pay Review) 1/1 (JPDC) |
| Chris Allen | Standards and Performance Committee Joint Policy Development Committee (Chair, from January 2026) | 2/2 1/1 (AGM) | 1/2 (S&P) 2/2 (JPDC) |
| Rachel Beeson | Standards and Performance Committee | 4/4 | 3/3 |
| Sarah Brownsword | Standards and Performance Committee | 2/4 | 3/3 |
| David Carlin | Finance, Audit and Risk Committee (Chair from April 2026) | 4/4 | 3/4 |
| Priscilla Crane | Standards and Performance Committee (until May 2026) Finance, Audit and Risk Committee (from May 2026 | 3/4 | 3/3 (S&P) 1/1 (FARC) |
| Eve Dewsnap | Finance, Audit and Risk Committee | 4/4 | 3/4 |
| Edward Frankland | Finance, Audit and Risk Committee (Chair, until March 2026) Pay Review Committee | 3/3 | 3/3 (FARC) 1/1 (Pay Review) |
| Kathy Griffiths | Finance, Audit and Risk Committee Joint Policy Development Committee | 3/3 | 3/3 (FARC) 1/2 (JPDC) |
| Rev Joanna Haywood (Member) | 1/1 (AGM) | n/a | |
| Terry Huggins | Standards and Performance Committee (Chair) Pay Review Committee Joint Policy Development Committee | 3/4 | 2/3 (S&P) 1/1 (FARC) 3/3 (JPDC) |
| Caroline Hutton (Member) | 1/1 (AGM) | n/a | |
| Simon Morley | Standards and Performance Committee | 3/3 | 2/2 |
| Alastair Smyth | Finance, Audit and Risk Committee Joint Policy Development Committee | 3/3 | 3/3 (FARC) 0/1 (JPDC) |
| Geoff Rivers | Finance, Audit and Risk Committee | 2/3 | 3/3 |
| Tim Sweeting (Member) | 1/1 (AGM) | n/a | |
| The Rt Revd Graham Usher (Member) | 1/1 (AGM) | n/a | |
| Dani Williams | Standards and Performance Committee | 1/4 | 1/3 |