Directors and Academy Councils
An Academy Trust is a particular type of company, officially called a ‘charitable company limited by guarantee’.
The Trust is registed at Companies’ House with the company number 7542114. Unlike other companies an Academy Trust has no share capital and is required to direct all funds received to achieving the objectives of the Trust.
In the case of the Pegasus Academy Trust, the primary objective – as stated in its articles of association – is ‘to advance for the public benefit education in the United Kingdom’.
Directors of the Trust, like Directors of other companies, are registered at Companies House. Their main duties are described in the Academy Trust handbook as:
- strategic leadership that sets and champions vision, ethos and strategy;
- accountability that drives up educational standards and financial performance;
- people with the right skills, experience, qualities and capacity;
- structures that reinforce clearly defined roles and responsibilities;
- compliance with statutory and contractual requirements;
- evaluation of governance to monitor and improve its quality and impact
You can see minutes and agendas of the Board of Directors on our ‘Statutory Information’ pages here
Company information
We are legally required to file certain documents, including full annual accounts, at Companies House and members of the public may check the information held there by going to their search page and entering our company number – 07542114.
Directors of the Trust
-
Richard Hill
Chair of Directors -
Emma Whapham
Appointed (co-opted) by Board of Trustees -
Ian Patterson
Co-opted Director Chair of PAT Finance Committee -
Gary Griffin
Co-opted Director -
Jo Ridge
Chief Financial Officer, Business Strategic Lead Company Secretary -
Nina Pogossova
Co-opted Director -
Shelley Davies
Appointed (co-opted) by academy members -
Sasha Henry-Crawford
-
Xavier Villers
-
Carl Knightly
Co-opted Director PAT

Richard Hill
Responsibilities:
Chair of Directors

Emma Whapham
Term of Service started:
13th December 2019
Term of Service ends:
12th December 2023
Responsibilities:
Appointed (co-opted) by Board of Trustees
I am a mum of a toddler, a local Croydon resident and a senior HR Professional. I grew up in South East London and moved to the Croydon area in 2018 with an interest to support the local community. I have been able to do so through being a governor. I joined the governing board of Thornton Heath Nursery school in March 2019, becoming the Chair of Governors there later that year. I joined the Board of Directors at Pegasus Academy Trust late 2019. Professionally, over the last 10+ years, I have worked across the full spectrum of Human Resources activities in the Retail industry and now in the Wine and Spirits industry. In my current role I am responsible for Talent and Development.”

Ian Patterson
Term of Service started:
16th December 2016
Term of Service ends:
15th December 2024
Responsibilities:
Co-opted Director Chair of PAT Finance Committee
I spent my entire career working in the finance sector, latterly as a regional director for the south east of England based in Croydon specialising in the SME sector. I have been a director of the Pegasus Academy Trust since December 2016, and chair the Finance Committee. I am also a qualified business mentor and serve as a governor in the secondary sector.

Gary Griffin
Term of Service started:
12th March 2019
Term of Service ends:
12th March 2023
Responsibilities:
Co-opted Director
Gary was until very recently Head Master at Immanuel College, Bushey. He is currently a Governor at Chelsea Academy with particular responsibility for Staff Welfare and Pupil Personal development & Inclusion and a member of the Students & Curriculum Committee. Also a Trustee on the Board of Management at the Royal Alexandra and Albert School in Reigate.
Gary has over thirty years expertise in school leadership. During this time he led on school management, current educational developments and policies, governance and safeguarding.

Jo Ridge
Responsibilities:
Chief Financial Officer, Business Strategic Lead Company Secretary
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Nina Pogossova
Term of Service started:
16th December 2016
Term of Service ends:
15th December 2024
Responsibilities:
Co-opted Director

Shelley Davies
Term of Service started:
14th May 2019
Term of Service ends:
14th May 2023
Responsibilities:
Appointed (co-opted) by academy members

Sasha Henry-Crawford
Term of Service started:
1 September 2021
Term of Service ends:
31 August 2024
Over the past two decades, I’ve worked in marketing and commercial roles ranging from financial services to my current industry transport and logistics, where I lead a broad product portfolio. I’ve also led community-based organisations and charities across the UK with a key focus on education, health and minority ethnic groups.
I’m currently an Advisor to ‘NoTurningBack2020’ – which seeks to increase representation of black, Asian and minority ethnic groups in the marketing and communications industry. I hold a BSc. in International Relations and Economics and two postgraduate degrees in Marketing. I’m currently undertaking a professional doctorate degree in Business Administration.

Xavier Villers
Term of Service started:
1st September 2021
Term of Service ends:
31st August 2024
I graduated from Oxford University in 1980, and spent my working career in the insurance industry in the City of London specialising in the marine sector, and extreme risks. I now hold a number of non-executive roles in finance, charity, and education. I have been a non-executive director for four years of a company which runs two independent, not for profit, primary schools in London prior to joining the board of Pegasus Academy Trust. I have also resumed my own education, and recently completed a master’s degree in historical studies focusing on seventeenth century English history.

Carl Knightly
Term of Service started:
15th September 2022
Term of Service ends:
14th September 2026
Responsibilities:
Co-opted Director PAT
Appointed by Board
Structure
The Trust is currently organised according to the following structure:
Members: Geri Vassell, Patricia Salami, Richard Hill
Trustees (Directors): See current list in block above.
Committees:
- Full Directors: Chair – Richard Hill;
- Finance, Remuneration & Resources: Chair – Ian Patterson
Other committees such as:
- Disciplinary Committee;
- Appeals Committee;
- Complaints Committee
… are convened from members of the Board of Directors and/or MACs as required.
Board of Directors Attendance & Pecuniary Interests
Academy Councils
Each school in the Trust has its own Academy Council. The Academy Council is responsible for monitoring key aspects of each school’s performance namely:
- Outcomes for children and learners;
- Quality of teaching, learning and assessment;
- Behaviour and welfare (including safeguarding);
- Ethos and values (and how they match the Trust’s overall values statements)
Members of the Academy Councils (MACs) are expected to establish for themselves what is happening in their schools and to ensure that they receive evidence on these key aspects from a variety of sources. A budget is set aside by Directors so that, when required, Academy Councils may commission their own consultants to give an independent view on areas of concern.
Academy Councils (sometimes known as ‘Local Governing Bodies’) are vital to Directors in ensuring that local voices are properly heard and the have the right to escalate matters to Directors if they vote to do so. Since the formation of the Trust at least one Director has attended each Academy Council so that a quick response can be given where required.