National recognition for long-standing Chair

Academy and Lincolnshire Gateway Academies Trust Chair Philip Bond shared his experiences at a major national event organised by the Department for Education with almost 270 delegates online.

He was one of three Chairs on a panel at the ‘Working with Regions Group’ conference.

Mr Bond, first appointed a governor more than four decades ago, took part in a discussion in a programme designed for recently appointed Chief Executive Officers and Chairs of Trustees.

He said: "It was nice to receive the national recognition, for the Trust as well as personally.

"It went well and hopefully, by being able to share my experience with newly elected chairs of Trusts, it will have been a benefit to the national educational community."

The two experienced educationalists to join Mr Bond on the Chair of Trustees’ panel were Margaret Simmons-Bird MBE, chair of The Leaf Trust, and Ruth Agnew MBE, chief governance and people officer at Co-op Academies Trust.

Mr Bond said: "I was the only lay member on the panel. Between us, we had a wealth of experience to guide and support new chairs. We were asked to give our perspective of the role and provide two key tips for other delegates.

"Being chair of a multi-academy trust carries a huge amount of responsibility, including safeguarding children and staff. Discussions included national difficulties in trying to recruit both Trustees and Governors, especially as the role is entirely voluntary.

"It is very involved and those stepping up to undertake the role heard about the level of commitment needed on a day-to-day basis."

Their panel formed part of a two-and-a-half hour online event.

It focused on the vision for the school sector, the role of Regions Group and how it works with Trusts.

The Group is the direct link for the DfE between the Government Ministerial Team (led by the Secretary of State, Bridget Phillipson) and Academy Trusts and all other schools.

Mr Bond was first appointed governor at the then Toll Bar School in 1983. He was appointed chair in 1991 and became chair of the Trust when it was originally formed in 2010.

His background is in law and for many years, up until 2005, he served as a Principal Legal Adviser to Grimsby and Cleethorpes magistrates.

Since retiring, Mr Bond has worked as a Non-Executive Director within the NHS for the last 10 years and serves as a lay member on the Joint Committee of the NHS (local Integrated Care Board) and North East Lincolnshire Council.

Philip Bond – national recognition