How Ark's governance works
Every school in the Ark network is the legal responsibility of the Ark Schools Board. This board focuses on statutory duties and delegates most day-to-day responsibilities to each school’s individual Local Governing Body (LGB).
This means that our Academy's governors are able to concentrate on the things that really matter – educational strategy, school outcomes and aspiration.
The Ark Schools Decision Making Framework outlines where responsibility and accountability sits for the key functional areas within Ark Schools between the ‘tiers’ of governance.
Our Local Governing Body
Our Local Governing Body (LGB) is made up of 6-10 members – usually people with a local connection or interest who are committed to supporting educational opportunity in the area. The board generally includes:
- Academy Principal
- Up to two Parent Governors
- One Teaching Staff Governor
- One Non-teaching Staff Governor
- One Local Authority representative
We aim to create a balanced group that will have the right skills, connections and dynamic for the LGB to work well and support the school in achieving exceptional performance. Attributes we look for include:
- Good insight into the specific challenges at the school and the general challenges of operating top-quality schools
- Excellent community links
- Specific skills as needed by/relevant to the school
- A link to the senior executive team of Ark Schools
All appointments are made by the Director of Governance for Ark Schools. The term of a governor is three years, except for the Principal, who remains a governor for the duration of his or her time in post. Governors may be reappointed for further terms.
The LGB meets four times a year.
Becoming a governor
If you have an interest and commitment to improving education, and would like to make a difference within your community, please register your interest in becoming a governor by completing our online Governor Application Form. If you have any questions about a governor’s role or responsibilities please contact us at governance.team@arkonline.org
A full programme of induction, training and support is provided. You can see more information, including role specifications here.
Contacting the governors
The current Clerk to Governors is Cathi Hughes (Catherine.Hughes@arkonline.org). Please contact them if you have any governance-related queries, or would like to contact one of the governors.
Our Governors
Adam Small
Adam Small is a Theatre Director and Producer with experience in creating theatre, the arts industry, creative roles within the industry and how to build an arts career. He is empathetic, analytical and passionate about social opportunity and equity, empowering all young people to seize their passions and build fulfilling independent lives. He is currently undertaking a MA in US History and Politics at UCL.
Faheem Khan
Faheem is a Strategy & Business Development professional with over 10 years of experience in the energy industry, prior to which he worked as a management consultant in South Africa. After moving to the UK in 2010 to complete a Masters at Imperial College, he worked in the oil & gas industry, primarily negotiating contracts with middle eastern governments. Over the last three years, he has been working on the development of renewable energy projects including solar farms, green hydrogen projects and offshore wind farms. Faheem has been a volunteer with STEM learning for a number of years, and holds a firm belief that education is the most effective solution to transform and uplift future generations. Faheem’s first child has recently enrolled in Ark Priory.
Joanne Kilpatrick
Jo is the Primary Music Specialist for the Ark Central Music Team and joined Ark in April 2021. She has been a primary teacher for 20 years, working various schools across London as well as seven years as Director of Primary Music at the British School in the Netherlands. She was appointed as a teacher-governor at Betty Layward School in Hackney where she worked for just under a decade as a class teacher across KS1 and KS2, became the music specialist and also stepped up as Assistant Head.
Natalie Nowack
After teaching English as a Foreign Language in Germany and Switzerland, I returned to the United Kingdom to work for Ark after learning of Ark’s paid teacher trainee program. More so than its outstanding rated training, it was the mission that every pupil has a right to excellent education, regardless of background, that struck a chord with myself and from that moment I have shared this commitment.
Daniela Karmios
Tom O'Beirne
Tom is a Teach First alumni and former maths teacher who has worked in education for the last 10 years, including with Ark Ventures. Tom believes passionately in the potential for technology to support teachers in the classroom and help to provide equality of education and opportunity for all.
George Steventon
George is a Fund Controller at Equitix a private equity firm investing in infrastructure and renewables having previously worked as an auditor at KPMG London and worked in Jersey for EY. His interest in educational governance stemmed from his partner being a teacher in South East London. He believes firmly in the transformative capacity of education having worked on projects in schools in Malawi, Nicaragua and North East London; and seen first-hand the importance and power of education.
Dominic Markham
After studying Economics at Nottingham University, Dominic spent three years Chartering as an Accountant before becoming an Investment Banker in London. Dominic has worked with many companies of varying sizes across many sectors. He hopes to leverage his financial skills as a school governor to ensure clear strategic direction and to oversee the financial performance of the school.
Dominic has been surrounded by teachers all his life as both his parents were headteachers and his partner is the head of Year 8 at a local secondary school. With this, he has gained an invaluable insight into what is required for schools to be supported and improve.