Board Of Directors
The Board of Directors are the accountable body for all Academies within the Trust. The Board support and challenge school leadership, and meet at least once a term.
Mr William Thallon – Non Executive Director – Chair
William Thallon is a Mathematics Advisor for ‘Herts for Learning’, a school improvement organisation based in Stevenage. He has spent a career in education, having taught in Dorset, North Wales, Cumbria and Northamptonshire. From 2004 to 2015 he was Headteacher of Wrenn School in Wellingborough.
His interests include Music as well as Mathematics, having performed with a number of different groups, both locally and further afield. He has wide-ranging experience of a range of educational functions, including leadership and teaching & learning. He is also a governor of Bozeat Primary School.
Mr Rob Hardcastle – Chief Executive Officer
Rob Hardcastle, has almost 30 years of experience in education in Northamptonshire primary and secondary settings. He has worked in roles such as Advanced Skills Teacher, Deputy Headteacher, Headteacher and Head of Primary Education. He is currently CEO of Hatton Academies Trust.
Rob has a track record of successfully improving schools and securing educational excellence. Sir Christopher Hatton Academy is the highest performing secondary academy in the Northamptonshire and in the wider region and its primary academies are amongst the most improved in the county over the last three years.
In 2016, Rob was shortlisted for the Pearson Teaching Awards in the category of Primary Headteacher of the Year. He has secured judgements by Ofsted of Outstanding in every category in 2015. He is the senior partner for Challenge Partners Northants Hub and delivers NPQSL training for University College London.
Mr Colin Hinds – Director of Finance and Operations
Colin Hinds has over 30 years of experience in public sector finance both within the NHS and in education, having served as a Director of the Trust since its inception in 2012. He has a strong track record in the delivery of challenging strategic financial targets, whilst maximising resources available for front line teaching and learning. He is a passionate advocate for the achievement of the highest standards of probity and compliance in all aspects of the Trust’s work and leads by example in his promotion of the delivery of value for money for the public purse.
In his role as the Trust’s Director of Finance and Operations, Colin oversees all strategic aspects of the Trust’s financial, legal, statutory and administrative duties, including health and safety, school estates and catering facilities, IT services, HR and employment matters. He is also the Trust’s Data Protection Officer and Company Secretary and manages the Trust Central Operations Team, which he has developed from inception in 2014 to provide capacity for Academy leaders by managing back office functions outside of their expertise, whilst enabling them to focus on school improvement strategy.
Colin is a former pupil of Westfield/Sir Christopher Hatton (1989 alumni) and a Trustee of Oakway Nursery.
Mr Graham Lawman – Non-Executive Director - Vice Chair
Living in the town, Graham Lawman is a North Northants Councillor for Hatton Park Division & a Wellingborough Town Councillor for Redwell Ward and very active in the community.
Graham is keen to see excellence in education everywhere and is delighted to be able to support the Trust in achieving this – our children are our future!
At NNC, he is Chairman of the Scrutiny Management Board and Place and Environment Scrutiny Committee as well as serving on other committees. Previously, at NCC, he was Chairman of the £2.4bn Pensions fund, Finance Scrutiny Vice-Chairman and an Assistant Cabinet Member, Finance and was the last Chairman of the Council.
For WTC, he is currently the leader and Chairman of the Finance Committee as well as the Waendel Walk Committee. At BCW, he was a past Mayor and Services Committee Chairman, with community and health responsibility, as well as having held other posts and sat on the Development and Planning Committees.
He is also a Governor at Croyland Primary School, Board member of the Wellibus (Shire Community Services Ltd), Board member of Hemmingwell Community & Skills Centre, Public Governor at Kettering General Hospital, Trustee at Wellingborough Sea Cadets and Secretary of Northants Cricket League as well as supporting Wellingborough Town FC. He was previously a Board Member of the former Wellingborough, now Greatwell, Homes and Victoria Centre.
Now semi-retired, he was a self-employed finance broker and is married to Lora, a fellow Councillor.
Mr David Morris – Non Executive Director
David Morris is an active Chartered Quantity Surveyor and currently a Director at Tompkins Robinson Surveyors, in Wellingborough. He has served as a Governor at Sir Christopher Hatton Academy since 2004 and has chaired the School’s Premises and Health and Safety committee ever since.
David is recognised as the Trust’s resident expert for all capital and maintenance projects in the Academy. He is also an ex-pupil of both Oakway and Westfield / Sir Christopher Hatton School, (1986 alumni) and lives in Wellingborough.
Mr Rashesh Joshi – Non Executive Director
Rashesh is one of the co-founders and Managing Director at Alexander Rosse, a graduate Chartered Director, and Chartered Accountant.
Rashesh's main expertise is in combining good corporate governance with significant mergers and acquisition experience having worked on a number of corporate transactions totalling some $5.5 billion.
He chairs the Audit & Risk committee for the Trust and is also the Chair of the Institute of Directors in Buckinghamshire.
He is a former pupil of both Victoria Junior School and Westfield/Sir Christopher Hatton (1989 alumni) and lives in Milton Keynes.
Mr Chris Brown - Non Executive Director
Chris Brown is a qualified certified Accountant with over 20 years experience and has worked in a variety of industries giving him a well-rounded business experience.
He has always lived in Wellingborough attending Wrenn School as a student and both his children attended Sir Christopher Hatton Academy. Chris is currently a Chief Financial Officer at Eden UK in Wellingborough.
Julia Kedwards (Templeman) - Non Executive Director
Julia Kedwards is the Chief Executive Officer of Northampton Primary Academy Trust (NPAT). Julia has worked for the Trust for many years, having previously been Headteacher of Ecton Brook Primary School, a larger than average split site primary school in Northampton. Julia is a founding member of NPAT and has led the evolution of the trust from its original five schools to its current position, establishing a central team and developing clear strategies for the development of the education, finance, operations and growth functions.
Julia was awarded an OBE for her work in the Queens New Years Honours List 2018.
Kay Aitken - Non Executive Director
Kay Aitken has over 20 years experience of working in Community Safety where she has developed a strong background in safeguarding. She currently works with schools, communities and young people to help raise awareness of the wider safeguarding agenda, helping to implement projects and activities to help minimise risk behaviours.
Kay has also worked in local secondary school environments providing young people with the opportunity to complete their Duke of Edinburgh award as well as many roles in scouting over 20 years.
Kay has two children who currently attend schools with the Trust and is passionate about the safety and welfare of young people.
Joanne Austen - Non Executive Director
Joanne Austen, has lived and worked in Wellingborough and the surrounding area all of her life. She has over 20 years of experience in the classroom, primarily as an infant teacher as well as various other roles including senior leader, advisory teacher and committee member.
Jo's interest in the Trust began by wanting a parental voice to be included but she is also passionate about children having the best life chances and opportunities possible.
Helen Carville - Non Executive Director
Helen Carville is a Solicitor of around 30 years' experience and has been Managing Partner of Max Engel & Co LLP in Northampton for over 10 years. She has considerable experience in commercial law, and is well versed in the requirements for accountability in connection with the fiduciary and strategic obligations placed on those in positions of responsibility.
Helen is well placed to interpret statutory requirements and consult on the practical implementation of them and also has experience of strategic planning, budgeting and compliance, and weighing up and evaluating conflicting interests and ethical concerns.
Helen has two children at the school and has a strong interest in ensuring that high standards are both set and reached.
How to contact any of our Directors or Members:
Contact : Debbie Felce, Hatton Academies Trust, Orchard House, 79 Gold Street, Wellingborough, Northants. NN8 4EQ
Email: felced@hattonacademiestrust.org.uk
Tel: 01933 221428