Board of Trustees

Chair

Andy taught as a secondary school teacher for 8 years before becoming a youth worker in the voluntary sector. Andy is now a self-employed consultant leader with the Isca Church and Charity based in Exeter, supporting a small network of linked churches across Devon and Somerset. In addition, Andy is a director of South West Youth Ministries and serves on Exeter University's Multi-Faith Chaplaincy Sponsors Team. Andy has also been a school governor for 23 years in both primary and secondary education, including being Chair of the Local Governing Body for one of the Ted Wragg Trust's secondary schools.

Vice Chair

Philip served as Chief Executive of Exeter City Council for 16 years until his retirement in 2013, following a long and wide-ranging local government career. He joined Exeter College as a governor in 2010 and served as Chair of the College’s Board of Governors between 2013 and 2017. He received an Honorary Doctorate (LLD) from the University of Exeter in 2014. Philip joined the Ted Wragg Trust in 2017 and currently chairs the Growth Committee.

Accounting Officer

Moira is the Chief Executive Officer of the Ted Wragg Multi Academy Trust having worked in Exeter since 2007 as Deputy and then as Headteacher of St James School. She has a track record of driving school improvement and has a particular passion for inclusive education. Moira is a member of the Devon Association of Secondary Heads and is a National Leader of Education.

Principal Finance Officer

Alex is a chartered accountant and economics graduate and was for many years managing partner of a local accountancy practice. He is an experienced non-executive director and business advisor. Alex was originally appointed a Governor at St James School in 2013 and is keen to use his experience to help the Ted Wragg Trust continue to thrive. Alex is a Local Leader of Governance. He is Chair of First Federation Trust, Chair of Devon Association of Governors, represents academies at Devon Education Forum and Devon Schools Finance Group and is a member of Exeter Diocesan Board of Education Schools Organisation and Governance Group .

Rob is Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Exeter College. He has been involved in developing the Exeter Education Ecosystem over the past 20 years and is the former Chair of the Trust Board. He is also a Director at Exeter City Futures, the Exeter Chamber of Commerce and the South West Institute of Technology.

David is a Professor of Education at the University of Exeter. Previous to this he was the founding Head of the Manchester Institute of Education at the University of Manchester. David has an interest in large scale educational reform and its effects upon teachers and the wider workforce in education. As Chair of the Trust Education Committee, David focuses upon ensuring that young people from all backgrounds are appropriately challenged and supported in their school based learning experiences.

Saxon has extensive experience of local government and education at local, regional and national level as a Devon County Councillor for 36 years, 29 as leader of the Labour Group and is a Freeman of the City of Exeter. She is a school governor at Newtown Primary School, a member of the Northbrook Board of Managers and serves on Devon’s SACRE. Outside of education Saxon is actively involved in the Co-operative and Labour Parties, Fairtrade and is a trustee of Exeter Food Action.

Richard Jacobs is an Exeter Business man, was a magistrate for 23 years and Chairman of the Youth Panel for nine. Richard's focus is on children from disadvantaged backgrounds. He was founder Chairman of the Marsh Barton Forum and the Exeter Business Forum, a member of the Exmouth Regeneration Board and supports the Development Campaign for Exeter Cathedral.

Sarah was born in Exeter and educated at schools that are now part of the Ted Wragg Trust. She graduated in 1997, became a primary school teacher and during her career has taught all primary school year groups. Sarah is currently a teacher at Willand Primary School (Ofsted ‘outstanding’). Sarah has been a school governor and Vice-Chair of the governing body of a local primary school. She has also served as a Director on the Board of a primary school Multi Academy Trust. Sarah believes strongly in optimising the educational experience of all young people but especially in the vital importance of a sound primary education as an essential precursor to effective secondary and higher level education.

Formerly Chief Executive of the Sutton Trust, education journalist and government advisor on Social Mobility, Lee is Britain's first Professor of Social Mobility. Appointed by the University of Exeter to be a global leader in the field, Lee's work is dedicated to improving the prospects of disadvantaged young people, working closely with schools, universities, employers and policy makers to develop and disseminate research. Lee is a founding trustee of the Education Endowment Foundation, a Visiting Fellow at the London School of Economics International Inequalities Institute, and an Honorary Professor at the UCL Institute of Education.

Crispin has worked in the field of Mental Health since 1980. He is currently Head of CAMHS for Devon & Torbay. Crispin is the Mental Health Lead Trustee and uses his extensive knowledge and experience to look at mental health in the context of the individual, the family, education and society. He is passionate about education for all children and young people and a key focus for Crispin will be to work with the Trust to ensure that all staff and students are mentally healthy.