Peter Cox (Chair of Trustees)
Peter Cox
Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching
- Currently Chief Executive of a Multi Academy Trust (MAT) in the north of England. Responsible for 3750 students across both primary and secondary phases, 400 staff and an annual budget of £20m.
- Currently Chair of Landau Forte Charitable Trust that has in excess of 4,000 students across primary and secondary phases, 530 staff and an annual budget of £27m
- Considerable experience as a senior leader in secondary schools. Previously a serving practitioner working for Ofsted as an inspector and was later seconded full time to Ofsted. Joined CfBT, Ofsted’s inspection service provider in the north of England as Principal Inspector, with special responsibility for secondary schools and schools causing concern.
- Particular expertise in Trust wide systems of leadership and management and school improvement. Extensive successful experience of leading school inspections across primary and secondary phases including academies and Initial Teacher Education settings.
- From September 2011 became an independent education consultant running a private consultancy. An inspirational trainer and keynote speaker. Led conferences and training on school improvement, including themes such as, inspection frameworks, leadership and management, teaching and learning and school and MAT governance.
- Previously Executive Principal of an Academy in the West Midlands and subsequently became the Chief Executive of the Trust.
- An experienced lead inspector for the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) and was an Education Advisor for the Department of Education’s (DfE) Academy Performance and Brokerage Division. Worked extensively with the DfE National Sponsors Unit and directly responsible to Sir David Carter the National Schools Commissioner for Oasis Learning Community.
- Previously a Trustee and Vice Chair of a MAT in Cheshire, Chair of Governors of an Academy belonging to the largest multi academy trust in England. On the national secondary advisory board for a southern based MAT, a Trustee for an East Midlands based MAT, a mentor for several CEOs and an academy improvement partner for eight MATs across the country.
- Peter has qualified teacher status, NPQH and a Master’s in Education Management.
David Shore
David Shore is Founder and Joint Chief Executive of Time 24 Ltd a Contract Manufacturer who has provided the wiring and Electronics on over 30,000 Rail Carriages, a 1000 Radiotherapy Machines, 600 Aircraft Simulators and over 500 Aircraft. David has been a Landau Forte Governor since 2000 and on the Trust Board since 2012. David sat on the National Manufacturing Council for nine years and is currently Chair of the Sussex Manufacturing Forum. He also sits on the regional Board of Make UK. David commented “ I am proud to be involved with the Landau Forte whose executive team demonstrate inspirational leadership and whose teaching staff are clearly so dedicated”.
Eric Cowcill
Eric Cowcill,
Born and raised in Stafford where I went to school before going on to study pharmacy at Aston University, Birmingham. I moved to Sandbach, Cheshire when offered employment in the family pharmacy which continued until the pharmacy was sold on. Thereafter, I undertook locum pharmacy duties at numerous locations in retail, hospital, and industry businesses until Covid and retirement beckoned.
I have had a lifelong interest in motorsport and was a competitor in rallies with many successes in UK and Europe. I also was a timekeeper at predominantly race meetings and upon retirement from pharmacy I had the opportunity to work as a timekeeper and results official in Formula 1 which I did for 9 years plus may other events worldwide. I was one of the founders of a company, Timing Solutions Limited specialising in timing, results and information dissemination in Tamworth which now provides services at around 500 events annually in UK and abroad. In addition to being a timekeeper, now mostly in UK I am also a Steward, part of the judicial body at motorsport events which has included working at numerous World Championship events including the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. I was privileged to serve on the Council of Motorsport UK, the national governing body, for many years and still continue to be active as a Steward, Timekeeper and Trainer.
John Ward
John Ward
I am currently part retired having been Managing Director and now Finance Director of Timing Solutions Ltd (TSL) based in Tamworth. TSL provides the Official timing services for Motorsport throughout the UK, as well as series’ in Europe, USA and Asia. I set up the company, from an interest of mine have taken early retirement from being Computer Auditor for National Grid.
I have been involved with Education for part of my career. I was Education Auditor for the City Of Salford working with the Director, Advisors and Senior Staff both Administration and Academic. I am a lead trainer for the Motorsport Association, which is the Governing Body for Motorsport within the UK.
Being part of the Chamber of Commerce I have attended the joint meetings between Business’ and Educationalists’ to make a point of the lack of awareness of students being interviewed of what businesses consist off and a lack of knowledge of what was expected from them. I was invited to take part in the mock interviews carried out at four of the schools in Tamworth. I was invited by QEMS to take part in the Young Enterprise scheme for which the school won an award and I won Business Advisor of the year in Staffordshire. Through the Enterprise and Careers Company and QEMS, I was appointed the Business Advisor for the school and for the Careers Ready program for year 10’s.
As a Trustee, I wish to help and assist where I can, to enhance the knowledge from a business perspective of the work of the school, its staff and more to the point, its students.
Joseph Chivayo
Joseph works as a senior policy advisor in the UK civil service. Recently completed his legal studies and was called to the Bar of England and Wales and waiting to complete pupillage inorder to practice. Joseph has a passion for making a positive difference and uses his expertise volunteering for a few charities including serving as Trustee for Masicorp UK a charity aimed at combating poverty through education in South Africa and Army Cadets UK , supporting cadets and adults leadership development. Outside work and voluntary activities, Joseph enjoys spending time with family and rugby.
Rebecca Scutt
Rebecca qualified as a primary teacher in 2001 and began her career in education in North Lincolnshire as a Year 6 teacher. She has worked predominantly in areas with a high level of social deprivation and has a track record of significantly improving outcomes in Reading, Writing and Mathematics at Key Stage 2.
Rebecca moved across to the borough of Rotherham in 2007 to take on her first leadership role as a Deputy Headteacher, progressing to Headteacher in 2009. During her first headship, she was responsible for leading the school out of an Ofsted category of ‘special measures’ to an outcome of ‘good’. Rebecca played a fundamental role in the formation of a Rotherham-based multi-academy trust.
Rebecca has significant experience of working as a senior leader: 2 principal posts, Assistant CEO and now CEO, responsible for the strategic leadership of 12 academies across Derbyshire, Rotherham and Sheffield.
Steven Caplan
Steven is a chartered surveyor and Fellow of the RICS. He has worked at senior levels in the private property sector and industry for over 20 years and more recently in the public sector as Director of Property in various councils including Derby City Council. He is married with two children and is a keen, but frustrated golfer.