The Board of Trustees is responsible for the strategic leadership and accountability of Victorious Academies Trust. Trustees are both charity trustees and company directors and are collectively responsible for ensuring the Trust delivers high-quality education, remains financially sustainable and fulfils its statutory responsibilities.
The Board focuses on three core functions:
- Setting the strategic direction, vision and values of the Trust.
- Holding executive leaders to account for educational performance and organisational effectiveness.
- Overseeing financial performance and ensuring public funds are used effectively.
Trustees are responsible for ensuring the Trust complies with company law, charity law, its funding agreement and the requirements of the Academy Trust Handbook.
Trustees act in the best interests of all academies across the Trust and are accountable for ensuring that every pupil has the opportunity to succeed.
The Trustees of our Trust are:
Chair of the Trust Board.
Andy Hodgkinson
Chair of Trustees
Michael Booker
Date of Appointment: December 2021
Term of Office: 4 years
Appointed by: Members of Victorious Academies Trust
Governance Roles in Other Educational Institutions:
Michael has 44 years’ experience in education having held leadership roles in schools, local authorities, and the private sector. He has extensive governance experience having served as a governor in both the primary (12 years) and the secondary (10 years) sectors holding a range of positions including Chair of Governors.
Michael Booker
Trustee
Karen Burns
Date of Appointment: January 2018
Term of Office: Ongoing
Appointed by: Members of Victorious Academies Trust
Governance Roles in Other Educational Institutions: Member of North West Advisory Board and FED Partner.
Karen Burns
Chief Executive Officer
Sarah Farquhar
Date of Appointment: July 2025
Term of Office: 4 years
Appointed by: Members of Victorious Academies Trust
Sarah Farquhar
Trustee
Victoria Hewitt-Lee
Date of Appointment: January 2018
Term of Office: 4 years
Appointed by: Members of Victorious Academies Trust
Governance Roles in Other Educational Institutions: Ex-Officio Governor at St John’s CE School, Dukinfield
During her 33 years as a practitioner, Vicki has worked across the whole primary education sector. Her passion was ignited by her interest in Early Years Education and the awe and wonder that can bring to the whole school. Vicki’s brand of education is driven by providing a shared vision with a mission to succeed. As Vice Chair of Tameside Primary consortium for four years, she liaised with the LA for better outcomes for schools. Currently, she supports Headteachers who are new to the role for Chester Diocese and is Chair of Tameside and Stockport Diocesan Committee.
Being a Trustee has enabled Vicki to continue to be devoted to delivering the best outcomes to the children of Tameside and beyond.
Victoria Hewitt-Lee
Trustee
Sarah Farquhar
Date of Appointment: July 2025
Term of Office: 4 years
Appointed by: Members of Victorious Academies Trust
Alison Kelly
Trustee
Dean McDonagh
Date of Appointment: January 2018
Term of Office: 4 years
Appointed by: Members of Victorious Academies Trust
Governance Roles in Other Educational Institutions: Governor at Dane Bank Primary School, Reddish
Dean is a specialist in education data, particularly around educational attainment and achievement. He is currently Head of Data and Analytics at Leverhulme Academy Trust and was previously Education Data Lead for Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council. Dean is an experienced trainer, having delivered training on education data to headteachers, senior leaders and Ofsted inspectors. He also has lots of experience of school governing boards, having been a school governor at both primary and secondary schools. Dean is Chair of the Trust Achievement and Improvement Committee.
Dean McDonagh
Trustee
Andrew Williams
Date of Appointment: November 2022
Term of Office: 4 years
Appointed by: Members of Victorious Academies Trust
Governance Roles in Other Educational Institutions: None
Andrew is a senior executive with 35 years of experience. He has set up and grown management consultancies both in the UK and globally. He has led and delivered multi million GBP consulting engagements for global corporate clients. His versatile, people-oriented leadership style has been demonstrated in both large and independent consultancies. During his time at KPMG he was the global head of manufacturing consulting and led a number of their most significant accounts in the consumer/pharma sectors. He grew their supply chain practice in the UK through major client transformation programs and working on numerous deals. His deal experience is from operation due diligence through to post integration transformation. In addition to director/partner roles in both Deloitte and KPMG he has delivered as both an independent consultant and in small, entrepreneurial businesses.
Andrew Williams
Trustee
David Williams
Date of Appointment: June 2023
Term of Office: 4 years
Appointed by: Members of Victorious Academies Trust
Governance Roles in Other Educational Institutions:
David is a senior Chartered Civil Engineer with over 35 years’ experience in the construction industry. He has extensive experience of driving projects and programmes to help clients achieve their outcomes. He has proven leadership skills and specialises in identifying key drivers, understanding client organisations with a focus on governance and stakeholder management and ensuring appropriate structures are in place. He has experience of sitting on a risk committee and has strong financial skills, having implemented a new finance system. He is a member of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce Construction Group.
David Williams
Trustee