Trustees of the Gallery Trust
Kay Willett MBE – Chief Executive Officer
Kay Willett has worked in special and mainstream education for over 25 years, and was Head Teacher of Iffley Academy, Oxfordshire’s largest special school, since 2003. Kay combines her role as CEO with that of Executive Head Teacher of Iffley Academy. Iffley Academy received an Outstanding Ofsted judgement in January 2015 and February 2019. Kay is a National Leader in Education, working alongside colleagues in schools to effect positive change, and has a strong track record of providing school to school support. As a coach for ‘Women Leading in Education’, Kay mentors Head Teachers and aspiring school leaders. Kay has served as Chair of Oxfordshire Special Schools Association, chaired High Needs funding block reviews, and works with Oxfordshire County Council on the SEND provision map and growth strategy.
Chris Scrivener – Chair of Trustees
Chris has worked in education throughout his professional career. He spent 25 years in teaching and leadership roles in a range of schools in inner city, suburban and market towns. He joined Oxfordshire County Council as a Schools Adviser leading teams of curriculum specialists, including work with special schools. Chris specialised in supporting effective leadership and governance of schools in challenging circumstances. Chris has been a School Improvement Partner since retiring from full-time work and for many years was an Ofsted inspector with a teacher training focus.
Chris has a passion for global education, and has extensive experience working in several African countries and continues to work regularly with schools and their leaders in Uganda.
Matthew Willis
Matthew is an electronic engineer with 35 years’ experience in hi-tech companies, including over 20 years at board level. He is a Chartered
Engineering and Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology, and is now owner/director of a design consultancy.
Matthew’s involvement in education includes being a governor at Bardwell School, where his son was a former pupil, and serving on an advisory
board of the Research Council UK. Matthew has 15+ years experience of charity trusteeship and governance, and is currently a trustee of a small grant making charity for young people.
Allyson Milward
Allyson Milward is a qualified company secretary and has worked extensively in local government mainly in the police and education sectors. She has worked with all types of education settings. Roles in asset management planning, pupil place planning, capital infrastructure and the academies programme have required excellent relationships with all stakeholders including school leaders, the Department for Education, academy sponsors and local politicians. She has led the introduction of many new ways of working to deliver national and local priorities in schools and private, voluntary and independent settings.
Allyson retired in May 2022 and joined The Gallery Trust to support the education offer for children with SEND.
Diana McMahon
Diana McMahon retired from the UK Civil Service in 2022, after 35 years working in HM Revenue & Customs, latterly as Deputy Director leading planning, performance, capability and strategic change in a tax compliance Directorate. As well as her tax professional experience, Diana is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute with a particular interest in developing capability. Diana’s daughter was a student in one of the Gallery Trust’s schools until 2021.
Helen Barter
Helen Barter is an educational specialist having worked for over 30 years in all phases of school inspection, including SEN, and early years inspection/regulation. As a leader, trainer and manager of change, Helen successfully implemented programmes for early years, including the inspections of Children’s Centres. Latterly she was a Principal Inspector in the Middle East, managing and leading the inspections of multi-national, multi-curricula schools. She has in-depth knowledge of the National Professional Qualifications (NPQ) for school leaders through her current work as an external moderator and QA lead. Helen joined The Gallery Trust in July 2024 having shown interest in the development of the Trust’s Artemis school to be opened in Faringdon.
Simon Terrington
Simon has worked as a management consultant for over 30 years. He also served as a Director of Ofcom, the communications regulator from 2016 to 2019.
He is passionate about education. As a consultant he has advised many organisations that offer education services. Early in his career he worked as a teacher on a professional and voluntary basis, in primary and secondary schools. He studied mathematics at Cambridge, has an MA and PhD from London University and was a visiting fellow at Oxford. He has YouTube channels on mathematics and chess. He has also made programmes for BBC Radio about chess.
Paul Cann OBE
Paul has worked as a Charity Director for over 30 years, for organisations promoting the interests of young people with special educational needs (SEND), and subsequently for older people. His focus has been campaigning against poverty and for equality. In his early career he worked as a teacher, civil servant and business executive. He co-founded the Campaign to End Loneliness, and has recently trained as a parent supporter for families living with SEND. He has two grandchildren at a Gallery Trust school.
Trustees can be contacted by email: office@thegallerytrust.co.uk