Executive Board
The Executive Committee meets regularly throughout the year to ensure the smooth running of the Trust.
Areas of responsibility include finance, ICT, buildings, estates, administration, compliance and the management of risk.
Mr Phillip Wheatley
Appointed as CEO September 2024.
Phillip has been teaching for 27 years and is an experienced headteacher having led schools in London (Merton, Croydon and Brent) and Surrey. He has also been an executive headteacher in a cross phase trust, overseeing both primary and secondary schools. During this time he has worked for a number of national MATs.
As a teacher, his subject is economics and business having taught classes every year throughout his career. Alongside this he has remained a student, completing his Master’s in Education in 2011 and has most recently started a Doctorate in Education with St Mary’s University with a focus on disadvantaged children and young people.
Mr Julian Crane
Ex-officio Chair of Trustees
Appointed 8 November 2017 by the Members.
Chair of Trustees since November 2021. Previously Vice-Chair of Trustees, Chair of Audit Committee and Chair of Resources Committee.
Actively involved in school governance since 2009. Prior to becoming a trustee, Julian was Chair of Governors at Grove Road Primary School.
Currently, Director of Assurance & Risk Management at Alight Solutions, a $3bn turnover business transformation partner, providing health, wealth and payroll solutions to 4,300 clients globally.
Qualified Chartered Accountant and Pension Trustee.
Mrs Lorraine Slade
Chief Financial Officer in attendance
Qualified as a Chartered Accountant working for a top 5 audit firm in London. After spending nearly 6 years in audit, moved to a stockbroker working in their internal audit department. Subsequently worked for a TV production company as Group Financial Controller across Europe.
Joined Grove Road as Finance Manager in 2016, later becoming Finance Manager for RLP. Appointed CFO in November 2023.