Members and Trustees
Chief Executive & Trustee
Mark Kent
Mark Kent
Mark joined the City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College as Principal in January 2016 and is also the Chief Executive of the Potteries Educational Trust. Having moved from his previous post as Deputy Principal at King Edward VI College, Stourbridge this is Mark’s sixth post in a sixth form college in his almost 30-year teaching career.
MoreMembers
Liz Barnes
Liz Barnes
Professor Liz Barnes retired from her role as Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Staffordshire University after having served in the role since 1 April 2016. She was previously Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University where she worked for two years and her responsibilities included shaping the academic portfolio, enhancing the student experience and developing partnerships with Colleges, International Institutions and employers.
Prior to this she held leadership roles at the University of Derby as Deputy Vice Chancellor (partnerships and region) and previously Pro-Vice-Chancellor – a role she took up in 2010.
Originally from Stafford, Professor Barnes started her career as a PE and Maths teacher in Stoke-on-Trent. She completed her MMedSci at Sheffield University and subsequently taught physiology at Teeside University where she introduced sport science. Whilst at Teesside, she also led the development of technology enhanced learning and internationalisation across the university. She was appointed as the first University Teaching Fellow in 1998 and later became Dean of Social Sciences and Law.
Professor Barnes’ career has been built on her passion for teaching and interests in employer engagement and technology-enhanced learning. She is a QAA auditor and Chair of the charity Safe and Sound Derby. She is also a member and Trustee of a number of other organisations.
She is married with two daughters and lives in Abbots Bromley.
Trevor McMillan
Trevor McMillan
Professor Trevor McMillan became Vice-Chancellor of Keele University in August 2015. Before moving to Keele as Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost in January 2014 he was Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research at Lancaster University, where he led several major academic developments and was the lead for many partnerships with other Universities and external organisations in the UK and abroad.
More
Mike Herbert
Mike Herbert
Mike is a native of North Staffordshire with over 40 years’ experience dealing with commercial property in the Stoke on Trent and North Staffordshire area.
He trained as a Chartered Surveyor with the Inland Revenue Valuation Office in the 1970’s, spent 10 years in private practice with Louis Taylor Chartered Surveyors before joining St. Modwen in 1990.
MoreMember & Trustee
Martin Jones
Martin Jones (CHAIR oF TRUST Board)
Martin was appointed as the Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of Staffordshire University on 1 January 2022, having been promoted from his role as Deputy Vice Chancellor. He was previously the Director of the White Rose Doctoral Training Centre and Professor of Human Geography at the University of Sheffield.
Prior to these appointments Martin worked at Aberystwyth University as the Dean of Social Science, Co-Director of the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research and Pro-Vice Chancellor.
Martin has also worked at the University of Manchester in the School of Geography.
Martin is a graduate of the Leadership Foundation’s Top Management Programme (TMP28) and is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) and an Academician of Social Sciences.
Trustees
John Smart
John Smart
John has more than 30 years experience as a senior manager and business consultant, working across a whole range of sectors and sizes of organisation. John has two passions, one is helping people think differently, encouraging an environment that allows people to be both creative and innovative and secondly, harnessing that innovation to develop digital technology solutions to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
More
Kath Smith BA, PGCE, MA, MBA
Kath Smith
Kath joined the City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College Corporation in July 2015. She has worked in the field of further education most of her adult life. During her time as a lecturer at Stoke-on-Trent College she began to specialise in in the field of special education and in 1987 co-founded an independent specialist college for students with learning difficulties and disabilities. She became a principal of the college in 1994.
More
Paul Mangnall BSc
Paul Mangnall
Paul spent the whole of his 39 year career in the Sixth Form College initially at Winstanley College, joining the City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College in 1981 as a Head of Department. Paul was promoted to a senior manager position in 1993 and was closely involved in the to move independence at Incorporation in 1993.
More
Peter Gavin
Peter Gavin
Peter is retired from his employment as a lawyer and Managing Partner of Freeths LLP’s Stoke office (formerly KJD Solicitors).
Peter is born and bred in Stoke-on-Trent and after high school spent 3 years at Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College before joining KJD Solicitors in 1982. He undertook part time study for his law degree and graduated from Staffordshire University where he also undertook his Legal Practice Course.
Peter advised and acted for Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College for over 25 years and was part of KJD’s team which oversaw the College’s relocation from Fenton Manor to the current Stoke site.
Peter joined the Trust Board following conversion to Academy status in 2017.
Charles Freeman PhD, MA(Ed), BSc
Charles Freeman
Charles has served the City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College as Governor since 2002 and has been Chair of the Corporation since September 2010, he is also Vice-Chair of a number of the Corporation Committees. From May 2000 to August 2008 he served as Headteacher of Wolstanton High School, Newcastle-under-Lyme which is an 11-16 mixed comprehensive school with 1100 pupils coming under Staffordshire Local Authority.
More
Michelle Johnstone
Michelle Johnstone
Michelle Johnstone is an executive Headteacher working across two large primary schools and a nursery school in Stoke-on-Trent. She is a qualified teacher and has extensive senior management experience in schools as a Headteacher and as a local authority adviser, supporting and challenging schools within the primary sector and leading the early years quality improvement team.
MoreImage to follow
Robert Johnstone
Robert is the Senior Executive Leader of the Orchard Community Trust. He is an experienced education professional with many years of experience in this field. He is a qualified teacher and during his career has been a teacher, deputy Headteacher and a Headteacher of two schools. He has worked for different local authorities as an Advisor, Strategic Manager and Acting Assistant Director for Learning Services.
Robert is experienced in supporting and challenging schools to help them to improve and has experience of developing teaching and learning across Early Years settings and primary schools. He is also skilled in developing leaders to sustain improvement in their schools. He has managed a wide range of LA education services, including Schools improvement, Special Educational Needs, Admissions, Traded Services, Governor Support and Employment Learning and Skills. Robert is a skillful negotiator, communicator and can motivate colleagues to learn and do well.
He has experience as an OfSTED Inspector, School Improvement Partner and a Primary Assessment Moderator. He has been an Opportunity Area board member in Stoke-on-Trent.
Image to follow
Clare Mayer
Clare is the Business Risk Manager for Staffordshire University.
Clare serves as the Chair of Governors for Moorside High School.
Image to follow
John Hunter
John is a retired IT professional educated to Masters degree level in Mathematics. He has extensive experience of IT systems and IT and physical security. He has managed many large IT projects and has a strong knowledge of project finance and accounting. He has several years’ experience of school governorship and currently serves as Chair of Governors at Biddulph High School.
Image to follow
Rosie Jones
Rosie is the Finance Director of Synetics Solutions Ltd, Stoke-on-Trent. She leads the finance department and works with the Board of Directors and Senior Leadership Teams to ensure all leaders of the business have access to and understand the financial information that enables them to make better business decisions. Rosie works closely with the CEO at Synetics Solutions Ltd on strategic planning.
Rosie works alongside her co-director in overseeing the finance of Port Vale Football Club and the Hubb Foundation.
Rosie is passionate about the power of education to transform a person’s future and recognises the importance of education that goes far beyond teaching people new knowledge or skills, to provide opportunities to build self confidence and self worth. Through her work with the Hubb Foundation, Rosie recognises the challenges faced across the City of Stoke-on-Trent.
Image to follow
Kristyan Spelman Miller
Kristyan is the Pro Vice Chancellor for Education at Keele University, providing senior leadership for education and student experience, portfolio development, and curriculum development, quality assurance and enhancement. In her role, Kristyan is a member of the University Executive chairing a range of university committees and project groups.
Kristyan has over 30 years of experience in higher education. Prior to joining Keele University she was the Associate Pro Vice Chancellor of University of Liverpool and held senior leadership positions at Winchester and Reading. Prior to joining the higher education sector, she had a successful career as a lecturer and teacher of linguistics.
Kristyan is keen to contribute to the local community and make new connections with partner organisations.
