As a company limited by guarantee, Tyne Coast Academy Trust is constituted under a Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association and has legal Members who oversee the Trust and its Trustees.

 

The Trust has six Member positions. 

The Members are responsible for (amongst other things):

• Approving any changes to the Articles of Association;
• Appointment and removal of Trustees; and
• Securing the highest standards of accountability from the Trustees for the provision of all pupils in the Multi Academy Trust (MAT).

 

All Members can be contacted via Mr Neil Longstaff, Director of Governance. Please complete our Web Form and we will respond as soon as possible.

 

Our Members' business and pecuniary interests show details of any economic and/or business links and roles in other institutions. 

Meet Our Members

 

 

Andrew Watts is the Executive Director of ‘Changing Places and Changing Lives’ Charity Groundwork South Tyneside and Newcastle, and he is the current Chair of Governors at Tyne Coast College, the Academy Trust’s sponsor. His priorities include building greater business and community partnerships, and increasing educational opportunities and outcomes for all students.

 

Andrew spent 15 years working in the public sector in various environmental positions before joining Groundwork in 2005. His role as Executive Director is varied but includes helping create strategic partnerships across Tyneside and developing Groundwork’s asset portfolio, which includes the One Trinity Green business centre in South Shields and The Beacon Enterprise Centre in Newcastle. He is also an active board member of a voluntary sector organisation in South Tyneside.

• Appointed by Sponsor: 23.03.15

 

 

Dr Malcolm Grady graduated from York University in 1973 with a degree in History/ Education, and completed a PGCE the following year. He then began his teaching career in secondary schools in South Tyneside, during which time he was awarded a School Teacher Fellowship at St Chad’s College, Durham University. After completing a Masters in Education at Durham, Malcolm moved into educational administration at Newcastle and South Tyneside local education authorities, working in fields such as adult education and Further Education, school governance, school workforce development, succession planning and Ofsted inspections. He also contributed to several national organisations in an educational advisory capacity, such as the BBC Schools Broadcasting Council, the National Institute for Continuing Education and the National Employers Organisation for School Teachers.

• Appointed by Members: 20.10.16

 

    Mrs Helen Watson

Helen Watson held the position of Corporate Director for Children, Adults and Families at South Tyneside Council for seven years until she left to become Director of Strategy at Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) in September 2015. Her other previous roles include Head of Children’s Services at North Tyneside Council, which she held for over four years, from 2003. Helen has an MBA from the Open University, a Master’s degree in sociology and social policy from the University of Durham, a BA in history from Kings College London, and gained a postgraduate qualification in social work after studying at University College Cardiff. Helen’s volunteer experience and causes cover several areas including animal welfare, children, civil rights and social action, economic empowerment and education.

• Appointed by Members: 04.07.17

 

 

A College Governor and Vice Chair of Finance Committee with over 43 years public service experience. Spent 25 years at Newcastle City Council where he left as Chief Internal Auditor and Head of risk management and insurance. Became an Inspector with the Audit Commission delivering over 50 assessments across all areas of the public sector. Currently applying his skills on Boards, Audit or Governance Committees of Gateshead Housing Company, NECA and Nexus chairing many. He is Independent Person for both Newcastle and North Tyneside Councils being consulted on all complaints against Councillors. Has worked with the Shanghai Municipal Reform project, with the Crown Agents and Chief Internal Auditors from Nigeria, Tanzania, Malawi, and Georgia. Had four tours of Bosnia to developing proper internal control processes and effective Internal Audit. Undertaken two projects in Macedonia developing anti-corruption hotlines and training programmes for the staff operating them. He is a past President of CIPFA North East Region and was awarded the Dr Hedley Marshall award for outstanding voluntary service to CIPFA’s regions over a 21 year period.

• Appointed by Members: 01.09.18

 

 

Mark Overton is a retired Consultant in Public Health who spent much of his career working in South Tyneside.

He combines vast professional expertise, including that of strategic planning, with an intense interest in Further Education, and combines both within a single focus directed towards removing inequalities in health and education.

Mark is dedicated to using his skills and role of governor to progress the education of all young people who attend the college.

The married father-of-two, who lives in Monkton, South Tyneside, is also a governor at a secondary school and at a primary school in South Tyneside.

In 1991, he studied for a one-year Certificate in Management at South Tyneside College, a qualification he used as a foundation course and from which he began his successful and rewarding career.

• Appointed by Members: 01.09.18