Meet our Governors...

I have been Chair of Governors since 2012 and have had a long association with North Oxfordshire Academy and other schools locally. I am also serving on United Learning’s Education Board.  My background is in education and school improvement having previously been an academy principal, Ofsted inspector and deputy director in local authorities.  I am currently an education adviser to the Department for Education.

I am married (to an ex-deputy head teacher). Our three grown-up children attended local schools; only one became a teacher and is now working in a special school.

Michael.Dennison@northoxfordshire-academy.org

Jon Carlton is a Chartered Engineer who worked in the electricity and gas industry, both in the UK and USA, for 35 years.  He now runs his own consultancy business as well as performing a number of Non-Executive and advisory roles.  At the Academy, Jon is taking a lead on raising the profile of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects.  He is also lead governor working with the staff to increase levels of achievement across the curriculum.

Phill Slater is Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply and retired Director of Procurement from consumer product company Procter & Gamble in Switzerland. In this role he managed a team of 500 staff  located in over 20 countries. He also held senior positions with Gillette and Black&Decker working in UK, USA. Phill is married with two daughters who were both educated locally and has lived in the area since 1990. He graduated from University of Sheffield in 1978 and gained his post-graduate professional diploma at the North West Management School in 1979

I am a University Administrator at the University of Oxford working in Admissions, Access and Outreach. I have recently relocated to Banbury from Oxford where I had lived since starting University and I grew up a little further North in Warwickshire.

I am in regular contact with a large variety of schools, candidates and parents, and understand the issues facing students wishing to enter Higher Education in particular. I am the lead governor for the Sixth Form where I work with staff to ensure that students develop skills to succeed in their future careers through both academic and vocational qualifications.

Sarah Connolly is a Chartered Engineer who works for Innovate UK, the Government’s Innovation Agency, driving productivity and economic growth by supporting businesses to develop and realise the potential of new ideas, including those from the UK’s world-class research base. Within her professional role, Sarah supports the UK’s Foundation Industries to ensure a sustainable future in the UK, which includes large amounts of public engagement and work with schools, colleges and Universities to ensure a thriving skills pipeline in the future.

Sarah graduated from the University of Oxford in 2014, before going on to complete her PhD at the University in 2018. She is an active STEM ambassador, and passionate about increasing the diversity of those choosing to study STEM subjects. She is also the lead governor for behaviour and attitudes, working to embed a positive culture, climate and ethos into the academy and minimise behaviour and attendance concerns.