How Ark's governance works
Every school in the Ark network is the legal responsibility of the Ark Schools Board. This board focuses on statutory duties and delegates most day-to-day responsibilities to each school’s individual Local Governing Body (LGB).
This means that our Academy's governors are able to concentrate on the things that really matter – educational strategy, school outcomes and aspiration.
The Ark Schools Decision Making Framework outlines where responsibility and accountability sits for the key functional areas within Ark Schools between the ‘tiers’ of governance.
Our Local Governing Body
Our Local Governing Body (LGB) is made up of 6-10 members – usually people with a local connection or interest who are committed to supporting educational opportunity in the area. The board generally includes:
- Academy Principal
- Up to two Parent Governors
- One Teaching Staff Governor
- One Non-teaching Staff Governor
- One Local Authority representative
We aim to create a balanced group that will have the right skills, connections and dynamic for the LGB to work well and support the school in achieving exceptional performance. Attributes we look for include:
- Good insight into the specific challenges at the school and the general challenges of operating top-quality schools
- Excellent community links
- Specific skills as needed by/relevant to the school
- A link to the senior executive team of Ark Schools
All appointments are made by the Director of Governance for Ark Schools. The term of a governor is three years, except for the Principal, who remains a governor for the duration of his or her time in post. Governors may be reappointed for further terms.
The LGB meets four times a year.
Becoming a governor
If you have an interest and commitment to improving education, and would like to make a difference within your community, please register your interest in becoming a governor by completing our online Governor Application Form. If you have any questions about a governor’s role or responsibilities please contact us at governance.team@arkonline.org
A full programme of induction, training and support is provided. You can see more information, including role specifications here.
Contacting the governors
The current Clerk to Governors is Titilola Kehinde (titilola.kehinde@arkonline.org). Please contact them if you have any governance-related queries, or would like to contact one of the governors.
Our Governors
Anthony Williams
Anthony Williams is Chairman of Bluefield Partners, a specialist asset manager for solar infrastructure, and a former Partner of Goldman Sachs & Co. During his time at Goldman Sachs, he was involved in building the firm's Fixed Income Arbitrage and Swaps businesses and served as Global Head of Fixed Income Arbitrage, Global Co-Head of Swaps and as Chair of the Risk Committee for the Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities Division. Anthony previously held a Research Fellowship in Radio Astronomy at St John's College, Cambridge and has a BA and PhD in Physics from Cambridge University and a BA in Philosophy from London University.
Carl Fazackerley
Carl has been teaching at Ark Walworth Academy since 2016 returning to teaching after a number of years in the healthcare, management and the third sector. In his current role Carl leads the sixth form and has whole school responsibility for careers education. Outside of education he is an active member of St John Ambulance holding the role of Area Manager (Universities South London) and Emergency Ambulance Crew.
Matt Lucas
Matt is a Widening Participation Manager at UCL, working to increase the number of disadvantaged students progressing to higher education. A qualified teacher, Matt has a wealth of experience in Widening Participation and establishing effective school engagement and widening participation strategy for multiple Higher Education institutions across two different educational systems. Since being a teacher Matt has worked at Sheffield Hallam university, The University of Edinburgh and UCL. Having recently moved to the Camberwell/Walworth area, Matt is keen to involve himself in the school community and use his experience to contribute to the outcomes of young people in Walworth.
Penny McCormack
Penny has been an at home mother to her 4 now grown up children. Her first career was in HR, but in the past several years she has been Chair of the Friends association of a central London school; chair of a local fundraising branch of a national medical research charity, which has involves event planning. Penny is passionate about giving all young people access to the best education possible regardless of background, in order that they can realise their full potential.
Daniel Morris
Daniel is a senior leader in the voluntary sector with over 15 years of experience in delivering services for young people. His experience ranges from frontline youth work roles across a variety of communities in London to designing and managing services. Daniel holds a BA Hons in Youth & Community work and an MSc in Gender, Sexuality & Society. Daniel is passionate about young people having opportunities to fulfill their potential.
Saidat Oketunde
Saidat Oketunde has been a dedicated parent governor at Walworth Academy since 2016. Saidat's involvement in the school's parent council dates back to 2012, where she also volunteers as an assistant. She holds the position of chairperson at Southwark Muslim Forum and serves as a Community Health Ambassador with Healthwatch Southwark. Saidat is the founder of Faiths Women Community UK, a transformative initiative empowering more than 120 women and girls through free sewing lessons. Her multifaceted contributions to education, community service, and women's empowerment showcase her dedication and impact on diverse fronts.
Simon Rew
Simon Rew is a Senior Partner with IBM Consulting. He has worked with and for major Public Sector organisations in the UK and abroad for more than 30 years, including secondments to HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office. He was a Governor of North Westminster Community School (2000 pupil Comprehensive) in the early 2000s. Simon originally trained as a teacher (science/biology) and has a life-long interest in education.
Jan Scibor-Kaminski
Jan has held several leadership roles within technology and data businesses, ranging from Data to Automotive to Financial Services. He started his career with Fortis Investments, based in both Paris and Brussels, before joining Goldman Sachs’s Asset Management Division in London. Jan attended Westminster School in London and graduated from Oxford’s Trinity College, with degree in Modern Languages (Spanish and French). Jan is a former Army Officer, where he served as part of the Royal Green Jackets Regiment. He has lived in Brazil and travelled extensively throughout Latin America and beyond, and now lives locally in south London with his wife and children of mixed heritage.
Josie Verghese
Josie has been involved with the school since 2010 and the Safeguarding Link Governor since 2016. As a Southwark resident she is particularly committed and keen to support Ark Walworth Academy’s students, staff and wider community at a local and her specific education interests are inclusion and Children in Care, careers and aspirations and student voice.
Josie is an Assistant Editor at BBC News, and leads BBC Young Reporter - a journalism and media literacy imitative. Her BBC career began as a secretary in 2002 and she has subsequently worked for Newsround, BBC London, BBC Sport and Radio 5 Live. She has a BA Hons English and Psychology from Cardiff University and MA in Children’s Literature. She's been a Childline volunteer and is an Independent Living Advisor for Centrepoint. Josie loves listening to podcasts and to travel.
Victoria Soares Nkwo
Victoria is a Early Years Practitioner and has two children who attend Ark Walworth academy. Victoria is a firm believer in giving quality education to developing core values and strength in children regardless of their ability and background. She is excited to be a Parent governor on the Ark Walworth LGB and looks forward to working with the school.