Members are in effect the ‘guardians’ of the governance of the trust as they sit at the top of the governance structure. The first members were the signatories to the memorandum of association when the trust was formed in 2017. The members hold the trust board to account for the effective governance of the trust. They are tasked with assessing if the board of trustees is performing well, and that the purpose of the trust and its charitable objectives are being fulfilled.  

Mark Beamish - Education Welfare Specialist

Marks is passionate about supporting and challenging schools to provide high-quality education for all children.
Mark was employed by North Somerset Local Authority for 12 years in the Education Welfare Department. As an EWO he worked in primary schools, secondary schools and pupil referral units, providing welfare support and holding schools accountable. He was responsible for developing the North Somerset attendance policy, led the persistent absence initiative and was a member of the South Ward Intervention Panel. He has a vast experience of multi-agency working.

Bill Bearsby - Engineer

Bill retired from a senior supplies planning engineer Rolls Royce where he worked regularly in America. Currently chair of Locking Parish Council where he has been a councillor for 37 years.
Bill has also chaired other committees previously including - Parish Council member of the North Somerset Standards Board, Treasurer of the Institute of work study practitioners Bristol Branch and Sports and Social Club.

Falcon Bell - Education Specialist

Falcon is a committed education professional who has been, and is still, involved in teaching and learning – serving young people’s educational needs, since 1964. Falcon began in education as an enthusiastic unqualified teacher, followed by a career pathway that progressed through junior management posts to headships and eventually on to becoming a primary adviser for Somerset County Council. Falcon is an experienced Quaker governor and trustee. Falcon’s areas of expertise are around developing high quality teaching and learning particularly in primary mathematics, developing professional discourse on pedagogy, monitoring pupil achievement and attainment to maximise learning, financial management and governance.

Tara Featherstone - HR specialist 

Tara is the head of HR for one of the largest food wholesalers in the UK. Managing and leading the HR Business partnering across support functions for a nationwide food wholesaler. Tara has worked within the industry for sixteen years and has a wealth of experience across business support functions from Buying, Finance, IT, Supply Chain, Technical Services, Audit, Fleet, Customer Marketing to overseeing the development and delivery of people plans. 

Steve John - Education Specialist

Steve has, throughout his career, been deeply committed to ensuring every child has a positive, rich and high quality experience of  school so that they can grow and develop emotionally, socially and academically  and in so doing  discover their talents and improve their life chances. He has been the Headteacher of two Primary schools, a Leading Adviser for Primary Education in Somerset and has for the past 7 years worked as an Education Specialist working alongside school leaders and colleagues as they strive to do the best they can for all children in their care.