Governor List

Our Governing Body

Lisa Mason
Stephen Rayner

What responsibilities do you currently have as a governor?   

I rejoined the governing body in October 2022 as a community governor. I am Chair and Lead Governor for Safeguarding 

What do you do when you’re not being a governor?  

 I was a school teacher for several years and had leadership roles in secondary schools in the West Midlands. Since 2017, I’ve been a lecturer at the University of Manchester, where I mainly teach on educational-leadership programmes and I’m currently Deputy Head of The Manchester Institute of Education. We live locally and have five grandchildren. 

What personal contribution do you hope to make to the work of the governing body?  

I’ve rejoined the governing body of the school that serves the community where I was born. This is an important motivator for me. As Lead Governor for Safeguarding, I work closely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead and other staff to make Forge the safest and most welcoming place possible for our students to be and to learn. My teaching background enables me to understand the challenges facing teachers and support staff. Working now in a university, I am particularly interested in how we prepare our students for their lives as adults, whether in higher education, apprenticeships or the world of work. 

What are the most important things that Ormiston Forge Academy needs to do during the next year?  

We must make Forge even safer, more inclusive and more tolerant. We want our students to be happy in their achievements, to feel that they have done the best they possibly could, and to go on to be successful while remembering their time in Forge with pleasure and satisfaction. 

What are your hopes for the long-term future of Ormiston Forge Academy?  

I would like to see the post-16 provision grow in popularity, retain our Key Stage 4 students and attract young people from across the wider area, so that Forge is the provider of choice for an all-through education from primary school to higher education and employment.

Alex Bell
Nicola Derrer-Rendall

Danae Larham

Coming Soon…

Sarah Noon

Gemma Keen

What responsibilities do you currently have as a governor? I’m a community governor and also part of the Student Experience committee.

What do you do when you’re not being a governor? I am the lead practitioner for geography (South and West) for Ormiston Academies Trust. I travel in and around these regions working with geography departments to further their geography curriculums.

What personal contribution do you hope to make to the work of the governing body? I hope to visit Forge regularly and interact with pupils to see and hear about their experiences at school.

What are the most important things that Ormiston Forge Academy needs to do during the next year? Continue to build on their results at all key stages whilst providing enrichment and Youth Social Action opportunities.

What are your hopes for the long-term future of Ormiston Forge Academy? That it will be classified as an Outstanding school.

Mr Robert Harding

What responsibilities do you currently have as a governor? I am the chair of the finance and general purposes committee and a link governor to KS5.

What do you do when you’re not being a governor? I teach performing arts on a part-time basis. I am an English examiner at various levels and I have served as a churchwarden for at least 10 years.

What personal contribution do you hope to make to the work of the governing body? To bring my experience in all three sectors of education for the benefit of colleague governors and the Academy.

What are the most important things that Ormiston Forge Academy needs to do during the next year? To build on results at KS3, KS4 and post-16  levels so as to improve the status of the academy.

What are your hopes for the long-term future of Ormiston Forge Academy? My hope is that the Forge will become a ‘flagship’ academy.

Fabrice Vinson

Took on the role of Head of Estates in 2020 following a 5 year estates consultancy contract at OAT.

Held senior roles within leading project management and consultancy practices, with particular focus on the Education sector over his 25 years industry experience.

Fabrice is passionate in delivering value for money projects to quality and programme having worked on numerous academies and Building Schools for the Future (BSF) schemes under the DfE/ESFA frameworks over his career

Catherine Smith

What responsibilities do you currently have as a governor? I joined the governing body in 2023 as a parent governor. 

What do you do when you’re not being a governor?  Primarily I am mom of two children, one who has just started at Forge. My day job is Head of Service Management & Support in a local NHS Trust, a very busy and challenging role. I am also the vice chair of governors at Netherbrook Primary School. When I do have any free time I can generally be found either running, swimming or cycling. 

What personal contribution do you hope to make to the work of the governing body?

As a parent I have a vested interest in ensuring that the school is doing a great job for my children. My role as a Parent Governor will allow me to provide support, and challenge, to the school to ensure that they are doing a great job for every child. I passionately believe that the work undertaken at school builds the foundations that our children need to achieve their dreams, goals and ambitions – along with making happy, confident and healthy individuals. As a governor I hope to take a small role in ensuring that Forge continues to provide an excellent starting point for our children. 

What are the most important things that Ormiston Forge Academy needs to do during the next year?

I am very new to the work of secondary schools but I have been impressed with our experience at Forge over the past few months. For the coming year I would like the school to continue to ensure that all children are supported, challenged and encouraged to reach their potential. To ensure that the school is an inclusive and happy place to be and that children feel safe, secure and able to learn.  

What are your hopes for the long-term future of Ormiston Forge Academy?

Over the longer term I would like to see Forge continue to grow on academic achievements across all students and to continue to provide a wide range of enrichment activities to all students. I would like the school to be the ‘go to place’ to attract excellent teaching and support staff.  

Adrian Melia

Davinia Thompson