Helen Milligan

Chair of Trustees

Helen has been in education for 18 years and is a serving Executive Headteacher in Birmingham with a proven track record of rapid school improvement.  Within her role, she works with a large multi academy trust of 14 schools (over 6000 pupils) and leads two primary schools strategically with combined numbers of over 500 pupils. Helen is extremely passionate about securing high quality education for all, particularly those with additional needs, and leads a resource base for pupils with ASD at one of the schools she serves.  Helen has significant experience in governance and is a local governor at a large secondary school in Solihull. 

Helen holds the National Professional Qualification for Executive Leaders and a Level 7 Apprenticeship in Executive Leadership, both gained in 2024. These skills and qualifications enable Helen to support the Multi Academy Trust that she works for by being a key player in the Estates Strategy Team and Communications and Marketing Team in addition to her Executive Headteacher role. Additionally, Helen works collaboratively with the Birmingham Local Authority and is currently part of the co-production team shaping the school improvement strategy for the city.

Outside of education, Helen is a supportive wife and mother of three children who are all currently in various phases of education and enjoys family time, reading and music.

Andrew Jeffrey

Vice Chair & Chair of Finance, Risk & Audit Committee

Andrew is currently the Chief Finance Officer of a Multi Academy Trust in Oxfordshire and is responsible for the financial monitoring, planning and strategy of that Trust. Previous to this he was Manager in the ‘Not for Profit’ team at Cooper Parry which has a significant Not for Profit and Academy presence in the Midlands. Andrew joined Cooper Parry in August 2019 when the Education team at Whitley Stimpson Limited transferred their Academy and Not for profit portfolio to facilitate the team’s growth and knowledge base. He has multiple years’ experience with audit and accounting.

Andrew specialises in the education and charity sector and has worked with, and advised, a diverse range of educational organisations, including Academies, Free Schools, Independent Schools, Further Education colleges, Catholic Education offices and systemic schools as well as a wide range of local, regional and national charities. Andrew’s role in particular within the education team has been to work closely with Academy Trusts, not only through the audit and production of year end accounts, but also providing financial advice and support to schools and assisting them in undertaking and completing the relevant reporting requirements of the ESFA.

He is also a Trustee of another School Multi Academy Trust with 11 Schools across Buckinghamshire.

Richard Maxwell

Richard (Rich), a devoted family man and esteemed professional, calling the quaint village of Water Orton home, just a stone's throw away from bustling Birmingham. Married to Emma and blessed with two daughters, Ruby and Nancy, Richard finds fulfilment in both his personal and professional life. With over two decades at Lloyds Banking Group, Richard excels as a Relationship Growth Manager, within the bank's Customer Engagement team looking at initiatives to help shape the strategy for the retail banking part of the bank. Venturing into uncharted territory, Richard embarks on a new role as a Trustee for Prime 7 Multi-Academy Trust, bringing his strategic prowess and dedication to educational governance. Beyond his corporate and trustee responsibilities, Richard finds solace in running and cherishing moments with loved ones, embodying the essence of work-life balance.

David Shakeshaft

Other than a part-time job in a second-hand bookshop as a student, David has worked exclusively in primary education since 1995. During his career, David has worked in five local authorities, three multi-academy trusts, and (substantively) at ten different schools.

David’s primary school teaching roles included responsibilities for leading English and mathematics. In 2004 David was certified as an Advanced Skills Teacher and supported secondary schools in Solihull with their early KS3 provision and transition between primary and secondary settings. Shortly after, in 2006, David gained the National Professional Qualification for Headteachers whilst serving as a Deputy Headteacher in Solihull.

David has led primary schools as Headteacher, Principal, and latterly Executive Headteacher. He currently works in a primary-only multi-academy trust in Staffordshire.

David’s interests outside the immediate sphere of education include writing, photography, and the outdoors.

Deborah Benjamin

After graduating with a degree in psychology and completing a PGCE in primary teaching, Deb worked as a primary school teacher for 8 years.  Following her time as a classroom teacher Deb worked as an advisory teacher for an ‘Excellence in Cities, Education Action Zone’ for 3 years. 

During her time teaching, she started a family and is the mother of two adult children who both now work and live in central London.  Deb however, never forgot her childhood aspiration, which was for a career in educational psychology.  The entry route into the profession only required a master’s qualification following a minimum of 2 years teaching experience at that time.  Deb managed to secure a place and then qualify as an Educational Psychologist at the University of Birmingham in 2005.  She was then employed by Birmingham City Council in this role.

Deb led a citywide initiative called ‘TaMHS’ - ‘Target Mental Health in Schools’ for 3 years.  During this time, she introduced preventative and early intervention programmes into schools in Birmingham that were aimed at promoting resilience and reducing mild to moderate levels of anxiety amongst pupil populations.

Deb continued to work fulltime and study part-time, whilst raising a family, for 4 years at University College London, in order to complete a doctorate in Educational Psychology.  Her doctoral thesis involved exploring the core beliefs of youth street gang members that were active in inner city areas of Birmingham during that period. 

Deb secured a position as a Specialist Senior Educational Psychologist in 2014.  Within this role, she produced and introduced ‘Trauma Informed Attachment Aware Schools’ training to Birmingham schools.  She is currently a Senior EP and is involved in strategic local authority developments linked to SEND and the Social, Emotional and Mental Health pupils across the city.  Deb also manages a team of EPs and Assistant Psychologists who provide services to schools across the north of Birmingham.

Peter Brystow

Pete is currently the HR Case Manager at the University of Cambridge, responsible for navigating complex HR challenges, providing strategic and operational support across the institution. Following the completion of a degree in law and a master's degree in Human Resource Management, Pete brings a wealth of experience in people management and employee relations.

Prior to joining the University, Pete served as Lead People Partner at a specialist education HR provider, where he played a pivotal role in coaching and advising senior leaders at over 100 schools/trusts, shaping HR strategies, and delivering solutions that empowered education professionals.

Beyond his HR career, Pete has a deep rooted passion for swimming. A former professional swimming coach for over a decade, he has trained athletes at various levels and continues to compete in the sport himself. The dual commitment to professional athleticism reflects his dedication to discipline, performance and continuous improvement.