Board of Trustees

Ken Battye has worked in education and teaching for forty-nine years. For twenty-six of these years, he was a very successful Headteacher of three UK schools, of which two were in Hull. The other schools were two international schools, one in the United Arab Emirates and one in Saudi Arabia.

Since 2012 he has been appointed to undertake numerous lead and team inspector roles for the Abu Dhabi Government and for the Dubai Government, and supports an outstanding school in Qatar.

He also enthusiastically serves as a Magistrate and on governing bodies and Academy Trustee Boards.

As someone born and raised in Hull, I am passionate about contributing to the local community and ensuring that young people have the best possible opportunities. I’m a Senior Consultant with eight years of experience in strategic estates consultancy, specialising in the health and education sectors. I hold a degree in Real Estate from Northumbria University and have a passion for helping organisations make informed, sustainable decisions that align with their strategic objectives. My role involves providing specialist advice to clients, assessing their current estates, and considering demographic trends and future needs to ensure their vision and plans are effective and sustainable.

In addition to my professional experience, I also serve as an Employee Trustee Director at our Employee-Owned Trust, which has given me a strong understanding of governance responsibilities and the importance of collaborative working.

I am excited to bring my expertise to Thrive Academy Trust, supporting its schools in ensuring they have the resources and infrastructure needed to provide meaningful, lasting benefits for young people in Hull. This role allows me to apply my knowledge to help Thrive achieve its vision and ensure that every child receives a high-quality education.

An experienced leader in education currently working as Principal and CEO at Wyke Sixth Form College, Hull. Paul’s previous experience includes roles in a range of large Sixth Form and Further Education colleges across the country, all of which are currently graded Ofsted Outstanding. As a Trustee with Thrive, Paul is excited to contribute to collaborative working in education with the aim of transforming life chances for young people in the Hull and the Humber region.

Following an early career as a teacher Helen moved into Local Government HR eventually becoming the Director of HR - Children’s Services, for a local authority. She then ran a successful HR consultancy business specialising in Education HR for 21 years (HC Associates Ltd). During this time, she worked as an Interim HR Director in various Local Authorities and an HR Consultant to schools and academies across the UK. Her business expanded and her team worked with academies and academy trusts as well as special schools. She brings a wealth of HR experience specialising in employment law in the Education sector and HR.

In 2016 Helen was honoured to be asked to become a trustee of NASEN (National Association of Special Educational Needs) and when, in 2019, HC Associates was bought by North Yorkshire Council this set Helen free to enjoy retirement and take on voluntary roles. Becoming a trustee of Thrive in 2021 is fulfilling an ambition Helen has held for a while but which was difficult during her working life due to frequent long distance travel.

Andy was born in Leicester and is an English Graduate of the University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. His 35 years in corporate life were predominantly as an HR Director at Britvic Soft Drinks, Bass Brewers, and Wedgwood. Since retiring from the private sector Andy spent 10 years as a Magistrate in Hull and 6 years on the Police Authority where he chaired the HR Committee and Business Development Committee. He is currently Chair of the Alcohol and Drugs Service in Hull. Andy was a Governor at Newland School for Girls for 3 years and was appointed to the Trust Board in 2018. Having a background of high-level experiences in both the public and private sectors, he is able to work constructively in developing strategy, analysing data, challenging performance, and driving change. Andy is an avid sports fan, especially rugby union and cricket, as well as following the political and commercial fortunes of the country closely.

Sam is a qualified teacher, and for the last 20 years she has worked in schools across both Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire. This has included teaching in Early Years, Key Stages 1 and 2, with a variety of leadership roles, and also three years as a School Improvement Officer for Hull City Council Early Years Team. Her current role is Headteacher of an East Riding two form entry infant school; a role she has held for the last 7 years. Sam is passionate about ensuring all children receive the very best education which equips them for a happy, fulfilled future. Sam believes her past professional experiences can support the Trust in fulfilling its aims and ethos.

Lee trained at Goldsmiths College as a secondary English teacher, working in London and East Anglia. After school leadership, he began work as a school improvement specialist in British and American schools. Led by values and principles, Lee joined Coop Schools as National Director in December 2020. He is committed to building the voice of cooperation across the education sector, and securing inclusion, equity and success across all member schools.

Richard is an experienced IT leader with over 20 years in technology roles, including more than a decade in senior leadership positions. He currently serves as Head of Service Delivery at Phoenix Software, where he leads a large, multi-disciplinary department delivering technical support, managed services, and managed security services to customers across both the public and private sectors.

Richard has played a key role in shaping and scaling service and operational capability, introducing structured governance, industry certifications, and 24/7 operations. He is particularly focused on continual service improvement, delivering measurable, value-driven outcomes, and building high-performing teams.

Born and raised in Hull, Richard is passionate about supporting education in the region. As a trustee, he brings strategic expertise in technology, digital transformation, and continual service improvement.

Franklin is a Senior Lecturer, Global Youth Development Expert and the Founder of Youth Aspire Connect, an award-winning charity that helps young people from disadvantaged backgrounds reach their full potential. With a PhD in Social Policy from the University of Hull and over 15 years of teaching and community engagement, Franklin brings a blend of academic insight and grassroots understanding of the real challenges and opportunities facing young people and how they can be supported to thrive in life.  As a Trustee, Franklin is excited to support Thrive’s strategic vision of inspiring every pupil to unlock their potential and build a brighter future.

Callum is an experienced school business leader from Hull with over 14 years in the education sector. He is currently Chief Operating Officer at Ethos Academy Trust, having previously held a variety of senior roles within
another Hull-based MAT (HCAT), including Trust Operations Manager, Acting CFO, Finance Manager and School Business Manager. Alongside earlier experience in administrative positions within local authority schools as well as the University of Hull, Callum brings extensive expertise in operational management and strategic leadership across key support functions such as finance, ICT, estates, procurement, catering and others.

Passionate about ensuring schools and trusts operate effectively and efficiently, Callum is committed to enabling teaching staff to focus on improving pupil outcomes and experiences. He takes pride in supporting schools to provide the very best opportunities for their pupils, while also contributing to the wider school community. Through his work as a trustee, Callum is dedicated to helping Thrive achieve its vision and uphold its ethos.