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
If you have any governance-related queries please contact Katie Bird katie.bird@arkonline.org
Our Governors
Kiran Vithal
Kiran Vithal is National Director of Transformation at Ormiston, leading governance and transformation. He supports on a number of cross-functional transformation improvement initiatives – all aimed to support effectiveness and efficiency.
Kiran was previously Deputy CEO for a small primary MAT and previously worked at the Department for Education. At the DfE he held a number of roles, ranging from School Improvement delivery to Education ICT Advisor. Earlier in his career, he worked for Ark Schools for nine years, serving on the Senior Leadership Team at Ark St Alban’s Academy securing excellent outcomes. Kiran studied Computer Science & Software Engineering at the University of Birmingham and has a Masters in Educational Leadership.
Ali Awad
Ali Awad is a Literature student at Newman University, aspiring to become a teacher. A former Ark Boulton pupil from Sparkbrook, he overcame personal and societal challenges to achieve strong academic success. Ali maintains a deep connection with the school and often returns to visit former teachers who supported his journey. Ali’s journey drives his desire to give back. Passionate about inspiring young people, he hopes to deliver talks and advice that show pupils they can strive for more. As a governor, Ali aims to represent student voices and strengthen the bridge between learners and leadership.
Usmaan Akbar Butt
Usmaan has spent his career working in business operations, risk, and compliance roles within a number of the UK's top 100 law firms. He currently leads third-party risk management for a leading UK law firm, helping to ensure the organisation effectively manages supplier, compliance, and operational risks. Having served as a Governor since 2020 and as Safeguarding Link Governor, Usmaan is committed to supporting the wellbeing and success of all pupils. Having grown up in the local community, he is passionate about helping Ark Boulton continue to thrive and ensuring it remains a successful school for future generations.
Anisa Khalid
Anisa serves as the Careers and Destinations Link Governor, bringing valuable insights and dedication to this pivotal role. With a professional background in further and higher education, Anisa offers a unique perspective on ensuring smooth transitions for students at different stages of their educational journey.
Anisa has a wealth of expertise in the education sector. She has a dedicated commitment to supporting students as they navigate their educational and career pathways.
As the Careers and Destinations Link Governor, Anisa will collaborate closely with the school’s leadership team, staff, and stakeholders to ensure that students receive the necessary guidance and resources for a successful transition into further education, training, or employment. She is committed to helping students make informed choices about their career aspirations and providing them with the tools to realise their goals.
Anisa looks forward to working closely with the school community, staff, parents, and students to help them achieve their educational and career objectives, making Ark Boulton a beacon of guidance and success in preparing future leaders.
Erin Maguinness
Erin is Head of KS3 Mathematics at Ark Boulton Academy and has accumulated 8 years’ experience developing her passion for improving outcomes for children and young people.
Prior to teaching, Erin worked with residential care and specialist education providers. She then spent 3 years working as a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead. As a result, Erin is acutely aware of the significant hardships our most vulnerable children experience and the challenges this poses in education.
Erin is an advocate for well-placed and carefully considered educational leadership and is committed to contributing to the organisation's mission in supporting every pupil to thrive.
Roselyn Osawe
Roselyn Osawe is a finance professional and Pricing Analyst for a major UK energy supplier, offering expertise in financial strategy and data analysis. She began her career in the renewable energy industry, progressing from an accountant to a Senior Strategist, before moving into specialist roles in debt resolution and pricing. Now a Birmingham resident, Roselyn is motivated to give back to her local community. She aims to leverage her analytical background to support Ark Boulton’s strategic direction, ensuring the academy maintains the robust financial health necessary to deliver an exceptional education for all students.
Khalilur Rahman
I currently work at Ark Boulton as Senior Head Of Year. My role and professional development at Ark Boulton has been nothing short of amazing. The school has allowed me to flourish and pursue so many avenues professionally and develop myself day in day out. I have worked in school capacity for over 7 years in various roles and from day one I knew teaching was the correct profession for me.
I want to be able to serve the community of Ark Boulton and be a small part of the journey of the school to make it the best school in the area and in the country. I am extremely passionate about the school and vision of it and want to give my support as much as I can.
Sara Shaheen
Sara is a parent of two children. She was previously the Chair of a PTA for five years at a primary school and has raised over £10,000 for charities over the years. Sara is a qualified mentor and Life Coach and before Covid she volunteered for Birmingham and Solihull Women's Aid. Sara has also helped children with reading in primary schools as volunteer. Sara believes growth and progress is key for anyone and is looking forward to the challenge of being a parent governor at Ark Boulton Academy and learning about the school.