I have served as a Trustee of Reach2 Academy Trust since 2012, following a career in the banking technology industry. I have been a material shareholder and active board member of a number of successful software businesses and continue to act as a management consultant in the sector. I have three children, two at university and youngest studying for her A levels.

Safeguarding Lead

Ilona has always been passionate about education and the importance of empowering young people to be aspirational in life and aim for ‘the higher gifts’. Ilona believe that education should offer a breath and variety of learning experiences but must also develop high standards and values. Ilona has a strong faith which is very important to her and this has helped her to lead through service and example.

Ilona qualified as an English and PE teacher in 1976 and went on to teach in secondary schools in London, Birmingham and Bedford until she retired in July 2015. Ilona held the posts of Head of Department, Head of Year, Assistant Head and Deputy Head and during all of these roles she learned a lot, as well as supporting others (students and colleagues) in their learning.

Through Ilona’s senior leadership roles she has worked closely with Bedford Local Education Authority; especially in the areas of, inclusion, behaviour and safeguarding.

On retiring from a thirty-year career in telecommunications Ian became Chair of East and North Herts Hospital Trust – now retired. He remains an associate lecturer at University College London and a charity trustee for a Health and Welfare charity.  Ian has had several other voluntary roles working with young people, including as an assessor for the Duke of Edinburgh Award and as a business advisor and mentor for The Prince’s Trust.  Ian’s daughter completed her education in the state sector and his granddaughters are both at state schools in Hertfordshire.

Paul has lived in Stotfold for over 30 years, has a special interest in education provision in the local area and has served as a trustee and governor at BEST for more than 10 years. Most of his working life has been in education as a university academic, researcher and latterly as consultant and manager. He has also had commercial experience in publishing, including running his own company. 

Paul retired from his last full-time position at the University of London in 2016, and now spends most of his time writing fiction. With 4 books published so far, he also teaches creative writing courses and manages writing workshops. He is a member of the Society of Authors and the Historical Writers Association. 

Claire worked as Deputy Director for several Regional Schools Commissioners in the Civil Service for 6 years across East of England, West Midlands and London. She led on various strategies including MAT governance, capacity and development, intervention and support, and financial assessment. She joined the Civil Service in 2007, and her other roles included Head of Adult Learner Support programmes and Senior Advisor for academy compliance within the Education Funding Agency. Previously Claire was a nationally recognised leader of adult and community learning in Bedfordshire and Head of Lifelong Learning in Northamptonshire.

In 2020, when she retired, Claire became a director on the board of Folk Camp Society Ltd, a charity to preserve for the benefit of the public English folk dances and songs and other folk music, dance and song in their traditional forms.