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
The current Clerk to Governors is Titilola Kehinde (titilola.kehinde@arkonline.org). Please contact them if you have any governance-related queries, or would like to contact one of the governors.
Our Governors
Jonny Smith
Jonny has lived in the borough of Southwark for 14 years of his life, and currently lives in the Camberwell area. He is married and has two children. In 2003 Jonny was ordained as a Salvation Army minister, and has since led 2 churches and currently has the position of the Salvation Army's intercultural mission enabler. This role sees Jonny travelling the country, trying to help the Salvation Army become far more racially diverse. Prior to joining the Salvation Army, Jonny was a qualified Financial Adviser, and also worked in the field of banking. Jonny is passionate about engaging more with the school for two reasons. Firstly, his son is a scholar at AASA. Secondly, he longs to see this school be a place where all people reach their potential and realise that everyone is uniquely gifted.
Abiola Babarinde
Abiola is a writer, consultant and speaker based in London. Her work focuses on promoting personal development and wellness for all. She is the author of 'Take What You Need': life lessons for people who refuse to settle, which furthers this cause. She also spends time helping organisations of all kinds develop more effective social media and digital marketing strategies. Prior to this, she worked as a management consultant at two 'Big 4' firms.
Abiola is passionate about educating, inspiring and stewarding the next generation towards a bright future, and believes that being a school governor is vital to achieving this. Alongside her passion for creativity and the arts, she is also highly engaged in the entrepreneurial startup landscape and is a member of diverse, dynamic organisations that celebrate these values.
Liz Barnett
Liz is curate at St Barnabas Church Dulwich. She is married with three adult children. Prior to training for ordained ministry Liz worked for seven years as 'Leader of Schools Ministry' for SparkFish, a Christian Schoolswork charity in Southwark Diocese. Liz has a heart for young people and longs to see them reach their full potential. As a school governor Liz hopes to continue to serve young people and their school in a meaningful way.
Richard Bool
I have been a teacher for 15 years. I have taught Geography, Politics and Economics and was a Housemaster for five years in a boys’ boarding school. Prior to moving into teaching, I was a solicitor in a large commercial law firm for five years. I am very sporty, and in the past, played significant amounts of competitive cricket, rugby and football, and I continue to play competitive squash on a regular basis. I am also a keen linguist and speak fluent French, German and Italian, and I am currently learning Turkish. I wanted to become a Governor of Ark All Saints because I have always felt that the independent and mainstream sectors could help one another and whilst I hope that I can contribute, I am also confident that I will learn a great deal.
Eve Berry
Eve Berry qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte and has over 12 years of being a Finance Director and a Board member in her career to date. Eve has worked predominantly in professional business services organisations across a number of industry sectors including international pharmaceutical and healthcare, publishing and business information and recruitment. A key focus for Eve is to create high performing and commercially supportive finance and administrative functions for the organisations in which she has worked. This benefits the organisational management team to increase their understanding of the critical financial aspects. This enables and better supports the senior team allowing improved informed decision-making to support efficient sustainable operations. Eve is delighted to be able to bring her commercial skills and experience to the school, in the role of Governor with particular interest in the finances and has been involved in the school since 2012.
Akshay Nayak
Akshay has spent his career helping businesses to thrive, by ensuring that they attract and retain the best talent around. He currently runs an executive search and recruitment consultancy in the City of London. He holds an LLB (Law) degree from the University of Liverpool. He has interest in ensuring that pupils leave school with the best possible chance of continuing their education, with a view to broadening access to professional careers.
Miles Ng
Miles is currently a policy adviser at Cancer Research UK and is also a director on the board of an anti-racism and advocacy organisation. Prior to this, Miles was a political staffer for UK Members of Parliament and candidates, and spent four years working for the Government on education, home affairs and Brexit negotiations. At the Department for Education, Miles was Private Secretary to the Schools Minister and witnessed daily how good schools and teachers dramatically impact life fortunes and help children from all backgrounds achieve their ambitions. Miles continues to be inspired by the dedication and care he saw and is excited to be part of the Ark family.
Mia Ross
Mia currently works at Ark All Saints Academy as medical lead and behaviour coordinator. Prior to this she has worked in a variety of educational settings providing support to children with SEND and behavioural issues. She has a trauma-informed approach and a deep-rooted passion for supporting students using positive behaviour strategies, both of which can improve every students’ ability to access the education provided at school. She is dedicated to promoting inclusion and advocating for children, and this has led to her desire to become a governor.
Sherene Pascall-Wallis
Sherene qualified as a solicitor in 2018. Since then, she has exclusively practised in family law, and more specifically Public Law proceedings (child protection). She has gained a wealth of experience in the law in relation to childcare proceedings. Sherene joined the Local Authority as a Children’s Social Care Solicitor in 2021, which has enabled her to gain a deeper understanding and knowledge of the law and guidance in respect of children.
Sherene's motivation for becoming a governor stems from recently having a child of her own and therefore realising the importance of ensuring that children are given the best start to life which schools play a vital role in.

Lucy Frame
I am the Principal at Ark All Saints Academy. I was a Vice Principal at Walworth Academy (another Ark school) for a number of years before leaving to become the founding Principal of Ark All Saints Academy.