Park View Academy, trading as PARK VIEW SCHOOL, is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 7709270). Registered address: Park View School, Church Chare, DH3 3QA

The Academy is governed by the Academy Trust (made up of a Board of Directors) and overseen by the Members. Members are the guardians of the Trustees of the Trust and hold the Trust Board to account for effective governance and sit above the Trust Board.

The responsibilities of the Trust Body are set out in the

Email contact with the Board of Trustees, or any individual member of the Board of Trustees, can be made via [email protected]  Alternatively, mail can be sent to the Board of Trustees, Park View School, Church Chare, Chester-le-Street, DH3 3QA, marked ‘Private and Confidential’.

For general enquiries, please contact Mrs Kate Duncan, Company Secretary on [email protected]

Members

Dr William Dennison
Appointed on 18/12/2024
Appointed by the Full Governing Body (July 2011)

Dr Bill Dennison was Chair of Board of Trustees for over twenty years. His two daughters both attended Park View. Bill has been a National Leader of Governance and was a member of the DfE’s Bureaucracy Reference Group before it disbanded. He was Head of the Education Department at Newcastle University, specialising in the provision of education leadership for staff in schools and colleges on a national basis. In 2014, Bill was awarded MBE for services to education. Bill now continues to serve on the board as a community trustee. 

Committee Membership: Finance and Premises / Audit & Risk / Student Discipline / Staff Discipline / Head’s Performance Review

Mr Andrew Flint

Appointed on 18/05/2022

Mr Geoff Lumsdon

Appointed on 23/01/2025

Trustees

Mr Kevin Reynolds – Chair of Trustees
Appointed on 17/05/2022, Term of Office until: 17/05/2026
Appointed by Members of the Trust Board and was appointed as Chair of the Trustee Board in September 2024. 

Kevin has held leadership and management positions in industry and education for 35 years. He has been a senior leader in 4 schools and academies and has a track record for improvement taking one from requires improvement (RI) to outstanding, another from RI to good and a third out of serious weaknesses. He has developed and led leadership courses throughout the North East and has spoken at many local and national conferences on transformational leadership and how to create, build and establish a new school. His particular interests are effective school leadership and curriculum design. He is a passionate believer that every young person regardless of background or ability deserves the best educational experience to increase their life chances. He has served as a Trust Member for another MAT in the region since 2017. In 2021, he retired from his position of Executive Principal at a local multi-academy trust.

Committee Membership: Finance and Premises / Audit & Risk / Pupil Discipline / Staff Discipline / Pay & Personnel / Head’s Performance Review

Special Interest Governor : Quality of Education and Sixth Form (PP Trustee) / Academy of Sport

Mr Andrew Finley
Ex-officio Governor
Appointed on 01/09/2019
 
Andy Finley has worked at Park View since January 2002 and has a wealth of experience as a teacher, Middle and Senior Leader at the school. Andy has a BA(Hons) in Business Studies. After graduating, Andy worked in Marketing and Sales for Financial Times Management before studying his PGCE from the University of Manchester in Business and Economics. Andy started his teaching career at Baverstock School in Birmingham before moving to Park View. He has worked as a Business teacher, Assistant Learning Co-ordinator, Subject Leader of ICT and Faculty Leader for Vocational. Senior Management responsibilities have included Teaching and Learning, Head of Sixth Form, Safeguarding and Head of Upper School. Outside of school, Andy is happily married to Dawn and is a proud dad to Molly and Maddie. In his spare time, Andy likes to play football, swim and has a keen interest in technology.

Mr Michael Goulding – Community Trustee
Appointed on 13/02/2023, Term of office end: 13/02/2027
Appointed by Members

I have lived in Chester-le-Street all my life, and attended Park View in the 1960s, when it was Ch-le-St Grammar School. My mother and my 3 brothers also attended the school, and so have my wife and all four of my children. I therefore have a strong bond with the school and an awareness of its heritage and traditions, as well as a vested interest in the quality of its current educational provision. I understand the importance of Park View to the town and its community, and feel privileged to help in any way I can towards securing the best possible future. I am now retired, after spending 40 years working for The Open University – a fantastic organisation, which has inspired and enabled over a million people to literally change their lives through education. My role was primarily in IT and included the training of academic staff in the use of communication technologies. My personal interests are in sport, music, and travel. I’ve recently been learning Italian to try to keep up with my bi-lingual grandkids.

Having lived and worked in Chester-le-Street all my life, I am very proud that our town has provided the backdrop to my whole life. The positive educational experiences I was exposed to as a child, while a pupil of Red Rose Primary School, convinced me that I wanted to be a primary school teacher.

Councillor Craig Martin – Community Trustee
Appointed on 26 /11/2024 , Term of Office until: 26 / 11 /2028
Appointed by Members of the Trust Board

I’m the County Councillor for North Lodge in Chester-le-Street and a former student of Park View, I’m serving as a Trustee to ensure our young people get the best possible opportunities going forward in life while encouraging a strong partnership between the school and the community it sits in. I studied Physics at the University of York going on to train as a Physics teacher at Durham University. After 5 years of teaching, I retrained in finance. I’m now working for a further education college, running their payroll, alongside my political work. I also volunteer as a Scout leader in Chester-le-Street.

Committee Membership: Finance & Premises / Audit & Risk Committee 

Special Interest Governor:  Quality of Education and Sixth Form

Mr Ken Reed – Parent Trustee
Appointed on 01/02/2025, Term of Office until: 01/02/2029
Appointed by Parental Election 

I am very delighted to be a Trustee at Park View school. I am a retired police officer having lived and worked in the Durham area for many years. For my last 10 years of police service I was attached to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) and the Home Office as a lead inspector. I have in-depth experience in corporate governance, strategic management, and in the delivery of performance outcomes, all of which is relevant and transferable to the education sector.
I am currently chair of Trustees at Woodlea Primary School which has had strong links with Park View for many years. I am also a Trustee at Eden Learning Trust, a multi academy trust incorporating 5 schools in County Durham.
As the parent of a child at Park View, I am passionate about helping to improve education and always seek to contribute positively to support the headteacher and his leadership team to achieve the best possible outcomes for our children.
I have a Masters Degree in Business Administration and have a keen interest in cricket and technology.

Committee Membership: Finance and Premises / Audit & Risk / Complaints / Head’s Performance Review

Special Interest Governor: Academy of Sport

Mr Mark Henry – Community Trustee

Appointed on 01/03/2023, Term of Office until: 01/03/2027

Appointed by Members of the Trust Board

I am privileged to be invited to be a Trustee at Park View School. I have lived in Chester-le-Street for 15 years now, after moving here to raise my young family. My wife (a former pupil) and I always hoped our children would attend ParkView and we are proud that we now have two sons that do, and they are extremely happy here.

I am currently employed as an Engineering Contracts Manager and have worked in the Construction Industry for over 30 years. The majority of my contracts have been within the education and health care sectors, managing the installation of mechanical services within schools, universities, student accommodation and hospitals etc. As a trustee I am looking forward to working with the other trustees, Head Teacher and staff and hope that my experience will enhance the expertise of the governing body, in particular the maintaining of the school estate.

Committee Membership : Finance and Premises / Audit & Risk

Special Interest Governor : Behaviour, Attitude and PD / Academy of Sport

Mrs Louise Masters – Community Trustee

Appointed on 27/03/2025  Term of Office until: 27/03/2029

Appointed by Members of the Trust Board

Chester le Street is a vibrant, diverse and safe place to live and I feel thoroughly delighted to be part of this community.  My eldest child attends Park View and in time, my youngest will too, so having the opportunity to support and guide the school, staff and children to happiness and success (whatever that looks like to each individual). I have been a lawyer for 20 years and I am currently involved in the strategic management of my current team which sits in a large full-service firm.  Within that time, I also trained as a mediator and the range of skills garnered across those two areas will be invaluable to this role. I am obsessed with vintage items and clothing so, in my spare time, I frequent the many charity shops in the town centre and you will usually find me listening to something ‘true crime’ related!

Committee Membership : Pay & Personnel 

Special Interest Governor : Behaviour, Attitude and PD 

Dr William Dennison – Community Trustee
Re-appointed on 22/11/2024, Term of office end: 22/11/2028
Appointed by the Full Governing Body (July 2011)

Dr Bill Dennison was Chair of Board of Trustees for over twenty years. His two daughters both attended Park View. Bill has been a National Leader of Governance and was a member of the DfE’s Bureaucracy Reference Group before it disbanded. He was Head of the Education Department at Newcastle University, specialising in the provision of education leadership for staff in schools and colleges on a national basis. In 2014, Bill was awarded MBE for services to education. Bill now continues to serve on the board as a community trustee. 

Committee Membership : Finance and Premises / Audit & Risk / Student Discipline / Staff Discipline / Personnel & Pay Committee / Head’s Performance Review

Ms Rachel Orr – Community Trustee

Appointed on 26/03/2026  Term of Office until: 26/03/2030

Appointed by Members of the Trust Board

I am very privileged and proud to be a trustee at Park View. I attended the school from 1979 to 1986 and have countless incredible memories including playing the role of the narrator in the school’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat in 1985. I have worked in primary education for over thirty-five years. I have had the privilege of being head teacher of two schools previously in County Durham and in Stockon-on-Tees. Having taken early retirement from headship, I continue to work part-time in education across a variety of areas from supporting teachers across the country on National Professional Qualifications for leadership, professional leadership mentoring and coaching as well as assessing these qualifications, mainly with Newcastle University and The National Institute of Teaching for both primary and secondary/post 16 education. I am an active member of St Mary and St Cuthbert’s Parish Church in Chester-le-Street and have worshipped there since I was baptised in the old font at the back of church from just a few weeks old. I am a radio broadcaster for an internet/smart speaker radio station. I love gardening, reading and cooking and I am a classically trained soprano with a love of opera, oratorio and the Great American Songbook. I am also a bit of a shoe queen but don’t actually know how many pairs I own.

Special Interest Governor: Behaviour, Attitude and PD  / Quality of Education & Sixth Form

Mr Ryan Rehan – Community Trustee

Appointed on 30/03/2026  Term of Office until: 30/03/2030

Appointed by Members of the Trust Board

As a finance professional serving as a school trustee, I bring a strong commitment to financial integrity and strategic planning. I aim to support the school in making informed decisions that maximise resources while prioritising student outcomes. With particular experience in budgeting and forecasting I am well placed to challenge constructively and ensure transparency in financial matters. I am looking forward to working with the other trustees and the staff at the school. I have lived in Chester le Street for over 15 years and am a father to three boys, my eldest started in Park View in 2025 and my wife is a former pupil. In my spare time I am mainly ferrying my sons around various activities while occasionally pretending to play golf.

Committee Membership : Finance and Premises / Audit & Risk

Governors’ Meetings

Attendance at Full Trustee Meetings 2025 – 2026

Attendance at Finance & Premises Meetings 2025 – 2026

Register of Governor Interests

Dr W F Dennison: Director of Arcadia Learning Ltd (Education Consultancy) (date of appointment 01 April 2002)

Mr C Martin: Chair for North Lodge County Council (date of appointment 2021), Volunteer with 2nd Chester-le-Street Scout Group (date of appointment 2006), Local Party Chair for Liberal Democrats (since 2007), Member of Alliance of Liberal Democrat Councillors (since 2017), Member of Unison (since 2018), Mr Martin’s partner is also a Senior Practitioner at Clever Clogs Day Nursery (since 2011).

Mr P Adamson: Headteacher at Woodlea Primary School (date of appointment 01.04.2008)

Mr M Malik: Headteacher at Harlow Green Community Primary School (Date of appointment 01.09.2017)

Mr Kenneth Reed: Director of Ken Reed Consultancy LTD (appointed April 2009), Chair of Governors at Woodlea Primary School (date of appointment November 2015), Trustee of Eden Learning Trust (date of appointment September 2020).

Mr M Goulding: No pecuniary interest

Mr Kevin Reynolds: Member at ALP (since 2017), Chair at Gilligate Trust (date of appointment 2022)

Mr M Henry: Mechanical Contracts Manager for Kennedy Services Ltd (date of appointment 22nd October 2022)

Mrs Louise Master: Partner at Ward Hadaway Law Firm (Date of appointment January 2025), Community Foundation Charity Chair (date of appointment July 2025)

Ms Rachel Orr: Governor at Chester le Street Church of England Primary School (Date of appointment 6th April 2022), PCC Secretary & Trustee at St Mary’s & St Cuthbert’s Parish Church (Date of appointment 22nd April 2024)

Mr R Rehan: No pecuniary interest

Members:

Dr W F Dennison: Director of Arcadia Learning Ltd (Education Consultancy) (date of appointment 01 April 2002)

Mr A Flint: No pecuniary interest

Mr G Lumsdon: Ofsted Inspector Contracted OI (Date of appointment 2013)