Governance

Sher Azam MBE – Chair

Sher Azam has more than a decade’s experience in school governance and among his greatest achievements is his instrumental work in founding and developing Feversham Girls’ Academy and Bronte Girls’ Academy. Sher Azam has remained engaged and closely aligned with the progression of the schools to ensure they continue to be a force for good within their communities.

His passion is helping communities to better support themselves. He works tirelessly with a range of charities and community projects in Bradford to support the community in raising its aspirations and improving quality of life.

In addition to his work in education, Sher Azam was also pivotal in the opening of the Council for Mosques, a community-first Islamic group based in Bradford, whose efforts to drive equality and inclusion of the Muslim communities across Bradford, Yorkshire and the UK have ensured lasting change.

As a result of his work in the community, Sher Azam received an MBE for services to the community in 1986, and more recently in 2022, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at Bradford’s Community Stars Awards event.

Dr Shazza Rehman

Dr Shazza Rehman is a Consultant Medical Oncologist at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust and Bradford Royal Infirmary, specialising in Breast cancer. Her previous roles have included being an Oncologist at the Christie NHS Trust, Lead Clinician at Redditch NHS Trust, Registrar in Oncology at the Kent Hospital and Registrar in Oncology at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

Dr Shazza has published 18 research papers on her specialist field of Breast cancer, diagnosis, and treatment.

Tahir Khan

Tahir Khan holds a BSC (Hon’s) in Biomedical Science from the University of Bradford, a Post graduate Certificate in Project Management Regeneration from the University of Bradford; he is a member of the London Institute of Banking and Finance and a member of the Institute of Leadership and Management.

Tahir has over a decade’s experience within the financial sector having worked for HSBC; Barclays Bank Plc and the Lloyds Banking Group.

Fazal Dad

Fazal Dad is a serving practitioner within the education sector with more than 20 years of experience within primary schools, where he has held several roles including that of Assistant Principal. Fazal Dad also has more than 15 years of experience as a school governor in a variety of primary and secondary schools within Bradford.

A prominent leader in the community and passionate supporter of educational development, Fazal Dad has presented live shows on Sunrise Radio for the past 18 years and on national TV for the past five years. Fazal Dad has also served as a chaplain to the Lord Mayor of Bradford, where he provided counsel to the Lord Mayor.

Khalid Khan

With an exemplary 30-year career at West Yorkshire Police, Inspector Khalid Khan served as a dedicated leader, notably leading the Keighley Neighbourhood Policing Team for five years. Starting his journey as PC in 1991, he later moved to Bradford in 2002 and continued to serve Keighley and Shipley areas for nearly two decades. Throughout his service, Inspector Khan displayed unwavering dedication and passion for his community, leaving behind a legacy of excellence. His retirement in October 2021 marks the end of an outstanding era, during which he earned the respect and admiration of colleagues and the community alike.

Professor Ihtesham Ur Rehman - Chair

Ihtesham Ur Rehman is currently Head of Translational Research and Professor of Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston.

Prof. Rehman has worked in the Education sector for more than 35 years. He started his career at Queen Mary, University of London in 1988 and moved to the University of Sheffield in 2011. He joined Lancaster University in 2019 and then moved to the University of Central Lancashire in 2023. Prof. Rehman has developed several interdisciplinary research centres globally and established research and education centres by developing new courses and research themes. He is a Founder of Interdisci-plinary Research Centre in Biomedical Materials https://ircoh.su.edu.pk/, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore and also the founder of Interdisciplinary Research Centre in One Health https://ircoh.su.edu.pk/. Prof. Rehman is also the founding co-director of UK-Pakistan Science and Innovation Global Network (UPSIGN) https://www.upsign.org.uk/.

Prof. Rehman has contributed to Education, Science and Technology and is passionate about passing on knowledge to the next generation. He strongly believes in giving the best to the world. The best thing we can give to the world is an educated and well-equipped generation ready for global challenges.

Prof. Rehman is delighted to be Chair of iExel Education Trust which is developing and continuously improving for what promises to be exciting and challenging times ahead. He is looking forward to utilise his knowledge and expertise and working with an excellent team at the Trust capable of bringing change, expanding and transforming iExel Education Trust. Together, he is committed to ensure, protect and implement our values and educating the next generation holding cultural, religious and national values.

Sajjad Khan

Sajjad Khan has more than 20 years of global leadership experience in the corporate environment and is currently Chief Digital and Information Officer at Amret MFI. As part of this role, he has formulated and implemented a business and digital transformation strategy focused on four strategic goals of growth, transformation, operations, and protection, and has a proven track record of management of operational teams based in multiple countries.

Sajjad has lived and worked in numerous countries gaining valuable international experiences. He has extensive experiences in a range of business functions that include IT & Digital; financial management and controllership; governance, risk and compliance (GRC); shared services; strategic transformations; M&As; commercial development; quality and operations (Lean Six Sigma) and more. Sajjad is currently completing his Doctorate (part time) in the field of GRC.

His role as Vice Chair at iExel involves supporting the Chair of the Trust with the development and implementation of a strategic growth plan to transform and grow this 'Outstanding' Trust. He was instrumental in developing the first strategy for the Trust and navigating the DfE process in the opening of Bronte Girls’ Academy.

John Geoffrey Ashton

Geoff Ashton is Director and Trustee at several Trusts in North West England, as well as a Professor at Bolton University. Judged by Ofsted as an Outstanding Secondary Head on two occasions, Geoff is highly regarded as an expert in the educational landscape. He brings a wealth of relevant, up to date, educational expertise at strategic, management and practical levels.

Geoff was one of the country's first Executive Heads and was elected Chair of an Excellence Cluster which he did for five years, as well as chairing an Education Improvement Partnership for five years and a Graduate Teacher Training Programme for more than 10 years. He is also a director of his local SCITT. He was a Board Member of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority for four years, Local Secretary for Secondary Heads Association (SHA)/ Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) and Cabinet Office Public Servant of the Year for community regeneration and partnership work. A Director of seven companies and Board Member of his local Chamber of Commerce, he is a Governor of Wigan University Technical College (UTC) and is a Board Member of Wigan Youth Zone.

Geoff has been an Education Adviser to the previous and the present Governments for the last 10 years and was responsible for the successful educational structures and deliverables of over 90 Academies, 6 UTCs, 2 Studio Schools and 6 Free Schools. He has been the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF)/ Department for Education (DfE) representative at the selection and appointment of over 120 Academy Principals for secondary, primary and alternative provision schools. He chairs the schools Academic Board advisory group for all Trust schools.

Professor Irfan Ullah Awan

Irfan Ullah Awan is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Bradford. He received his PhD degree in Performance Modelling of Communication Networks from the University of Bradford, UK in 1998. He joined the University of Bradford as a Lecturer in Computing in 1999 and was then promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2004, Reader in 2007 and became Professor of Computer Science in 2009.

Professor Awan was partly seconded to Namal College, an associate college of the University of Bradford between 2008 - 2011 to act as its Vice-Chancellor.

Shakoor Ahmed

Shakoor Ahmed is a graduate of the University of Bradford with a BSc in Business and Management and is a highly successful and dynamic entrepreneur who has demonstrated great strategic and operational leadership in developing the MyLahore business into a nationwide success story.

Shakoor has vast experience in commercial development, financial controllership, programme management and management of several employees. He has excellent organisational and delivery skills and is at the forefront of driving digital transformation in the food industry.

Shakoor is also involved in a wide range of community outreach initiatives and an ardent supporter of social, charitable and economic development initiatives. 

Parwaiz Bashir

Parwaiz Bashir delivers programme management at EFA and has been involved in school governance within Bradford for more than 28 years, including more than six years’ experience as a Chair of an Academy. He has more than 15 years’ senior experience of internal audit, statutory audit and corporate finance within the public sector, primarily at Calderdale Council and the Education and Skills Funding Agency. His wide range of skills in financial management, governance, project management, performance management and IT development have assisted in his work reviewing controls and governance processes.

Jonaid Khan

Jonaid Khan is currently  working at the University of Aston. He previously was the Alumni Relations Manager at the University of Bradford where he led on alumni and stakeholder engagement strategy and volunteer programming through effective planning, resource and team management, data-driven analysis and evaluation. With more than 17 years’ experience at the University, Jonaid is a dedicated professional focused on strategy and development and holds an MBA (Distinction) in Business Management, Strategy and Marketing. He has a passion for stakeholder engagement within the education sector.

Linda Dobson

Linda Dobson is an active member of various local charities and has more than 20 years' experience of working for Children's social care, involving supporting children, young people and families. She has worked in the areas of child sexual exploitation, domestic violence and court work. Linda also undertook private work for the Family Court as an independent expert of parenting skills, undertaking complex assessments and providing opinion to the court.

Since taking early retirement in 2013, Linda was appointed a community governor at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, where she was chair of the membership development group and deputy lead governor for a period of time.

Jane Tiller

Jane has been a teacher serving the Bradford community for over 40 years including 23 years as Headteacher and Executive Headteacher. Jane Tiller remained the Headteacher of Feversham College (now Academy) at the time when the school entered the state system. Together with the community and the governors, they built a school that, with the support of the Islamic Ethos, ensured that the girls achieved high academic results within a supportive environment. Jane continued working with the Trust as a School Improvement Consultant and saw Bronte Girls’ Academy grew, flourished and developed. For 20 years Jane remained the Headteacher of Immanuel College taking it from special measures to consistently good. During this time, she also supported other schools in Bradford as Executive Headteacher including, lately Bradford Girls Grammar School. Jane Tiller has been a National Leader of Education focusing especially on the progress of students supported by the pupil premium.

Dame Naila Zaffar 

With a robust background as an executive headteacher, Dame Naila Zaffar has led schools through numerous successful inspections, fostering environments of excellence and high achievement. Her tenure on various school trust boards has honed her strategic oversight, governance, and decision-making skills. She is deeply committed to ensuring that academy trusts deliver top-quality education, supporting the growth and success of all schools within their communities.

The following information explains the way in which iExel Education Trust is directed and controlled. It defines the distribution of rights and responsibilities amongst the different stakeholders and participants in the Trust. It determines the rules and procedures for making Trust decisions.

Guiding Principles

At all levels of the trust, there are clear reporting lines and explicit requirements for ensuring probity, good governance and effective performance management. 

The Trust’s Code of Conduct applies to all Members, Trustees and Governors. All Members, Trustees and Governors are also required to complete annual Declarations of Business Interest and declare any pecuniary interests within meetings. 

iExel Education Trust Relationship

Roles

iExel Education Trust (iExel) Members will:

• •    Approve the Articles of the Trust.
• •    Appoint Trustees in accordance with the Articles.

iExel Education Trust (iExel) Trustees will:

• •    Approve a Scheme of Delegation for the Trust.
  •    Develop and secure the overall strategy and vision, ensuring consistency within its delivery.
  •    Direct the growth and business development of the Trust.
  •    Ensure there is effective performance management of the Trust/schools.
  •    Monitor the performance of each establishment and hold Heads of Establishments and Local Governing Bodies to account.
  •    Approve the Annual Accounts and Annual Report of the Trust.
  •    Make Trustee appointments to Local Governing Bodies.
  •    Approve key statutory and regulatory policies in line with the Trust’s Policy Framework.
  •    Approve budgets and be the overall employer for all schools.
  •    Ensure value for money and legal compliance across the Trust.
  •    Ensure contractual, legal, financial and academic accountability across the Trust.
  •    Maintain a Register of Business Interests and ensure probity in all of their dealings.
  •    Ensure adherence to the policies of the Trust.
  •    Have responsibility for teaching, the curriculum and standards within Trust establishments.
  •    Have responsibility for Safeguarding within Trust establishments.    
  •    Have responsibility for SEN and inclusion within Trust establishments.
  •    Establish, for a time-limited period, a Task and Finish Group to allow more detailed consideration of specific issues which are within the Board of Trustees’ Terms of Reference.

The Local Governing Body (LGB) will:

• •    Contribute to the strategic development of the Trust.
  •    Serve as the key link between the school(s), parents/carers and the local community.
  •    Champion the work of the school(s) within the local community.
  •    Advise the Principal(s) and Senior Leadership Team(s) as they plan the development of the school(s) and represent the views of the school(s) and local community within decision making.
  •    Assist in the delivery of Trust policies and procedures.
  •    Work with the Trust Central Team to provide challenging but positive and proactive support on education and operations to the Principal(s).
  •    Work in collaboration with (and take direction from as necessary) the Trust Central Team on issues relating to strategic development, education and business operation.
  •    Maintain a Register of Business Interests and ensure probity in all its dealings.
  •    Approve school-level policies.
  •    Discharge duties with regard to Safeguarding in line with Trust policy.
  •    Discharge duties with regard to SEN and inclusion in line with Trust policy.
  •    Establish Lead Governors in the areas required by the Trust. Establish, for a time-limited period, a Task and Finish Group to allow detailed consideration of specific issues which are within the LGB’s Terms of Reference.
  •    Safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
  •    Have regard to any statutory guidance on safeguarding issued by the secretary of state.
  •    Ensure the suitability of staff, supply staff, volunteers, contractors and proprietors.

Board Members

The Trust shall have no less than 3 Members and shall comprise of:

• •    The Members of the Academy Trust at the date of these Articles.
  •    Up to four persons appointed by the Foundation; and
  •    Additional Members that the Members deem fit by passing a special resolution to appoint such additional Members.

Board Trustees

The Trust shall have no less than 3 Trustees and shall comprise of:

• •    Up to 5 Trustees appointed by Members.
  •    The Trust Chief Executive shall be a Trustee if he/she chooses to do so; and
  •    The Trustees may co-opt Trustees.

The majority of Trustees will be appointed by Members

Local Governing Body

Each school will have a Local Governing Body that has been nominated as having responsibility for the school. This may be an individual Local Governing Body or it may be a shared Local Governing Body appointed for more than one school. This will not be for an area larger than an individual town/city to ensure community understanding.

Each Local Governing Body shall have up to 10 Governors consisting of:

• •    Two parent Governors (elected by the parents).
  •    Two Staff Governors (a Principal, plus 1 other, elected by the staff). Where a Principal is absent from school for a prolonged period and an Acting Principal is appointed, the Acting Principal is then able to vote.
  •    Between two and five persons appointed by the Board of Trustees.
  •    The CEO of the Trust (or representative) shall be an ex officio of the LGB; and
  •    LGB Governors may appoint up to two co-opted Governors with the consent of the Trustees.

iExel shall appoint 6 Governors (5 persons and ex officio) including the Chair. Local Governing Body shall have the following areas of expertise/representation: Education; HR; Legal; Estates; Finance; Business Management.

Each Local Governing Body is required to appoint the following essential Lead Governors in:

• •    Finance.
  •    Safeguarding.
  •    Pupil Premium, Looked after Children and Vulnerable Groups (including SEN).
  •    Teaching, Learning and Outcomes.
  •    Estates, Facilities Management and Health and Safety (includes ICT).
  •    Human Resources (HR).
  •    Personal Development, Behaviour and Welfare (includes SMSC and attendance).

DIVERSITY DATA 2024-25: Local Governing Board - Secondary

DIVERSITY DATA 2024-25: Local Governing Board - Primary

DIVERSITY DATA 2024-25: Trustees