I became a Trustee in February 2022, after retiring from a teaching career spanning 36 years. I was a headteacher for 22 of those years, and finished my career in Slough as a headteacher of a large (1,000+ pupils) primary school where I was also CEO of the academy trust this school was part of. Trustees in this trust were such a vital part of the fabric of the school and offered me so much support, and challenge, over the years that it felt right to offer this in turn to Chulmleigh Academy Trust, when the opportunity arose.

My husband and I relocated to North Devon in May 2021 and love the slower pace of life, the stunning countryside and, of course, the glorious beaches. Being able to also get to know the Chulmleigh Academy Trust community is a bonus, and I am happy to bring my leadership experience and knowledge of education to the table.

I recently became Chair of the Board of Trustees, and I am looking forward to working closely with other trustees and governors to ensure the trust remains committed to its values while forging strong partnerships in the local and wider Devon community. I am particularly interested in making sure that all children have the opportunity to succeed and be inspired by the curriculum and the teaching within the Trust.

My name is Keith Greenwood and I have been a Trustee/Governor since my son Greg started at the College in 2011.  I started volunteering to make a difference to his education and continue to have this at the heart of everything I do. I live in Witheridge with my wife Maria, and our sons Greg and Adam, who are both in their 20s.

I worked for Tesco in various stores in the south-west for 28 years. In my previous roles, I have led teams in recruitment, operations, health and safety, customer experience and management teams. I play golf badly, and enjoy quizzes and watching sports, I love a great book and enjoy podcasts. 

At the Academy, I am joint Vice Chair of the Board and Chair of the Business and Finance Committee. I enjoy being on recruitment panels and, out of necessity, I sit on the disciplinary panel.

In my 11 years, I have seen many changes at all the schools. This only happens with all the hard work put in by all the staff of the academy, the pupils that work so hard and the parents/carers that support them.

I have been on the Board of Trustees at Chulmleigh Academy Trust for about twelve years. Before this, I was a Governor and Chair of Governors at Witheridge Primary School. At the time I joined the Board, my youngest daughter was a pupil here, so I became a Trustee to support her school and the community in general.

At the Academy, I have the specific responsibility for the area of SEND. I work with our SENDCo to ensure the best provision for our pupils.

For the last twenty years, I have run my own technical consultancy providing security advice for many major companies. I am a Chartered Engineer and can give advice to the Academy on STEM. 

In my little spare time, my wife and I have a small-holding with sheep, goats, chickens and a flock of golden retrievers.

I am a firm believer that every one of our pupils can achieve more than we expect. The Academy will continue to improve to give them the best education available. 

I became a Trustee of the Academy Trust in 2019, having taken the decision to partially retire from my principal employment. My background is as an actuary, and in this capacity I have worked for a range of global financial institutions in London and New York. As an actuary, I have been involved in managing the finances of many financial organisations, including insurance companies and pension schemes. Having taken a step towards retirement, I wanted to use these skills to benefit the local community where we live and was fortunate enough to be introduced to Chulmleigh Academy Trust. In my capacity as a Trustee of the Trust, I am particularly involved in the finances of the Trust and sit on the Business and Finance Committee.

Much of my career has been built upon a superb education, all from the state system, and I sincerely believe that with the right people, quality leadership and motivation, every school in the system is capable of great things. Every child deserves to have access to the same marvellous opportunities as myself in their education, and it brings me great pleasure to now be able to play a small part in making that happen.