Our Board

Mrs Yvonne Brennan

Chair of the Board of Directors

Governance Experience 

Previously a Foundation Director of Holy Family Multi Academy Company and a member of the Shadow Board preparing for the merger of Holy Family Multi Academy Company and Our Lady of Lourdes Multi Academy Company. I have significant experience in Governance having served in different educational settings as a Staff Governor and then as a Head Teacher Governor.

I have been a member of the full range of Governing Body committees including those related to vision and ethos, staff and student performance, finance and accountability. In the last 8 years, I have initiated and delivered training for School Governors and have been involved in advising and supporting School Governors and Directors of Multi Academy Companies in the recruitment and appointment of School Leaders and CSELs [CEO equivalent} respectively.

Knowledge and Skills/Areas of Expertise 

I have been involved in the educational sector since 1975 as a teacher, Senior leader, High School Principal and more recently as Deputy Director of the Diocesan Education Service within the Archdiocese of Birmingham. I have an in-depth knowledge of the aims and purpose of Catholic Education and of the Diocesan strategy to protect, secure and improve the provision of Catholic Education for future generations.

I am a strategic thinker experienced in dealing with a range of stakeholders, in relationship management and in School Improvement. I am also experienced in monitoring and evaluating the overall effectiveness of Multi Academy Companies and their schools.

Qualifications. BA Dip.Ed. NPQH.

Mike Tilt

Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors

Governance Experience

I have served as a foundation director on the Board of the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic MAC renamed Our Lady of the Magnificat Multi-Academy since its formation in May 2014 and have served as chair from May 2017 to September 2021.  I was previously a foundation governor and academy representative at St Peter’s First School in Bromsgrove for 14 years until September 2017 serving on the finance and premises and curriculum committees.

Knowledge and skills/areas of expertise

My professional experience as a Chartered Surveyor and property developer has equipped me with a detailed knowledge of commercial leases, joint venture and partnership agreements and corporate governance in both the public and private sectors.

BSc (Hons) in Land Management (Valuation specialisation) - University of Reading

Governance Experience

Foundation Director since November 2017

Academy Representative 2018 - 2021

Knowledge and skills/ areas of expertise 

As a pupil, I attended schools that are now in the MAC from Primary through to 6th Form. I work in Local Government Finance and one of the aspects of my job that I really enjoy is contributing to important services for people in my local area. However, as I moved to a new role at my work in 2017 that was more removed from front-line services, I started to look for opportunities to volunteer in my community. Supporting the MAC was an ideal opportunity for me and my specialism in Finance has meant that I can take up a role in both sub-committees as well.

Governance Experience 

I have been a Foundation Director of Our Lady of Lourdes Multi Academy Company renamed Our Lady of the Magnificat Multi-Academy since its formation in 2014 and was re-appointed in June, 2018.  I sit on the Risk and Audit Committee as Chair and am also involved with various sub-Committees. Before this and at the same time, I also served as a Governor/Academy Representative on the Board of St Bede’s Catholic Middle School from 2012 – 2018, spending five years as Chair. 

Prior to this, I sat on the Standards Committee of my local Borough Council from 2007, until the introduction of a new standards regime in local government in 2012.  Here, I held the post of Chair for 4 years. 

Knowledge and Skills/Areas of Expertise 

My key areas of expertise are:

Commercial, Sales Management, Business Management, Team Management, Construction, Premises and Recruitment. 

Lesley joined the Board in April 2024.

Governance Experience  

I was a foundation director of the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic MAC from academisation in 2014 until the merger with Holy Family Catholic MAC in 2021, continuing on the Board of the newly merged Our Lady of the Magnificat Catholic MAC in 2021. I sit on the Board’s Catholic Mission, Performance and Standards and Risk and Audit Sub-Committees, having previously been a member of the Finance and Resources Sub-Committee. I am link director for both Legal and Safeguarding and was previously link director for GDPR. I was previously a foundation governor of both St Augustine’s Catholic High School, Redditch, (2013 to 2021) and St Peter’s Catholic First School, Bromsgrove (2009 to 2022).

Knowledge and Skills/Area of Expertise 

I am a (currently non-practising) solicitor with over 30 years experience of legal practice predominantly in the field of personal injury litigation.

As a governor, I have leadership experience, having chaired St. Peter's Board of Academy Representatives (Governors) between 2014 and 2018 and have also chaired sub-committees, including Personnel at both St. Augustine’s and St. Peter's. I have been a link governor for SEND and KS5. 

Outside of work and school governance, I am Safeguarding Officer at St. Peter's RC Parish, Bromsgrove.

Governance Experience

I joined the Board of Directors in February 2024 and sit on the Catholic Mission, Performance and Standards Committee, acting as Link Director for Catholic Life and Mission. I was previously a Foundation Governor and Academy Representative at St Peter’s First School in Bromsgrove for 17 years, serving on the Personnel and Curriculum Committees.

Knowledge and Skills/Area of Expertise 

My background is in Secondary Education, having worked in Maintained and Independent Schools for 39 years. As a former Head of Department, I have experience of managing the performance of staff, through the observation of teaching, delivering staff training, and the monitoring of standards. My most recent role has been as Director of Communications for a foundation of Independent Schools in Worcester.

I am an inspector with the Catholic Schools Inspectorate and have led or supported many inspections of primary and secondary schools in the Archdiocese of Birmingham.

Qualifications:

MA Hons: Queens’ College, University of Cambridge

PGCE (Distinction): Homerton College, University of Cambridge

MPhil: University of Birmingham

Governance Experience 

I have been both a parent and then foundation director of the Board of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic MAC renamed Our Lady of the Magnificat Multi-Academy since May 2016.  

I have also been a school governor and held the position of Chair of the Local Governing Board of St Peter’s Catholic First School (Academy) for three years, up until the point of the merger of the two academies (September 2021).

I have held a link director role for Pupil Premium, the Primary PE and Sport Premium as well as Wellbeing for the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic MAC overseeing the development of the Wellbeing Strategy. I also held the role of Chair of the MAC Scrutiny Committee, which included leading a MAC wide review for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities provision for our pupils.

I regularly contribute and author guidance for national organisations on advising governors and trustees in effectively monitoring their schools and am part of the NGA Young Governors Network. I also hold a position of Non-Exec Director for a national health organisation.

Knowledge and Skills/Area of Expertise 

My background has been originally in the fields of sport science and business management, and in education and specialising in both pupil and staff wellbeing, through the power of PE and school sport. I work for a national children’s charity leading a network of schools (primary, secondary, special and alternative provision) across England to advocate high quality inclusive, accessible and meaningful provision for all. 

My skills include leadership of nationally funded interventions through government grants, working with and through schools to cascade effective practice across the sector; along with analytical and intelligence gathering skills which enable design and development of future strategy, based on trends, evidence and horizon scanning. I have a thorough working knowledge of vulnerable youth practices, and national and emerging policy relating to inclusive youth provision; providing effective project management, along with risk mitigation and financial management of public funds.