Lumen Christi MAC
In April 2015, a family of six schools joined together to become the Lumen Christi Catholic Multi Academy Company (MAC). Our mission is to work 'together with mutual trust, respect and love to provide the highest quality of Catholic education to our communities.' Our guiding aims are:
- To celebrate the Catholic ethos in all our schools
- To maintain the highest quality of Catholic education by ensuring accountability for standards
- To create an ethos of collective responsibility, through which we will promote achievement and improve pupil performance
- To create and support training and career opportunities for all staff and develop Academy Representatives and Directors for the benefit of the multi academy
- To create and strengthen partnerships with other schools and agencies
- To realise best value by sharing assets, resources and using economies of scale
The six Catholic schools within the Lumen Christi MAC are:
St Brigid's primary
St Columba's primary
St James' primary
St Joseph's primary
St Paul's primary
St Thomas More primary
St Thomas Aquinas secondary.
LUMEN CHRISTI- Light of Christ
Lumen Christi MAC Board of Directors
Peter Vince, Foundation Director - Chairman of the Board
Finance, Facilities & Human Resources Committee,
Peter is a chartered Quantity Surveyor and Managing Director at a multi-site consultancy firm. With 38 years’ experience in the private sector, he is adept at project and change management, and believes he can support Lumen Christi identify and overcome challenges ahead. As a former student of St. Thomas Aquinas, Peter has lived and practised his Catholic faith in the local area all his life.
Appointed on 28th March 2015 by Archdiocese of Birmingham
Declaration of Business Interests
Directorships currently held
- Emmaus Consulting Ltd Director
- Emmaus Properties Ltd Director
Membership of Professional Body
- Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
Immediate family/close connections to governor/trustee
- Mrs A Gannon Sister is a foundation member of the Local Academy Committee at St Thomas Aquinas School.
No other declarations made.
Fr. David Evans, Foundation Director
Audit Committee, Finance & Facilities Committee, St. James Academy Committee and St. Columba's Academy Committee
Appointed on 8th February 2018 by Archdiocese of Birmingham
Declaration of Business Interests
- None declared.
No other declarations made.
Claire Simmonds, Co-opted Director - Chair of the Audit Committee
Member of Finance & Facilities Committee
Claire is currently an Associate Director at Deloitte LLP working in the Audit and Assurance practice. She works with clients across the public sector in health, education and local government. As a Chartered Accountant and member of ICAEW Claire has extensive experience as an external auditor supporting finance teams, Audit Committees and Governing bodies with technical accounting, financial reporting and risk management.
Throughout Claire’s career she has taken a particular interest in clients that serve the local community including a number of midlands NHS organisations and Universities, and is the Talent lead for a team of trainees and qualified staff, working to promote diversity and quality in the workplace as well as championing the benefits of agile and flexible working arrangements to better support staff and client needs. Before joining Lumen Christi Claire was also a member of the Audit Committee at Halesowen College.
As a former pupil of St Thomas Aquinas and Warwick University Alumni it is really important to me that the current and future pupils of Lumen Christi schools are given very opportunity to be their best self. St Thomas Aquinas set me on the path to a successful career and I am delighted to have to opportunity to use the skills I have learn in finance and risk management to give something back and contribute to creating an environment where students can build a solid foundation for the future and have the confidence and faith to fulfil their potential.
Co-opted to the Board on 17th September 2019 by the Board of Directors
Declaration of Business Interests
- None declared
Membership of Professional Body
- Institute of Chartered Accountants, England and Wales
No other declarations made.
David Brooks, Foundation Director - Chair of the Finance, Facilities and HR Committee
Finance, Facilities and HR Committee
Photo/pen portrait to follow
Appointed 27th June 2016 by the Archdiocese of Birmingham
Declaration of Business Interests
Clare Madden, CSEL
Finance Facilities & Human Resources Committee, St. Thomas Aquinas Academy Committee
For almost 30 years, Clare has dedicated her professional career to Catholic education in Birmingham, having taught in 5 of its wonderful secondary schools. She also spent 3 years as Coordinator to the Catholic Partnership, a network which epitomised collaborative working for the common good. Joining St Thomas Aquinas as Deputy Headteacher in September 2012, Clare became Principal in September 2014. She considers it a privilege and a pleasure to work so closely with both colleagues and parents to enable the children and young people of this city to make the most of their God given gifts.
Elected on 28th March 2015 by the Principals' Committee
Declaration of Business Interests
- None Declared.
Phil Hadley, Co-opted Director - Chair of the HR Committee
Finance & Facilities Committee, HR Committee and St. Thomas Aquinas School Standards Committee
A Chief Inspector within the West Midlands Police, Phil has over 23 years’ experience within the public and private sector. Specialising in Strategic Senior Leadership; Management; Critical Incident Management; Critical Decision Making; HR Processes, Project Management; Partnership Working, Resource Management; Risk prioritisation; Customer Service; Public Engagement and consultation; Social Media; Public Events and Public Order Planning.
Having previously been in the care system and adopted as a child, Phil left school with average results and didn’t go to university until later in life, where he obtained a Masters degree from Warwick University. Outside of the work environment he is married with five children and together with his wife, is also local authority foster carer.
Phil explained: 'My personal and professional experiences enable me to deliver on the board of directors with not only strategic vision but also the compassion and values we wish to live out through our Catholic schools. In my professional life I try and manage my staff through the mantra ‘Look after your staff and the business will look after itself’. I hope, through the board of directors, to focus on our academy staff to develop a ‘people deal’ which enables our staff across all of the schools to feel part of one organisation and build up pride, motivation and enthusiasm to deliver an outstanding service. This will undoubtedly benefit the children within our schools, improve performance and spread the Catholic values and behaviours of our young people out into the wider communities.'
Initially appointed on 14th September 2016 by the Board of Directors. Co-opted to the Board on 17th September 2019
Declaration of Business Interests
- None declared
No other declarations made.
Matt Hill, Foundation Director
Curriculum & Standards Committee, HR Committee and St. Joseph's School Standards Committee
Currently Head of Religious Studies for St Peters Catholic Secondary school in Solihull with responsibility for the delivery of the RE curriculum from Years 7-13 and for supporting and promoting Catholic Life and Catholic Worship in school and in the local community.
Matt feels that he can support the academy in ensuring Catholic Education continues to offer life chances to young people from all social, religious and academic backgrounds. He feesl that the Gospel values should underpin how young people and adults in our schools interact and learn together.
Appointed on 15th March 2017 by Archdiocese of Birmingham
Declaration of Business Interests
- None declared.
Bernard O'Driscoll, Foundation Director
HR Committee
Bernard is currently Director of People & Culture for Barnardo’s, the UK’s largest children’s charity. He has extensive experience across the private and public sector in Human Resources and in general management. He is also the Governor of his local Catholic Primary School and is an active member of his parish of St Ambrose Barlow, Hall Green.
He has been a career long champion of active learning, and holds an MBA from Warwick Business School and gained a Masters in Contemporary Theology through Newman College.
As an ex-pupil of St Thomas Aquinas, Bernard is delighted to contribute to the Board of Lumen Christi with his professional expertise in all aspects of business management and talent development. His ambition is that all pupils and staff throughout Lumen Christi get the best possible opportunity to achieve their potential to the full for the good of themselves, the Church and the wider community.”
Appointed to the Board 14th March 2019 by Archdiocese of Birmingham
Declaration of Business Interests
- Pending advice
Other School/Academy Positions
- Chair of Governors, St. Ambrose Barlow Catholic Primary, Hall Green
The Members of Lumen Christi Catholic Multi Academy are: