St Laurence Education Trust appoints six new Trustees

The St Laurence Education Trust is a registered charity, and also a limited company, which governs Ampleforth College and St Martin’s Ampleforth. Ampleforth College is a Roman Catholic co-educational Independent School with approximately 550 boys and girls living in ten boarding houses. St Martin’s Ampleforth, situated in the nearby village of Gilling, is a feeder prep school for the College. Plans are to consolidate the schools, closing St Martin’s Ampleforth and bringing its pupils onto the College site to form a new Junior House. The two schools are part of the religious and educational works of Ampleforth Abbey, a Benedictine monastic community which has made its home at Ampleforth since 1802.

Society’s search focused on finding profiles that will complement the skills and experience held by those currently on the Board. The new appointed Trustees will contribute to the setting and monitoring of the Trust’s strategic direction and will nurture positive relationships with the College’s Senior Leadership Team, as well as members of the Ampleforth Abbey Trust.

Edward Sparrow has spent his whole working life at Ashurst LLP, an international commercial law firm in the City of London. Having retired in April 2018, he now remains a part-time consultant to the firm. He is the longstanding Chair at St Catherine’s School, Twickenham, Chair of the City of London Law Society, and Trustee of Care International UK. Edward is now the newly appointed Chair elect.

Barbara Matthews was previously a non-executive director for one of the region’s largest NHS mental health providers. She has an extensive career working in law and politics on international councils and the Conservative Group on the City of York Council.

Christina Fairhead is an Independent Safeguarding Children consultant.  Christina has extensive experience in all aspects of safeguarding children and continues to be a member of a Local Safeguarding Children Partnership in the area of her work.  In June 2019 Christina was awarded the title ‘Queen’s Nurse’ for “Continued commitment to improving standards of care in the community and to learning and leadership.”

Kieran McLaughlin is Durham School’s 53rd Headmaster and joined the School in September 2014. Prior to joining Durham, Mr McLaughlin was academic deputy head at the world-famous Rugby School for five years. His wealth of experience means he has a clear understanding and knowledge of the important role that top UK boarding schools play in educating the next generation.

Martin Rigby is a non-executive director of several technology and venture investment businesses and is chair of the Morris Education Trust. After graduating from New College, Oxford, he was a regular army officer for seven years before a career in venture capital investment.

Lynn Cooper is a non-executive director of ICE Clear Europe Limited, a financial institution in the City of London. She has served on the Evelina Children’s Hospital Appeal Committee and is currently Under Sheriff of Greater London. Previously she worked as a lawyer at Clifford Chance for 27 years and was a partner for 15 years in the finance group, specialising in advising and setting up financial markets and advising on financial services regulation.