Meet Our Members and Trustees
Our Members
The Members of the Trust ensure that the Board of Trustees have the necessary expertise to fulfil its functions effectively and that the board acts in accordance with the Trust's charitable objects. Our Members act as guardians of governance, approving key changes, and ensuring the Trust's educational mission is met, focusing on strategic oversight and safeguarding public funds.
Mrs Diana Ralphs
My association with Wymondham College dates from my marriage into the Ralphs family (my late father-in-law was Chief Education Officer for Norfolk and founder of the College). I was privileged to serve as a Governor and then Vice Chairman of Governors. I played an active part in the discussions about the inception and foundation of the Sapientia Education Trust and was a Member from 2016 to 2020. I continue to be impressed at the dedication of those whose vocation is to support schools and students in Norfolk in pursuit of excellence in education.
Mr Philip Norton
A former Partner at Hansells, I am now a Consultant for Private Client and Charity Law at the firm. I am a Trustee of some well-established local charities, some with a medical and others with an educational emphasis. I also advise charities both locally and nationally on legal and governance matters. I have three daughters who were students at Wymondham College.
Mr Stuart Bertram
A former pupil of Wymondham College, Stuart is an experienced digital communicator for corporate and marketing led initiatives and was Managing Director of Brandex Insight since its foundation in 2011. Stuart was a governor at Norwich University of the Arts from 2007 to November 2016 where he chaired the Finance and Resources Committee and was a member of the Nominations Committee. Stuart was on the board of the London College of Creative Media in 2017 as it journeyed from its former name of the London Centre of Contemporary Music and up to its successful acquisition by Global University Systems in 2018. A keen cricketer, Stuart has been a non-executive director of Norfolk Cricket Board since 2021 and has been chair of leading East Anglian cricket club Swardeston CC since 2018. Married with two adult daughters, Stuart is also a Director at the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation UK.
Mrs Sandra Dinneen OBE
Mrs Sandra Dinneen is an experienced Chief Executive with roles spanning the public, private and not for profit sector. She has a background in economic growth and has led and advised on a number of successful development projects. Sandra has a keen interest in organisational and skills development, cultural change and commercialisation. She continues to deliver leadership development programmes and executive coaching. Other roles include being a Commissioner for Historic England, the Senior Independent Director for the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Foundation Trust, and Chairman of Bullen Developments Ltd.
Mrs Hannah Ralph
Hannah is a local government senior leader - with expertise in strategy, transformation, performance and insight, equalities and local government reform. With a Masters in Public Policy, Hannah’s career has included a number of local government leadership roles in Norfolk and London, and at a national level, including roles as Head of Transformation, Head of Strategy, Chief of Staff and Manager of a sector-leading organisation representing Councils from across the country. Hannah lives in Norfolk with her young family and is proud to support the work of the Sapientia Trust who lead a number of schools in her local community.
Mr Peter Rout
A retired farmer, Peter has four children, all of whom were educated at Wymondham College. He became a Parent Governor of the College in 1994 starting what has become a long association with the College. He is proud to be chairman of SET, a forward-looking organisation that continues to flourish in the ever changing world of education.
SET Board - Audit & Risk Committee
SET Board - Boarding Committee
SET Board - Education Committees: Primary & Secondary
SET Board - Finance Committee (Chair)
SET Board - HR & Remuneration Committee
SET Board - Infrastructure Committee
SET Board - Compliance Committee
Mr Simon Wood
A mechanical engineer with a thirst for knowledge that was satisfied with working at Lotus Cars since 1983. I held the role of Managing Director during periods and also had the opportunity to work in Italy at Bugatti for some years. Closely involved with the EU’s smaller volume automotive regulations has provided a perspective on the relationship the UK has within the EU. Retired in 2022. I am keen to see further enhancement of STEM subjects in education and emphasis on the environment and efficiency. I first became involved with Wymondham College as a Governor during the late 1990’s. Six of our children have, or continue to be, pupils at the College.
Our Trustees
The Trustees are volunteer leaders, governing our multi-school organisation to ensure it meets its educational and legal obligations, sets vision, oversees finances, and holds the CEO/leadership accountable for improving student outcomes.
Mr Peter Rout
A retired farmer, Peter has four children, all of whom were educated at Wymondham College. He became a Parent Governor of the College in 1994 starting what has become a long association with the College. He is proud to be chairman of SET, a forward-looking organisation that continues to flourish in the ever changing world of education.
SET Member
SET Board - Audit & Risk Committee
SET Board - Boarding Committee
SET Board - Education Committees: Primary & Secondary
SET Board - Finance Committee (Chair)
SET Board - HR & Remuneration Committee
SET Board - Infrastructure Committee
SET Board - Compliance Committee
Mr Roger Margand
I qualified as a solicitor in 1996 and co-lead the commercial team at Spire Solicitors LLP. I advise a range of businesses and not for profit organisations on all aspects of Business Law with a focus on regulatory, healthcare and education. I first became a governor in the late 1990s at Neatherd High School, Dereham. Following the arrival of my two children, I joined the governing bodies of the Free School Norwich and Trowse Primary School. I have sat on the Local Governing Bodies of Framingham Earl High School, Seething & Mundham Primary School and White House Farm Primary School. I hold Trustee positions at Sapientia Education Trust, Citizens Advice Mid Norfolk, the Spire Charitable Trust and Citizens Advice Norfolk. At present, I am a member of the Free School Norwich, Corvus Education Trust and Unity Education Trust. In addition, I work with the Prince’s Trust as a mentor helping young people set up their own businesses. In my leisure time, I enjoy following the adventures of NCFC and making music.
SET Board - Audit & Risk Committee
SET Board - Boarding Committee
SET Board - Finance Committee
SET Board - HR & Remuneration Committee
SET Board - Compliance Committee (Chair)
Mr Jonathan Taylor
Jonathan is the founding CEO of Sapientia, which was established in 2016. He was previously Principal of Wymondham College in Norfolk and has held numerous school and sector leadership roles. He was educated at the University of Oxford (Brasenose College) where he was awarded an Open Exhibition and graduated with a Masters Degree in Theology.
He was appointed as a DfE RISE advisor in January 2025 and previously served as a National Leader of Education and an Ofsted Inspector. He is an active member of the Norfolk Learning Collaborative and is a regular speaker at regional and national conferences. He is strongly committed to collaborative working, believing that sharing expertise is a key factor in raising standards.
SET Board - Boarding Committee
SET Board - Education Committees: Primary & Secondary
SET Board - Finance Committee
SET Board - HR & Remuneration Committee
SET Board - Infrastructure Committee
Mr Ian Baker
I am proud to be a Trustee of Sapientia Education Trust. I have been a school governor at both primary and secondary schools in Norfolk for over 10 years, more latterly being involved at Wymondham College. My own area of expertise is finance and during my time as a governor I have used this expertise to support and challenge the finance function. My experience over recent years does leave me well placed to act as a critical friend to the Trust going forward.
SET Board - Audit & Risk Committee (Chair)
SET Board - Finance Committee
SET Board - Responsible Officer
Mrs Jenny Dwyer
Jenny brings 30 years of working in education, nineteen years as a secondary Head with the last twelve years as Head of a boarding school in Dorset. Jenny has been an inspector for the Independent Schools Inspectorate and was a member of the ISI board for three years. Jenny has been on the Governing Body of a number of prep and secondary schools, and was, until recently, a Trustee of a Multi-Academy Trust in Dorset. Jenny is now an Education Consultant.
SET Board - Secondary Education Committee (Chair)
SET Board - Compliance Committee
Mr Richard Hill
Richard was with Lotus Cars at Hethel for more than 38 years as Chief Engineer within the Engineering division. “I was a governor at Wymondham College from 2007 to 2016 and I was also a founder director of the University Technical College Norfolk, helping to establish it from scratch as a new technical focused educational provision for 14 to 18 year-olds. I have always been deeply committed to excellence in education. It is essential that our young people are given the right environment, and the opportunities and encouragement to excel, right from the beginning of their educational journey, in order to prepare them for the world of employment and lifelong learning. To round off the education and career cycle, I am also a Trustee and Director of a large occupational pension scheme.”
SET Board - HR & Remuneration Committee (Chair)
SET Board - Audit & Risk Committee
Mr Tom North
I value being involved in school governance with Sapientia Education Trust on former Local Governing Bodies and now as a Trustee as this plays a small part in maximising the potential of our students. Building on the governance skills developed over the past years and having seen first-hand the aims and principles that the Trust hold and the dedication to applying them, I want to ensure this high level is maintained and challenged. I enjoy working with all the schools as well as the leadership team to achieve this.
I am a Chartered Building Surveyor running a business in Norfolk and bring analytical and process driven experience to the role. Specifically my day to day work provides detailed knowledge of the built environment, which will be valuable in working with the Estates team.
SET Board - Education Committees: Primary & Secondary
SET Board - Infrastructure Committee (Chair)
SET Board - Compliance Committee
Mrs Caroline Saint
I have a background in education as a Secondary Science teacher. During my teaching career I taught in schools in Yorkshire and the Midlands and gained experience in leadership within the schools. I was lucky enough to lead on the design of a new Science department and assist with whole school planning before relocating to Norfolk in 2012.
My husband and I set up a HealthCare IT business in 2013 which has provided me with the opportunity to learn about running a small business and adapt and apply the skills from education to a new environment. The flexibility of being self-employed has enabled me to continue to volunteer in education. I have enjoyed being a governor at Spooner Row Primary School and then Wymondham College. The experiences at both Primary and Secondary Governance have been both challenging and informative.
I am proud to be a Trustee of Sapientia Education Trust and hope that my experience as a teacher, director, governor and parent will help me to maintain the Trust’s high standards.
SET Board - Education Committees: Primary & Secondary
SET Board - HR & Remuneration Committee
SET Board - Compliance Committee
Mrs Penny Sheppard
Having been in primary education for 30 years, 20 of these as a Headteacher, I believe that every child deserves the very best start in life so that they develop a passion for learning. I have also worked as a tutor and teacher for Norfolk Family Learning and been a governor at a local high school. Both my children were boarders at Wymondham College and I am pleased to be able to champion an enriched curriculum for all children and young people across the Trust.
SET Board – Primary Education Committee (Chair)
