Governance

Before retiring, David Gould was Executive Principal of Ark Boulton Academy, which opened in September 2015, and former Principal at Ark St Alban’s Academy, which opened in September 2009.  He was also Regional Director of Secondary Education for Ark in Birmingham.  As Principal at Ark St Alban's, David improved student outcomes over 16 years with significant improvements in GCSE results. His tireless and focused work resulted in the school being named as one of the country’s best schools on the value-added measure, with pupils making outstanding progress during their time at the Academy.  He also helped the Academy to build a strong community presence - forging strong links with Birmingham Central Mosque and with other local religious groups.  Prior to joining Ark, David was the Head Teacher of St Alban’s CE Specialist Engineering College. David was awarded a OBE for services to education in 2017.

I have over 10 years of experience as a School SEND Governor, enhancing educational experiences for students with special needs. As Chair of Governors for a primary school, I provide leadership and ensure alignment with high educational standards. My role on the Interim Executive Board focuses on governance, improving school performance, and promoting achievement. Additionally, I have volunteered for over a decade as a Youth Mentor with Kings Trust Mosaic Programme, empowering young people. I support a local community charity through family and youth clubs, fostering collaboration, belonging, and empowerment, including my involvement in a Women’s Group promoting community engagement.

As a Head of Year with a master's degree in art and design, I am unapologetic in my commitment to unlocking the potential of every young person, irrespective of their starting point.

My faith teaches me that education is an Amanah — a trust and a responsibility to serve young people and help them fulfil their potential. My own experiences growing up, including being removed from school at a young age, have shaped my determination to make a difference. The challenges I faced gave me a strong sense of purpose: to work hard, overcome barriers and become the role model and educator I once needed myself.

I feel incredibly fortunate to now serve the same community that I come from. This gives me a deep understanding of both the strengths within our community and the challenges some of our young people and families may face.

As a Governor at Ark Victoria Academy, I am proud to contribute to the continued development of the school and to champion high expectations, opportunity, and ambition for every pupil. Above all, I am committed to ensuring that our pupils, families, and wider community remain at the heart of everything we do.

Mubarek is an undergraduate computer science student and intern at Aston University, assisting with various projects such as auditing the organization's sustainability policies and supporting efforts to become a more disability-conscious and inclusive employer.

Mubarek is also an Alum of St. Albans Academy where he was a recipient of the Marshall Wace Scholarship towards his university costs. The academy's motto of "giving back to the community" resonated with him and contributed to his decision on becoming an ARK Nominated Governor.

A qualified solicitor who specialises in Criminal Defence and Human Rights Law.  Often working at a community level with the most vulnerable and diverse groups across the city - he established the B10 Food Bank, The Small Heath Neighbourhood Forum and Plan initiative and the Salaam Festival to champion local needs and heritage in Small Heath. He also sponsors Ark Victoria Eid Community Meals.  Outside of his community interests Omar also presents his own show on Unity FM and is currently developing an interfaith network across East Birmingham to promote cultural engagement and tackle social depravation. 

Catherine has worked extensively with vulnerable children including those with SEND and EAL. She has managed and led on inclusion and safeguarding in numerous educational settings. Catherine currently volunteers at Samaritans and is undertaking a PhD in education.

Jordan is an experienced practitioner currently working for Birmingham City Councils, Special Educational Needs Assessment and Review (SENAR) Service, as a Case Officer. His achievements include a MA Education (Inclusion & SEND), BA Honours Youth & Community Work Degree (with National Youth Agency accreditation). Jordan has worked in multiagency settings for more than 15 years, delivering pastoral work and some lecturing in further and higher education. By joining the board of governors Jordan hopes his young person-centred approach, and advocacy skills, and SEN specialism will support the schooling and lifelong learning experiences of pupils.

I have been in the teaching profession for twenty years and I have fulfilled a number of curriculum and pastoral roles in a  range of school, academies and colleges during that time. My present role is as Director of Faculty for English and Lead Practitioner for Oracy. I believe it is crucial to invest the same amount of passion into growing and challenging those whom I lead as I do with the learners in my classroom. I have always sought to lead by example. Through modelling and innovation, I have engendered exciting and engaging lessons and schemes of work leading to excellence in the classroom and improved student outcomes whether these are vocational or academic. 

By profession I am a Citizenship and RE teacher, however, I have not taught since my eldest children were born over 13 years ago. I was born in London and the majority of my teaching experience was there. I put forward my name to become Parent Governor of AVA 4 years ago, so that I could give back to society and gain an insight into what life is like in the classroom now. 

My eldest children have been at AVA for 10 years and my youngest for 5 years. I am a regularly on site and engage with staff and parents on a daily basis. 

Working as the Governor with responsibility for Community Links, I have forged links with community organisations in and around Birmingham and beyond with Citizens UK. This also assisted me in getting employment with Tyseley Energy Park (TEP Birmingham) as the Community Outreach Officer in 2024-25 and most recently, as Energy Advisor for Acocks Greener . 

I am a polyglot and have learned many languages in my time. This has been a real asset in building community relations within the school community. 

Green issues are a passion of mine and I am looking to develop links between AVA and the developing Green Energy Innovation Quarter. 

Steve is a Senior Relationship Manager at Allied Irish Bank and is involved in several Birmingham and West Midlands professional business groups. He brings many years experience in business and finance to his role as Finance link governor. 

Sue has been a teacher in inner city Birmingham schools for the whole of her career and so is aware of the issues that face families in Birmingham with regards to education. Before Sue retired, she was vice principal at Ark St Alban's Academy and for the two terms before becoming an academy, acting headteacher. Sue has also worked with Teach First helping to improve the teaching of those young people joining the profession. Retirement has allowed Sue to be a governor at Ark St Alban’s where she was the link governor for Safeguarding and, later as SEND link governor. Recently, Sue has moved to Ark Victoria where she is the link Governor for secondary teaching and learning.  She has also taken on the link Governor role at Ark Tindal monitoring personal development.  Sue is an active member of the LGB ensuring she visits the academy regularly to have a clear picture of what is happening, particularly in her areas of responsibility.  Sue has an interest in all kinds of sports as a participator (netball and basketball), spectator (football, cricket, rugby, and speedway) and administrator (netball and basketball). Sue feels proud to state that she manages all the basketball finals organised by the Basketball Superleague.  The highlight of her sporting interest was working at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 where she interviewed prospective volunteers, auditioned candidates for the drama and dance sections of the opening and closing ceremonies, managed a commonwealth team at these ceremonies and then worked at one of the sporting sites for the remainder of the event.  This experience has led Sue to volunteer at many major sporting and community events.