Governance

Welcome from the Chair

Thank you for your interest in the Governance of Stanmore College, a flourishing College based in North London. We provide post-16 academic and vocational education in multiple locations across London and are consistently delivering outstanding teaching & learning and very strong outcomes for students. Over the last few years we have seen steady performance improvement, financial stability and growth. Our Governing Body is both focused and committed to further transforming our Corporation into an Outstanding College.

Our Governing Body is passionate about helping our students and community get the skills they need for the careers of today and into the future. We have received huge support to invest in our College to create one of the very best learning facilities in the region. We have ambitious goals, but we believe that by working ever more closely with our partners they can be achieved.

We know too that the quality of leadership and governance we are able to provide will be key to our success. That is why we review our governance model and continued to strengthen our board from across industry, students and our staff. The recruitment and development of outstanding leaders will continue to be a key priority for us going forward and if you would like to be considered for our Board membership, please look at our website for details on how to do this.

We are extremely proud of our College and what we and our students have achieved over the last few years. We are now, more than ever, driven to improve further still.

Gideon Schulman
Chair of the Board of Governors

Board Members

Gideon Schulman

Rabbi Gideon Schulman

Chair of the Board of Governors, Chair of Governance Committee

In May 2017, Gideon joined the board of Governors and became Chair in 2019. He is a semi-retired Chief Executive of a business services company, which provides accountancy, HR, financial, and payroll solutions, following a 20-year career as a senior international HR professional.

Currently, Gideon serves as Vice-Chair of Canine Partners and as a trustee of the Neurological Alliance. He is a disability advocate and has previously been a trustee at the MS Society and ShiftMS, in addition to serving on people advisory committees for two welfare charities. Gideon holds a Rabbinical ordination, a BSc in Finance, and an MA in HR. He is a Fellow of the CIPD, CMI, IoL, and RSA, a Member of the IoD, and holds CMgr. In his personal life, Gideon is learning to play the trumpet and lives in London with his wife, daughter, and two Siamese cats. He is also on the waiting list for an assistance dog. Gideon is passionate about using his skills and knowledge to support not-for-profit organisations.

Sundeep Bhandari

Sundeep Bhandari

Vice Chair of the Board of Governors, Vice Chair of Governance Committee

Sundeep is an Independent Non-Executive Director with Ghana International, PNB International, and British Arab Commercial Bank, where he chairs the Board Risk Committee.

He is a Trustee of the charity 15billion-EBP, supporting career related programs for young people, and mentors the CEO of Maanch, an impact platform advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Previously, Sundeep built an extensive international career in financial services with Standard Chartered Bank and Barclays, holding senior roles in London, Singapore, Mumbai, Hong Kong, and Dubai. His positions included Managing Director, Co-Head of Wholesale Banking, and Global Head of Internal Audit. Sundeep is passionate about community engagement and has been a guest speaker at HKUST MBA on ethics and management dilemmas. Born in Northern Ireland, he is married with two children. A graduate of the University of Ulster, he holds an MBA from City, University of London.

Photo of Annette Cast

Annette Cast

Principal and Ex-Officio Governor

Annette Cast joined Stanmore College as Principal on 1st August 2022.

Annette was formerly Principal at Lewisham Southwark College and previously Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the College of Professional Services and Student Experience. With a wealth of experience in further and higher education and a track record of driving innovation and success, Annette will be focused on providing the best possible educational offer for Harrow residents.

Kate Parsley

Kate Parsley

Chair of Renumeration Committee, Safeguarding Link Governor

Kate Parsley has over 17 years’ experience in the London public sector, predominantly in public health, including leading interventions in FE Colleges and NEET programmes.

Prior to that Kate worked in Zimbabwe and Uganda supporting orphans and vulnerable children. Kate is also currently Trustee of ADVANCE, a charity supporting women with criminal justice and domestic abuse situations; Board member of Ekaya Housing Association, supporting single-mothers from global majority backgrounds and running a small community nursery; and Board Advisor for We Hold A Hand, raising awareness of mental health. Kate holds a Master’s in community health psychology from the LSE and is currently studying an MBA. Kate is a freelance consultant, helping public and voluntary sectors with service design, strategy and insight research. Kate is passionate about social justice, wider determinants of health and community engagement and is an active ally for people with global majority heritage and the LGBTQI+ community.

Paul Goodman

Paul Goodman

Principal and Ex-Officio Governor

Paul is a CFO and Commercial Director with extensive experience in the creative, events, hospitality, fashion, travel, retail and e-commerce sectors of industry.

He is a chartered accountant (FCA) and a qualified Childline volunteer. He has a BA (Jt Hons) from University College London in English and History of Art. Paul was formerly a TV and film producer who made programmes for the BBC and independent production companies in the UK and Canada. He has a deep interest in promoting opportunities for disadvantaged people, and in advancing good financial education for all. In his spare time, he cooks and plays the piano.

Ying Kay

Ying Kay

Governor

Ying is the Chief Finance Officer at an American university located in London. She brings extensive expertise in finance and accounting, complemented by an MBA in Higher Education Management, making her a highly skilled leader in her field.

Mike Bluestone

Mike Bluestone

Governor

Mike serves as Director of Security Consulting at Corps Security, bringing 25 years of senior level experience in private security.

Renowned for his expertise in security management, investigations, and training, he is a sought-after commentator, regularly appearing on the BBC and speaking at seminars and conferences. Mike has authored over 40 articles on corporate security and related topics. He has held leadership roles in many prominent industry organisations and is a former Chairman of the Security Institute.

Hannah Butland

Hannah Butland

Governor

Hannah has 15 years experience as a teacher during which she specialised in A Level teaching and was a Deputy Head.

As a senior leader she has had responsibility for teaching and learning, staff development and the use of technology in the classroom. She is a passionate advocate for education, having been the first person from her state school to attend the University of Oxford. She wants every young person to have access to the transformative benefits of a high quality, inspirational education and has a particular interest in community education. As a mother to an autistic boy she is passionate about SEND education. Hannah has previously sat on the board of two state primary schools and has a Master’s degree in Education. 

Julian Davies

Julian Davies

Governor

Julian’s career is distinguished by his leadership in professional and higher education, marked by successful academic and commercial client delivery.

He has a keen understanding of the strategic dynamics within the public and for-profit education sectors, making him an invaluable asset in his current role. His prior experience includes significant leadership positions where he demonstrated his expertise in strategic management and operational oversight. Julian’s accomplishments in these roles include driving business and technology growth, aligning educational programmes with global standards, and significantly enhancing student recruitment and programme development. Julian holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and has participated in specialised leadership development programmes in business school management.

Ramin Hashemian

Academic Staff Governor

Ramin has worked at Stanmore College for a number of years and is a highly qualified teacher of English as a second language, (Cambridge CELTA; Cambridge DELTA; and an MA in Teaching English as a Second Language). He greatly enjoys facilitating learners’ acquisition of English as a second language incorporating cultural awareness. He is passionate about enriching students’ learning and the delivery of high-quality curriculums. As a very experienced IELTS lecturer, he has been successful in incorporating a new IELTS course in Stanmore College’s provision. He previously worked in the Film and TV industry after graduating from one of the UK’s top film schools. He produced his own independent drama and later produced a daily hour-long, English language, chat show in Dubai. In his spare time, Ramin is a keen photographer.

Zaid Gandhi

Zaid Gandhi

Support Staff Governor

Zaid is a qualified Software Engineer with a solid foundation in Systems and Data Engineering and has been a dedicated professional at the college for several years now.

Throughout his tenure, he has led impactful projects in the domain of data analytics engineering and systems development, showcasing his commitment to driving positive transformation within the organisation. Zaid’s enthusiasm for data and software development is evident, coupled with his visionary approach aimed at revolutionizing and assisting the organization through technology and data-driven strategic decision-making. He also shares an interest in the FinTech space. Beyond the professional sphere, he actively engages in sports activities and remains abreast of advanced technological trends.

Ambassadors

The College are pleased to appoint the following distinguished people as Ambassadors of the College, in thanks for their support and tireless efforts to continuously improve the college and the outcome for students.

Dr Arthur Terrence David Butland OBE

Dr Arthur Terrence David Butland OBE

Ambassador

Dr Arthur Terrence David Butland OBE, known as Dr Terry Butland, is a physicist, who has worked at very senior levels in the British nuclear industry, and in British higher education, becoming Deputy Vice Chancellor and Deputy Chief Executive of Middlesex University.

He has a BA (Honours) Natural Sciences (physics) degree from Cambridge University and a PhD from Bath University. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics, a Chartered Physicist and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Commerce, and has an honorary degree from Middlesex University. He was awarded an OBE by the Queen in the 2012 New Year Honours List for his services to higher education.

Councillor Jean Lammiman

Councillor Jean Lammiman

Ambassador

Councillor Jean Lammiman was elected local Councillor for the Hatch End ward of the London Borough of Harrow in 1994, and was elected as Mayor of Harrow in May 2007.

Her focus for her mayoralty was the community and in particular young people; she chose Teenage Cancer Trust as her charity. Over £50,000 was raised and 700 engagements undertaken. She continued this work as Cabinet Portfolio holder for Community and Culture on Harrow Council. Jean sits on a number of trusts/ governing bodies including RELATE London NW & Herts, Stanmore College, Harrow Association for Disabled People, Middlesex Guildhall Art Collection, Harrow Holocaust Memorial Day, and London New Year’s Day Parade. She is also proud to be Chairman of Governors of Shaftesbury High School for children with special needs which was awarded an ‘Outstanding’’ report by OFSTED. Jean combines her role in public life with work as an HR practitioner, academic researcher, author and business consultant.

Viresh Paul

Viresh Paul

Ambassador

Immediate Past President, London Society of Chartered Accountants at ICAEW, and local business owner of a growth focussed accountancy practice.

Become a Governor

As a governor, you will serve in a voluntary capacity, bringing your skills, expertise, and experience to a vital role. This position carries significant responsibility, and you will be expected to adhere to the seven principles of public life, known as the Nolan Principles. You will also need to sign a code of conduct that outlines what is expected of you as a board member, as well as what you can anticipate from your service on the Board.

The Recruitment Process

A description of the role outlining the responsibilities of a Board member is available by request. If you would like to learn more about serving on the Board, please email our Human Resources Manager, Sayma Shah or contact us.

If you’re interested in becoming a governor, here’s how the recruitment process works:

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Initial Interest

After expressing your interest, you will have an informal briefing with the Director of Governance and Principal to discuss the role, responsibilities, and your suitability.

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Application

If you decide to apply and there is a vacancy, you will need to submit details such as your CV and a supporting statement to the Governance Committee, which will then conduct an interview.

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Recommendation

If you are deemed suitable, the Governance Committee will recommend you to the Board for approval of your nomination.

What committees do

Committees review policies, documents, and proposals in detail, tracking progress and activities throughout the year. Each committee reports its findings and actions to the Board at termly meetings.

Each committee operates under specific terms of reference, which define its remit and, along with the work program, shape the agenda for each meeting.

The Audit Committee oversees risk management, meets with internal and external auditors, and addresses areas like value for money. This committee typically meets once per term, inviting the Principal and Deputy Principal to participate and answer questions as needed.

Board Effectiveness 5 Year Review 2023

Review can be found below, next review due 2028 

Summary of findings:

Within the overall review of the Board’s effectiveness, there is an appropriate governance function at Stanmore college, increasingly enabling the Board to address the challenges of their sector. 
 
This summary of review outcomes should be read in conjunction with the full report as the report contains important contextual information, rationale, and evidence for all the recommendations made. The review considered the Board’s effectiveness and governance maturity across the 5 principal areas.