First Federation Trust
Directors
More information about our Directors can be found at the bottom of the page.
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We have recently welcome our newest director, Rachel Warwick, who was appointed as foundation director by Bath & Wells Diocesan Board of Education for four years, with effect from 23/07/2025. Rachel is the CEO of Aspire Academy Trust, a multi-academy trust of primary schools in Cornwall.
Register of business and pecuniary interests
Directors are asked to fill in a register of business interests form when they are appointed, which is then updated annually. Directors are invited to declare any relevant interest at the start of each meeting so any conflict of interest can be managed appropriately.
Directors and senior staff are asked to fill in a 'related parties' form to declare any connection with any business who has provided services for the Trust annually as part of the audit process to support the annual report / financial statements.
A summary of the directors' relevant business interests is included below. The full register can be viewed at the First Federation office.
Meeting attendance
Directors are invited to send their apologies ahead of meetings they cannot attend. Their attendance at meetings is monitored and included in the annual report for the Trust.
A summary of the directors' attendance at meetings during the two previous academic years can be found below.
Contacting the directors:
The directors, including the Chair and the Company Secretary, can be contacted:
- through any of the First Federation Trust schools,
- by emailing them at: admin@firstfederation.org.uk ,
- by writing to them at: The First Federation Trust, Blackpool CE Primary School, Liverton, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 6JB.
Please kindly note that directors are not the first point of contact for complaints. You can find information about your complaint process and a copy of our complaints policy on this website here.
Alex Walmsley
EDEN Foundation Director (reappointed for four years by EDEN from 01/06/2025) - Chair of Directors and of the Strategic & Finance Committee - Lead Director for Finance - Member of the Education Committee and of the Audit & Risk Committee
Alex is a chartered accountant and economics graduate and was for many years managing partner of a local accountancy practice. An experienced chair and non-executive director, his background is in audit and business advice and support. Alex is a trustee and Principal Finance Officer of Ted Wragg Trust (an Exeter based multi academy trust).
He is chairman of Devon Association of Governors (DAG) and represents academies at Devon Education Forum and DAG at Devon Schools Finance Group. He has worked with a range of schools and academies on governance related matters. He joined the board of directors of the First Federation because he wanted to build on his commitment to supporting education and in particular multi academy trusts. His role is to chair the board and to support and hold to account the CEO and the COO.
Alex has wide experience of Trust structures, governance and growth. This has included CEO and CFO recruitment and the development of MAT financial, operational and governance structures. Alex has undertaken External Review of Governance training, has experience of IEBs and school partnership management agreements and has supported a number of schools, academies and MATs in particular in connection with strategy, structures, governance, business planning and budget/financial management. He is an experienced mentor of chairs of governors and has provided induction training to chairs and governors. Always with the aim of supporting school improvement and providing the very best education to the young people in our schools.