Governance at ESA

ESA has implemented an innovative and unique governance structure which is new. ESA joined Danes Educational Trust in April 2021 and we were keen to ensure that our success and uniqueness as a specialist school for the creative industries was maintained and furthered as part of the Danes Educational Trust. Therefore, we developed a symbiotic governance structure where two boards support the development and growth of this specialist school.

The Danes Educational Trust Board has responsibility for the operation of the Trust, but delegates some of the responsibilities to a local level. Therefore, each school within the Trust has a School Board, comprising local Governors. The ESA School Board holds 4 meetings per year and has an Admissions Committee and a Senior Staff Pay and Remuneration Committee.  The ESA Partnerships Board meets once a term to ensure that our curriculum is industry credible, that our technical facilities are relevant and that our partnerships, placements and traineeships are suitable to support our creative industry specialism.

Further information about the Danes Educational Trust governance structure is available on the Trust website. 

If you wish to contact the Governors of the School, please email the clerk to governors at cheslop@danesedtrust.org.uk

If you wish to write directly to the chair of our school board, please email chair@esa.ac

Supporting ESA with:

  • Leadership support and challenge

  • Community and stakeholder engagement and feedback

  • Quality Assurance of systems for Safeguarding and Child Protection

  • Quality assurance of the provision for students with SEND

The School Board

Supporting ESA with:

  • Curriculum innovation and design

  • Employer engagements and work placements

  • Quality assurance of student opportunities and destinations

  • Supporting commercial and educative industry partnerships

  • Supporting ESA to stay technically up to date and industry-relevant

The Partnerships Board

Members of the ESA Academy
School Board

  • Lewis Barton - Governor (Chair)

  • Chris Mitchell - ESA principal

  • Dola Oshisanya - Governor (SEND)

  • Conrad Cohen - Governor (Vulnerable students)

  • Roger Morris - Governor (Specialism)

  • Dan Hall - Parent Governor

  • Lauren Rubin - Parent Governor (Safeguarding and Child Protection)

  • Bethany Hughes - Staff Governor

  • Piyum Madawala - Clerk

Lewis Barton

Lewis is a solicitor with a focus on advising financial investors on corporate law and M&A. After growing up locally in Hertfordshire, Lewis graduated from the University of York with an LLB in Law and went on to obtain an LLM in Commercial Legal Practice from BPP University before entering private practice. Lewis is particularly passionate about education and the role schools can play in advancing life outcomes for young people. Lewis is the current chair of the school governing board at ESA.

Lauren Rubin

Lauren graduated from Central St. Martins in Textile Design and organised Fashion events in London. After that Lauren moved into fundraising for Breakthrough Breast Cancer, co-ordinating the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer Campaign. Lauren is now a business owner of 15 years, alongside charity and community volunteering. Lauren is deeply committed to the ethos and values at ESA, and passionate about how it provides our children with the best possible environment to nurture and steer their futures.  

Conrad Cohen

Conrad Cohen is a Scottish and Jewish actor, director, and teacher, and is Teachers Programme Manager at the Royal Shakespeare Company. His past experience includes working in schools and theatres across the UK. In addition to studying mathematics, Conrad trained as an actor at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and has recently completed an MFA in Actor Training and Coaching at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

Further Information

Members of the ESA Academy Partnerships Board

  • Roger Morris - Governor (Chair)

  • Stephen Partridge - Governor (Vice Chair)

  • Ian Willcock - Governor

  • Chris Mitchell - ESA principal

  • Lauren Christy - Governor (Specialist Curriculum)

  • Breda Fahey - Governor

  • Gabbi Becker - Governor (Careers and Destinations)

  • Corinne Ward - Clerk

Roger Morris

Roger is a highly experienced managing director and entrepreneur in the creative industry - Telecoms and Media, Film and TV Studios, Post Production, Training and Vocational Education.
Roger is also award winning in Film and TV production - Feature Films, Commercials, Corporate , TV Productions, Channel 4, Theatre Manager for The Young Vic, National Theatre. As MD of Elstree Studios, Roger was part of the founding group of ESA. He is currently chair of the ESA Partnerships board.

Dr Stephen Partridge

Stephen is an experienced senior manager in Higher Education specialising in creative arts and technology. He is currently Dean of the School Of Creative Arts at the University of Hertfordshire. Stephen is also a researcher and creative practitioner including music sampling and licensing of derivative works/ founder at MashUp.digital and Multi camera and 360 degree video director/editor specialising in live music performance capture. Stephen is currently vice chair of ESA’s Partnerships board.

Chris Mitchell

Chris is an experienced educator and school leader and super proud to be the Principal or Elstree Screen Arts. He is a graphic artist with professional experience of filmmaking and multimedia content creation. He is a fellow of the RSA, a graduate of the Transformational Teachers Programme and one of the ‘Cultural Leaders for Impact’ with the Royal Opera House. He launched the UK Centre for Screen Excellence Elstree with ScreenSkills and led ESA to achieve Platinum ArtsMark accreditation.

Dr Josephine Valentine OBE

Josephine was Headteacher of an outstanding secondary school for 20 years. She led the Herts & Bucks Teaching School Alliance and was the regional lead for Teaching Schools across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Josephine is an elected member of the DfE's Regional Director's Advisory Board for the Eastern Region. She is a National Leader of Education and has provided school improvement support for many schools in Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. She provides expert advice and coaching for Headteachers about all aspects of leadership. 

Beth Hughes

Beth has BA Hons in Dance and Performance from Falmouth University and prior to teaching dance, worked for a community dance company, choreographing pieces for productions, and travelling to California for an internship with a company who integrate the arts into core education. At ESA, Beth is committed to supporting students to develop their craft. As a head of year, Beth pastorally supports students so they can learn and grow into empowered young adults.

Dola Oshisanya

Dola was appointed as a school governor in September 2021. She is an entrepeneur with a background in Accountancy and Finance with over 20 years experience of corporate work and running her own business. She is the mother of two boys with a deep passion for education and a strong belief in the power of good quality education available for all children.

Lauren Christy

Lauren has over ten years experience in creative education. As Talent Manager at Sky Studios Elstree, Lauren is responsible for creating and delivering training opportunities to help young people skill up and realise their potential in the screen industries. Lauren is committed to promoting and supporting local, diverse crew to work with productions on site. Lauren is also an experienced Careers Leader and she works to support young people into their dream careers.

Elstree Screen Arts Academy joined the Danes Educational Trust in September 2021. The school board for ESA has been in place since September 2021. Attendance records will be published from September 2022. Danes Educational Trust is a private company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales. Registered Number: 07671949 Registered Office: Chenies Road, Chorleywood, Hertfordshire WD3 6EW