Education charity appoints two new trustees

Two leading and experienced educationalists - Eluned Mansell (pictured) and Oliver Wilson - have been appointed to the board of trustees at Birmingham-based charity Services For Education.

The appointments bring the number of trustees at the charity – which employs more than 200 staff and delivers music tuition to children, and expert training and development to teaching and school support staff - to nine.

The appointments are part of a strategy to further broaden the trustee board’s range of expertise.

Eluned Mansell is programme lead for Oak National Academy, the independent public body funded by the Department for Education, where she supports the development of free curriculum resources for schools. 

Eluned has more than 20 years’ experience in the education sector, specialising in the development and delivery of national and international programmes, such as Teach First’s Training Programme, the English national curriculum, and a performing arts collaboration between The Juilliard School and Nord Anglia Education. 

Eluned, who recently achieved a Master of Education with Distinction in Leadership and Management from The Open University, also sings with the CBSO Chorus and served on the board of the Stringcredibles, an independent quartet of orchestral musicians and educators. 

Oliver Wilson is head teacher at Woodhouse Primary Academy in Quinton, Birmingham – a highly inclusive school where he is responsible for 450 children and 80 staff positions.

A graduate of King's College London in 2002, completing his PGCE at the University of Birmingham in 2004, Oliver is also a keen amateur brass musician and conductor and is a trustee for two other musical charities – Langley Band and Wychavon Festival of Brass.

Oliver already has first-hand experience of working with Services For Education as its School Support team provides expert training and development to teaching and support staff at Woodhouse Primary School - and his son is a member of one of its music ensembles. 

Chief executive of Services For Education, Sharon Bell, said: “Eluned and Oliver have more than 40 years’ combined experience in education and have hands-on practical experience of the training needs of schools and teachers and the important role that music can play in a child’s development and learning.

“It also brings additional and valuable expertise to our board enabling us to fulfil our goals of being a key partner for raising standards and attainment in education in our city, region and nationally, and contributing to our society and communities, particularly through our work with young people and disadvantaged groups.”