Michael was devoted to the Thinking Schools Academy Trust and a strong advocate for our students and staff. Over many years, he gave his time and support to our Trust, particularly our Kent schools and Holcombe Grammar School, where he began in his governance role. Following his passing, Holcombe took a moment to pay tribute to their long-standing colleague with a tree-planting ceremony in his honour.
The occasion saw Trust CEO Stuart Gardner joined by School Headteacher Lee Preston and Trust Director of Culture and Development Mandy Gage, who both worked closely with Michael for many years, accompanied by a team of staff from the school to support the tree planting with Michael’s wife. It was a touching moment, setting roots in the memory of Michael at Holcombe.
Michael leaves a legacy of exceptional business acumen and a passion for ensuring that we always put our children at the centre of our decisions to transform the life chances of young people in all of our schools.