Supporting Strong Governance and Meaningful Change Across OAK
Since joining OAK Multi Academy Trust in January 2021, Danielle Benyon-Payne has played a key role in strengthening governance, compliance and sustainability across the trust. Starting during a national lockdown, Danielle’s first weeks in post were unusual, but they marked the beginning of a role that has grown significantly in scope and impact.
Before joining OAK, Danielle spent 12 years at the University of Leicester, working within the Medical School as an events coordinator. During this time, she worked closely with staff, leaders and stakeholders to embed new ways of working and deliver successful events, developing strong experience in organisation, research and strategic thinking.
Alongside governance, Danielle’s role also includes arranging trust-wide events and competitions, allowing her to continue her interest in engagement and communication. A year ago, she also took on the role of Trust Sustainability Lead, working alongside colleagues to drive forward environmental priorities across the trust. With previous experience leading green impact awards, she is particularly passionate about the impact of well-planned, strategic change.
“This combination of strategic leadership and meaningful environmental purpose is exactly the type of work I’m passionate about.”
A Broad and Influential Role
Governance at trust level is wide-ranging, and Danielle’s role spans compliance, advice and strategic support. She works closely with trustees and local governing bodies to ensure statutory responsibilities are met, governance structures are effective, and communication between governance tiers is clear and consistent.
Her work includes governor training and development, policy guidance, GDPR and data protection, complaints and FOI processes, website compliance, and the coordination of trust board and local governing body activity. Within sustainability, she supports the development of Climate Action Plans for each school and ensures governors have the information and frameworks they need to provide effective oversight.
At the heart of this work is enabling governors and trustees to challenge and support effectively, always with pupils at the centre.
Why Governance Matters
Danielle is clear about the importance of governance in education.
“Good governance is fundamental to school improvement.”
Strong governance provides strategic oversight, ensures resources are used effectively, and supports safeguarding and inclusion. It helps schools meet the needs of all pupils, particularly those who are disadvantaged, have SEND, or face barriers to learning and wellbeing.
She also highlights that governance in a multi-academy trust operates across distinct layers, with trustees providing strategic leadership and accountability at trust level, and local governors offering valuable local insight into individual schools. Partnership working between governance, trust leaders and school leaders is essential to ensuring consistency, accountability and improvement.
Looking Ahead
This year, Danielle’s priorities include strengthening governor training and induction, widening skill sets through recruitment, developing succession planning, improving accountability processes, and increasing engagement between governing bodies and parents and carers. Across both governance and sustainability, her focus remains on bringing people together around shared goals.
“It’s rewarding to bring people together around a shared vision and watch sustainability become something that drives pride, innovation and meaningful change across the trust.”
Ultimately, Danielle sees governance as a shared responsibility that underpins everything the trust does.
Effective governance, she says, is about pupils and the communities they serve, and about creating the conditions in which schools, leaders and young people can succeed.