The Good Shepherd Catholic Trust

Trustee Personal Profiles

John Anthony (Chair)

During a 30-year police career in London gained a management diploma and graduated in philosophy, law, and political theory. A number of school governorships /academy trusteeships for nearly 40 years, and for the last 20 years in various education roles as an advisor/inspector/consultant in the UK and abroad. Retired last year to keep bees, run an allotment, and keep tabs on a rapidly expanding family.

John Davighi (Vice-Chair)

Having worked in the finance industry since 1980 I hung up my “City boots” for the last time in June 2021 and retired. Whilst I had no direct previous experience of working in education, I hope that my Catholicity and my general management experience will help me in my role as a Trustee of the Good Shepherd Trust. Although it was some time ago, late 1990s to be precise, I served as Chair of Governors for Our Lady of Lourdes RC primary school in Wanstead so I do have knowledge and experience of the issues facing the Catholic education sector. I joined the trust in September 2021 and I am looking forward to assisting the Trust in whatever way I can to help it to achieve its main stated aims of promoting and maintaining the Catholic ethos of the schools in the trust, and supporting the schools leadership teams and Governing bodies in all that they do to provide our children with a good education.

Canon Andrew Headon (Finance, Audit and Risk Chair) 

I graduated in Law and Accountancy and started training as a Chartered Accountant before responding to an inner call to be a priest. While working in Rome, I completed an on-line Masters in Business Administration and so experienced “blended learning” before it became the norm. I am Parish Priest of Ss Peter & Paul, Ilford, these past 15 years and have sat on the governing bodies of the Ursuline Academy and Ss Peter & Paul’s Primary School. Now I enjoy using my gifts to help the Trust’s growth and development and have been a member of the Board of Trustees since September 2018. When not working, I’m a Welsh rugby and West Ham supporter who should probably practise his violin more than his golf!

John Adams (Trustee)

I joined the Good Shepherd Trust in January 2019. I am a former head of Religious Education and am currently the Secondary RE Adviser and CCRS Coordinator for the Diocese of Brentwood; I look forward to supporting and assisting the further development of the Trust.

Andy English (Trustee)

I am Headteacher of a Catholic secondary school and have extensive experience in Catholic secondary education, school leadership and governance. I am committed to high standards, inclusion and the development of the whole child, with a strong focus on securing excellent outcomes for young people within a clear Catholic ethos. As a Trustee of the Good Shepherd Trust, I am pleased to support the Trust’s work in strengthening school leadership, promoting collaboration, and serving our communities well.

Kevin Doogan (Trustee)

Tess Thompson (Advisory)

Michael Corcoran (Chief Accounting Officer)

I joined The Good Shepherd Trust in September 2018 and I have been working in Catholic Education as a teacher and school leader for almost 30 years, within the Diocese of Brentwood. I am a serving Executive Head Teacher, working with three excellent Headteachers in Barking and Dagenham primary schools, which have been part of the Good Shepherd Trust since 2019. I also fulfil the role of the trust’s Chief Accounting Officer (CAO). I believe the Catholic Education system is amongst the best in the world and its focus on the development of the whole child, beyond purely academic success, is a mission that I passionately support. The work we do as a group of trust schools helps to ensure that Catholic Education is maintained and enabled to grow and develop for future generations in line with the national ambition for all schools to be part of a mufti-academy trust. 

Jayant Gohil (Chief Finance Officer)