Simon Philip Blackburn
Simon was elected to the board by members from the West Midlands in November 2025.
Simon has been a passionate advocate for governors and trustees for over 30 years. His commitment began as a secondary school headteacher, where he transformed a group of compliant governors into a strong force for positive change. He subsequently joined his daughter’s school governing body and has held a variety of committee and board leadership roles since.
As a mentor to new headteachers through the Ambition Institute, Simon has championed effective governance and the importance of strong community relationships. In his role as a lead Ofsted inspector, he focused on understanding how governors and trustees contribute to school performance and outcomes.
He has chaired an Interim Executive Board in a secondary school, gaining valuable experience in delegated authority and complex administrative structures. More recently, as an education consultant specialising in support for disadvantaged learners, Simon has advised governors and helped them prioritise vulnerable pupils. He also co-founded a charity returning business profits to schools through grants supporting projects for disadvantaged learners.
Most recently, Simon has become a governor of two special schools in the West Midlands and is proud to represent their interests on the NGA Trust Board. His experience overseeing trusteeship from both operational and governance perspectives equips him to provide clear, informed oversight at NGA.