George Dixon Academy

Sir Robert Dowling

Sir Robert Dowling has extensive experience as a Headteacher in Birmingham where he worked for more than 32 years until he retired in 2011 for the 3rd time! He founded Selly Oak Special School in Birmingham, which became the biggest of its kind in Europe and a leading centre for teaching dyslexic children. He brings extensive experience of secondary education to the Trust. 

Tutvinder Mann

Tutvinder has an association with the George Dixon School that began when he was 11 years old. From a pupil in the 1970s, to a teacher of French in the 1990s. He has been Head of Year, Head of Modern Foreign Languages, Assistant Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher and now, Headteacher. A passionate advocate of the school and it's children, Tutvinder has dedicated his professional life to the institution that is our school.

Barry Kicks retired in 2000 from a career in the Gas Industry. He is a Chartered Engineer, and spent his early years in Oxford, before moving to the South Coast. In 1989, he moved to the West Midlands in a senior engineering position, before being appointed by British Gas as General Manager for Birmingham, having responsibility for all Engineering, Servicing, Sales, Gas Showrooms, and Administration. After a period as Regional Customer Accounting Manager, he directed several national change projects, before becoming National Metering Manager. After retirement, he worked as a Management Consultant on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. Barry was a Governor for 25 years at Selly Oak Trust School, and has been a Trustee at George Dixon Academy for 27 years. Barry is also Vice-Chair of Trustees at St Georges School. Barry moved back to Oxford in 2007, but continues his important association with both schools.

Mark has over 18 years’ experience in finance and works full time in industry. This journey started out as an apprentice studying the AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) qualification and after completing this, he proceeded to become a chartered management accountant and he is now a full associate member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

Mark became a governor at the George Dixon Academy after successfully completing the Effective Board Member Programme governance certificate course in 2017. The course was focused on giving young people the necessary skills to prepare them for a role on the board of third sector organisation. In 2018, Mark took over the role as Chair of the Finance and Audit committee at George Dixon Academy. A father, Mark is keen to support and work on behalf of young people in our city. 

Dr Elspeth Insch

Elspeth Insch has taught in comprehensive, independent and grammar schools and for twenty three years was Head of King Edward VI Handsworth School. She has been awarded a Fellowship from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust for Exploration and Adventure, an OBE for Services to Education and an Honorary D Sc. She was appointed Vice President of the Royal Geographical Society and has served as a governor of Aston University and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust.

Christina Elliott (our parent governor)

Christina was elected to the governing body in 2022 and has a strong commitment to the life of George Dixon School. Grounded, Determined and Sincere, are the school's values, and very much lived and endorsed by Christina.