U-Explore boss new chairman at Maltby Academy

Jerry Jarvis has been appointed to the position at software and careers company U-Explore, which became the school’s lead sponsor in January.

Mr Jarvis, of Nottingham, worked for examination body Edexcel for nine years, and has also held positions at consumer electronics and defence firm Thorn-EMI and aerospace giants BAe systems.

Mr Sutton said the new chairman had the experience and background required for the job, adding: “We are excited by the appointment. I know U-Explore spent some time looking for the right chairman to take the company on to the next stage of development.

“Jerry has experience in business leadership, but also has experience and an interest in education, and he has had an influence on education through Edexcel.

“He is a really strong advocate of bringing relevance and context to teaching, which is integral to our vision for the academy.”

He added: “I’m not yet sure exactly what the working relationship will involve, but I’m certainly looking forward to him becoming a key member of the U-Explore team.”

The Braithwell Road school became an academy at the turn of the year, taking it outside council control as part of Rotherham’s £200 million Building Schools For the Future project.

It is set for a new £30 million new build by 2013, and U-Explore will inject £1.5 million in five years.

U-Explore chief executive Andy Pickles said: “As a young growing business it’s essential to get the right support at the right time from the right people.

“It is also important that whomever we work with understands our vision, our culture, our creativity and can bring a positive challenge and contribution to the team.

“In Jerry Jarvis, we have an incredibly experienced business leader who has driven transformational change in education and someone who has had an appreciation of U-Explore since the early days of our development over five years ago.

Mr Jarvis joined Edexcel in 2000 and became managing director in 2005. He oversaw the transformation as the company introduced more technology into assessments.

“What really grabbed me initially is the context that U-Explore is bringing to education,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to helping the company grow and develop so that it gains recognition across the country for the excellent and unique work it does in providing inspirational careers information, advice and guidance for young people.”