Advisory Board

At Discovery School Academy Trust the Board of Trustees (sometimes known as the board of directors or governing body) is ultimately responsible for governance of the schools in the trust and is accountable for their performance. To support effective governance, the Board delegates governance functions to be carried out through committees, locally through each school Advisory Board and through the central executive team.

The Advisory Board has a range of responsibilities:

Supporting good governance of the school.
Safeguarding and promoting the values of the school.
Supporting the Headteacher of the school and being a critical friend.
Monitoring the achievement, quality of teaching and behaviour and safety.
Supporting effective financial governance.
Engagement with the school’s key stakeholders e.g. parents/carers, pupils and staff.

The Advisory Board consists of parents, staff and community representatives; the Headteacher is a member of the Advisory Board by virtue of their office. Community Members are appointed by the Advisory Board and are people, who in the opinion of the Advisory Board, have the skills required to contribute to the work of the board; Parent and staff members are elected to the board by the parent and staff body respectively.

To contact the Chair of the Advisory Board

Please email bgibson@dsatwooldenhill.org or the Trust Clerk, clerk@discoverytrust.org

School Advisory Board Members: 2024/25

Name	Position Held
Candi Norman	Headteacher Ex-officio Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 2/2 Attendance at AB meetings 2023-24: 4/4 Business interests declared 28.8.24: Spouse, Mark Norman Landscapes, since Jan 2010.
Barbara Gibson	Chair of Advisory and Elected Parent member Term of Office 10.3.23-9.3.26 Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 2/2 Attendance at AB meetings 2023-24: 4/4 Business interests declared 2.9.24: Specialist Placement Team, SENA, Leicestershire County Council since Jan22; chair of Trustees, 40th Leicestershire Scouts – Anstey since June’24
William James	Appointed Community member & vice-chair Term of Office 10.5.22 – 9.5.25 Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 2/2 Attendance at AB meetings 2023-24: 3/4 Business interests declared 10.9.24: Target Studios (supply of photography, video, content at cost or no cost) since 2018.
Elizabeth Roche	Appointed Community member Term of Office 26.3.24-25.3.27 Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 2/2 Attendance at AB meetings 2023-24: 2/4 No relevant business interests declared 10.9.24
Lauren Atkinson	Appointed Community member Term of Office 10.5.22 – 9.5.25 Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 2/2 Attendance at AB meetings 2023-24: 4/4 No relevant business interests declared 28.8.24
Liz Cooper	Elected Staff member Term of Office 10.12.22-9.12.25 Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 1/2 Attendance at AB meetings 2023-24: 3/4 No business interests declared 30.8.24
Sujay Lavingia	Appointed Community member Term of Office 19.1.23-18.1.26 Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 2/2 Attendance at AB meetings 2023/24: 3/4 Business interests declared 10.9.24: Finance Manager, Marks and Spencer Plc
Amy McMurray	Elected Parent member Term of Office 19.9.24-18.9.27 Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 1/1 Attendance at AB meetings 2023-24: n/a Business interests declared 25.9.24: Head of School, Wolfdale, since July’23.

Governance Strategy

Scheme of Delegation

Get In Touch

If you have a passion for improving outcomes for children and would like to use your skills and expertise to contribute to the governance of our schools please get in touch by contacting the Trust Central team c/o clerk@discoverytrust.orgBoard meeting minutes are available on request. Requests should be directed to the Trust Clerk clerk@discoverytrust.orgClick here to visit the DSAT website