Advisory Board

Welcome to Leighfield Primary School’s Advisory Board

At Discovery 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 and oversight, the Board has delegated governance function to be carried out through committees, locally through each school Advisory Board and through the central executive team.

The School Advisory Board has a key role in influencing the direction of the school by offering their experience and expertise to strengthen the decision-making process to support the strategic development of the school and ensure it is meeting the needs of the children. The functions of the Advisory Board are set out in the Trust Scheme of Delegation which sets out the requirements of the Trust and details where the Trustees delegate governance functions locally.

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.

School Advisory Board Members: 2024-25

NamePosition Held
Sarah Eaton(ex-officio)
Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 2/2
Attendance at AB meetings 2023-24: 4/4
No business interests declared 12.9.23
Claire CunniffeParent member & AB Chair
Term of Office 12.2.24-11.2.27
Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 2/2
Attendance at AB meetings 2023-24: 1/1
Chief Executive, CLAPA (registered charity) since February 2011 declared 17.10.24
Barry ReadCommunity member & AB Vice-Chair
Term of Office: 3.2.2023-2.2.26
Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 2/2
Attendance at AB meetings 2023-24: 4/4
Business interests declared 17.9.24: Member, Citizen Advice Rutland since 2009; Councillor, Uppingham Town Council since Sept24.
Sophie DawsonElected parent member
Term of Office 16.5.22-15.5.25
Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 2/2
Attendance at AB meetings 2023-24: 4/4
Business interests declared 16.9.24: HR manager at Rutland & District Schools’ Federation (MAT) since May 2013; Director SSMA Property Ltd and Director Quad D Property Ltd since October 2021; trustee of Friends of Leighfield since May 23; spouse is MD of Rutland Merchandise & Deco School Wear since March 2015.
Russell SpeirsCommunity member
Term of Office 10.9.23-9.9.2026
Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 1/2
Attendance at AB meetings 2023-24: 4/4
No business interests declared.
Steph WallaceElected staff member
Term of Office 10.1.24-9.1.2027
Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 2/2
Attendance at AB meetings 2023-24: 2/2
No business interests declared.
Chris BishopParent member
Term of Office 6.2.24-1.2.27
Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 1/2
Attendance at AB meetings 2023-24: 1/1
Assistant Principal, Ormiston Bushfield Academy since Sept’13 declared 18.9.24.
Hannah RoddyCommunity member & vice-chair
Term of Office: 28.1.24-27.1.27
Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 2/2
Attendance at AB meetings 2023-24: 3/4
Business interests declared 9.9.24: Executive Headteacher at Thrussington Primary school and Queniborough CE primary school. Learn Academies Trust since April 2020; governor at both schools.
  

Scheme of Delegated Authority

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.org

You can contact our Chair of the Advisory Board, Claire Cunniffe by email (ccunniffe@dsatleighfield.org) or via the Trust Clerk

Board meeting minutes are available on request. Requests should be directed to the Trust Clerk clerk@discoverytrust.org

Further information can be found on the Discovery Schools Academy Trust Website here