Local School Board

Governance in our school and the role of the school board

The relationship between the trust and the secretary of state for education is set out in a legal document known as the funding agreement. The funding agreement and the Academies Financial Handbook are two key documents that DSAT Trustees work to. DSAT trustees are responsible for three core functions. They are setting the direction of the trust and its schools, holding the appointed DSAT Executives and school leaders to account and ensuring financial probity. As charity trustees, they ensure that DSAT complies with charity law requirements and, as company directors, must comply with company law requirements. The details of what has been delegated from the trustees to executive leaders appointed by DSAT are detailed in a scheme of delegation. This makes it clear what functions the trustees have delegated and to whom.  

To see who the Trustees are and to access the scheme of delegation, please visit dsat.education

Each DSAT academy also has a Local School Board, which acts in an advisory capacity. Our school board is made up of, the executive headteacher, head of school, one parent, give foundation members, a local representative and a staff member. It meets three times yearly to consider and scrutinise how we deliver for our pupils and parents. Members of the school board also support the school in recruitment and other local activities that help ensure the school reflects the community’s needs and retains its unique identity. More details can be found on the dsat.education website in the document Local School Boards in DSAT. 

Local School Board Members 

Local School Board Members Appointed by Date Appointed Date Term Ends
Rebecca Webster Ex Officio/ Headteacher 30/10/2023 N/A
Alison Hallewell Foundation/ Trust 02/03/2022 02/03/2026
Hannah Lambert Foundation/ Trust 08/07/2022 08/07/2026
Nevine Towers Foundation/ Trust 08/07/2022 08/07/2026
Will Davies Staff 01/09/2023 31/08/2027
Reverend Vicky Camber Ex Officio 01/09/2020 31/08/2024
Allison Heaton Foundation/Trust 08/07/2022 08/07/2026

Safeguarding

Safeguarding Lead: The Chair and Head of School

Governance and statutory oversight of safeguarding lies with the trustees. The main trustee for safeguarding is James Dugmore. However, local boards are ‘our eyes and ears’, the protection of children is the core of this.  We invest in training to provide LSBs with more incredible skills in this area.  We cannot think of a more critical task for an LSB than bringing together their local community knowledge and knowledge of school practice to ensure that safeguarding is at the core of what we do.   The LSB has access to all relevant information, including the audits that DSAT complete centrally. The LSB always asks, “Do the audits reflect how the local community view safeguarding at the school?”