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:

  1. Supporting good governance of the school.
  2. Safeguarding and promoting the values of the school.
  3. Supporting the Headteacher of the school and being a critical friend.
  4. Monitoring the achievement, quality of teaching and behaviour and safety.
  5. Supporting effective financial governance.
  6. 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.

School Advisory Board Members: 2024/25

NamePosition Held
Natalie WillcockHeadteacher (ex-officio)
Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 1/1
Attendance at AB meetings 2023-24: 2/4
No business interests declared 28.8.24 
Claire DuffinParent member & AB Chair
Term of Office 14.5.24-13.5.27
Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 1/1
Attendance at AB meetings 2023-24: 1/1
Business interests declared 29.8.24: Employee, British Grooms and Equestrian Employers Group since May’24.
Clare HoweParent member & AB Vice-Chair
Term of Office 24.9.24-23.9.27
Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 1/1
Attendance at AB meetings 2023-24: n/a

No business interests declared.
Richard DoyleCommunity member
Term of Office 16.1.24-15.1.27
Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 1/1
Attendance at AB meetings 2023-24: 3/3
No business interests declared 10.1.24.
Liam CollinsStaff member
Term of Office 19.9.23-18.9.26
Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 1/1
Attendance at AB meetings 2023-24: 4/4
No business interests declared 28.8.24
Sue Smith

Community member
Term of Office 14.10.24-13.10.27
Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: n/a
Attendance at AB meetings 2023-24: n/a
No business interests declared 

  

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@discoveryschoolstrust.org.uk

You can contact our Chair of the Advisory Board  via the Trust Clerk clerk@discoverytrust.org

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

Click here to visit the DSAT website