Meet the Trustees (governors)
Welcome to our Trustees (Governors)' section
Welcome to this section of our website where you can find out more about our trustees (school governors) and their role.
Being a trustee is a voluntary position but it is an incredibly worthwhile role. There is certainly much reward in assisting the school to deliver a high quality education to pupils and in promoting their welfare.
Governing bodies (trustees) work closely together, and with the Principal, and are responsible for a wide range of strategic matters including ensuring pupils receive high quality education, setting the aims and objectives for the school, planning for future development and improvement of the school, and for the robust accountability, oversight and assurance of the school’s educational and financial performance.
Together with the Principal and other members of the senior leadership team, trustees work to ensure that Ash Field Academy achieves its vision to provide exceptional education and care/support so every pupil reaches their potential. Trustees are actively involved in all areas of the school and bring a range of skills and experience from their personal and professional lives.
The Governors Handbook (issued by the Department of Education) states that a governing body has three core functions:
• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
• Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation (school) and its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff; and
• Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation (school) and making sure its money is well spent.
The document below provides further information about the role of the governing body (board of trustees).
Trustee Recruitment
Information on how to join our board of Trustees can be found within the Trustee advertisement PDF below.
Any PDF document can be translated into another language by Google Translator, a link to the translator and instructions on how to use it can be found in our policies section, by clicking on the link below:
Our Full Governing Board (Board of Trustees) comprises of a Chair, Vice-Chair and other trustees (governors).
These include an ex-officio trustee (the Principal), parent trustees, a staff trustee and co-opted trustees.
Full details of our structure can be found in our Articles of Association on the Funding section of the website.
Information regarding current trustees (governors) is given below.
We have one committee: the Resources, Audit and Risk Committee. This committee has a particular remit around finance and audit but also has delegated responsibility for resources, such as staffing and premises.
The delegated authority of this committee is outlined within the Scheme of Delegation below.
Scheme of Delegation
External Review of Governance Report July 2022
The Board of Trustees (Governing body) commissioned this external review of governance during 2021-22 from the National Governance Association (NGA) which represents governing bodies at a national level. Trustees wanted to gain an independent view of their current effectiveness and to support the next stage of their development as a board of trustees in the areas of governance arrangements and strategic leadership of Ash Field Academy Trust.
Information on the National Governance Association (NGA) can be found on their website via the link below.
Chair of Trustees (Governors)
| Kathryn Inskip | chairofgovs@ashfield.leicester.sch.uk
Please direct any written correspondence to:
Chair of Trustees Ash Field Academy Broad Avenue Leicester LE5 4PY |
Governance Professional | Mark Shaw |
clerktogovernors@ashfield.leicester.sch.uk
|
Trustee (Governors) Details for the 2022-23 Academic Year
Trustees Name | Role/s and Responsibilities | Business Name | Nature of Business | Nature of Interest | Post Began |
Kathryn Inskip (Prefers Kathy) Member and Trustee
| Chair of Trustees (Governors) Community Governor Resources, Audit & Risk Committee
Link Governor responsibilities: Safeguarding Children Looked After Careers and Enterprise | None | None | None
| 30/11/2008 01/12/2012 02/12/2016 06/11/2020
|
Allan Dunsmore Member and Trustee
| Trust Appointed Governor
Link Governor responsibilities: Inclusion and SEND Hub | None | None | None | 06/12/2013 01/12/2017 30/11/2021 |
Jennifer Eshelby (Prefers Jenny) | Principal Ex-Officio Governor | Challenge Partners | Education Charity | Senior Partner | 23/08/2018 |
Charles Moore (Prefers Barry) Trustee | Community Governor
Link Governor responsibilities: Residential | None | None | None | 31/10/2014 31/10/2018 31/10/2022 |
Shafraz Nizam Trustee | Trustee (Governor)
| Aero Cyber
Aero Cyber Reality
West Bromich Building Society
NIDA Community Services | Cyber Security and Cloud Consultancy
Real Estate
Land Security Architect
| Director
Director
Director
Trustee | 20/01/2023
|
Dr Rachael Straub Trustee | Parent Trustee (Governor)
Link Governor Responsibilities EHCP's Community Teaching and Learning (including remote learning) | The Carers Centre Leicestershire and Rutland | Carers Centre | Employee | 06/05/2021 |
Susan Orme (Prefers Sue) Trustee | Parent Trustee (Governor)
| Tyson Spraybooth Servces |
| Dircetor | 09/12/2022 |
Catherine Gough Trustee
| Staff Trustee (Governor) Teaching Staff Representative
| Frozen Light Theatre | The Arts (Company Charity) | Trustee and Director | 06/12/2019 |
Susanne Francis (Prefers Sue) Trustee | Co-opted Trustee (Governor) Resources, Audit & Risk Committee Chair of RAR (03.02.23)
Link Governor responsibilities: Pupil Premium & Recovery Grants Reading and Maths Health and Safety | Rosebank Services Ltd
Woodland Grange Primary School | Property Developer
Education | Managing Director
Governor | 28/09/2020 |
Dr Daniel Slavin Trustee | Trust-appointed Governor
Link Governor Responsibilities: Careers and Enterprise | General Medical Council | Registered | 26/10/21 |
Ex-Governors' Details (retained for one year after the date of resignation)
Governor's NameXXXXXXXXXXXX | Role/sXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX | Business Name | Nature of Business | Nature of Interest | Post Began |
PennyxAllsopp
| Parent Governor / Trustee Link Governor Responsibilities: Parent Engagement | Nursing & Midwifery Council NMC | Registered Nurse | Nursing | 01/03/2019 31/08/2022 |
| Rupert Mingay | Trustee / Governor Resources, Audit & Risk Committee | Lloyds Bank | Banking | Finance | 09/06/2013 20/01/2023 |
Jennifer Eshelby | Principal Trustee / Ex-Officio Governor | Challenge Partners
Medicines in Special Schools | Education Charity
Healthcare | Senior Partner
Regional Lead | 23/08/2018 |
Members Details
Members Name | Role/s and Responsibilities | Business Name
| Nature of Business | Nature of Interest | Post Began |
William Shepherd Prefers (Will) | Member of the Academy Trust | Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
ILLIFE Media Group Ltd KM Media Group Ltd ILLIFE Media Publishing Ltd KENT Online Ltd KM Direct Ltd Cherry Holt Holdings Ltd | Institute
Media Group Media Publishing Media Media Property | Member MCIMA
Director Director Director Director Director Director | 11.05.21
|
Kathryn Inskip Prefers (Kathy) | Member of the Academy Trust
| The same as that given in the Governor's register above.
| Refer to Gov's register above.
| Refer to Gov's register above.
| 12.03.12
|
Allan Dunsmore | Member of the Academy Trust | The same as that given in the Governor's register above. | Refer to Gov's register above. | Refer to Gov's register above. | 06.12.13 |
Miles Carter
| Member of the Academy Trust
| Ormiston Academy Sudbury John Milton Academy Trust MEC Consultants
ICAEW | LGB - Governor Member Consultant
Life Member | Governor Member SRMA which is accredited by DfE Member | 02.07.22 |
Company Officers
Name | Academy Role | Company Role and Responsibility |
Stephanie Chamberlain | Acting Principal | Accounting Officer |
Nicola Edwards | Chief Financial Officer | Chief Financial Officer |
Companies House Registration No. 07988444.
Meeting Agendas 2022-2023 Academic Year (Current)
Meeting Agendas 2021-2022 Academic Year
Trustee (governors) Meeting Attendance The Academic Year 2022/23
| Governors Nameaaaaaa | 16/09/22 FGB | 11/11/22 FGB | 20/01/23 FGB | 09/03/23 FGB | 26/05/23 FGB | 16/06/23 FGB | 09/12/22 AGM | 27/10/22 RAR | 02/02/23 RAR | 18/05/23 RAR | 15/06/22 RAR |
K Inskip (Chair) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
A Dunsmore (Vice-Chair) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||
J Eshelby Principal | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||
| R Mingay | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||||
| S Francis | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| R Straub | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | ||||
| C Gough | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||
| B Moore | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||
| D Slavin | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | ||||
S Nizam | Yes | ||||||||||
S Orme | |||||||||||
| M Carter | Yes | ||||||||||
| W Shepherd | Yes | ||||||||||
| Governance Professional | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes/No | Yes/No | Yes/No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
FGB - Full Governing Board Meeting
RAR - Resources, Audit and Risk Committee Meeting
(Please note: Governors with Grey Zones are not members of the RAR Committee)
Governors' Meeting Attendance Previous Academic Year 2021/22
GovernorssNamessssss | Total Attendance | 17/09/21 FGB | 05/11/21 FGB | 14/01/22 FGB | 11/03/22 FGB | 29/04/22 FGB | 17/06/22 FGB | 10/12/21 AGM
| 10/12/21 Members Special Resolution Meeting 02 | 17/07/21 Members Special Resolution Meeting 03 | 27/09/21 RAR | 07/10/21 RAR | 02/02/22 RAR | 02/03/22 RAR | 12/05/22 RAR | 16/06/22 RAR |
K Inskip (Chair) | 15/15 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
A Dunsmore (Vice-Chair) | 12/15 | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
J Eshelby Principal | 13/13 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
R Mingay | 10/13 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | |
S Francis | 13/13 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
P Allsopp | 4/7 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
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| R Straub | 6/7 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
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| C Gough | 7/7 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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| B Moore | 7/7 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||||||
| D Slavin | 5/6 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |||||||||
| W Shepherd (Member) | 3/3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||||
| Governance Professional | 11/15 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
FGB - Full Governing Board Meeting
RAR - Resources, Audit and Risk Committee Meeting (Please note – Governors with ‘grey rows’ are not members of the RAR committee)
Governors Attendance Record for the Previous 2 Years
Some words from a few of our Trustee (governors) on why they are doing their roles:
Kathy Inskip
I am Kathy Inskip and I feel it is a privilege to be the Chair of Trustees (Governors) at Ash Field. I am delighted to have the opportunity to be part of the school with such amazing pupils, parents, staff and governors – thank you to everyone.
|
Allan Dunsmore
I am Allan Dunsmore and I am now retired after over 40 years working in Leicester city schools as a Science teacher. I have considerable experience at the senior management level and for the last six years of my teaching career, I was a headteacher. Since my retirement in 2011, I worked part-time at New College as a Community Partnership manager working with DMU and local volunteers organising volunteer placements at the school. I have also worked at Ash Field for a number of years teaching GCSE Science to local Teaching assistants one evening a week. I also had the pleasure of teaching science to a year 11 pupil at Ash Field a number of years ago.
I am fully aware of the challenges facing Ash Field, the senior team and the committed staff as well as the community it serves. My hope is that I can bring my considerable experience to support the work of the Governors, senior team and teachers at this amazing school. |
Catherine Gough
I am Catherine Gough and I joined the staff of Ash Field in 2017. Since then, I've had so many opportunities to further develop my teaching practice and I feel extremely lucky to have found such an amazing place to work; I love coming to school to see everyone each day! I've learnt such a lot personally since I arrived and am keen to contribute where I can to our community's drive for self-improvement. |
Jenny Eshelby
Hello! I have been the Principal at Ash Field Academy since 2018 and therefore automatically became a governor. I really enjoy working with our board of governors who are totally committed to our school and ensuring we are the best we can be. I hope to see you around the school sometime soon! |
Sue Francis
Hello, I am Sue Francis and I have been a governor at Ash Field since September 2020. Before retiring I worked as a Business Manager at a county primary school, where I worked for 25 years, including several years in the classroom. I was also a governor there for 18 years so, I believe, I have useful experience to offer Ash Field.
Although I have only been a governor for a short time it didn't take me long to appreciate what a special place Ash Field is. I am looking forward to getting to know staff, pupils and parents better. |
Daniel Slavin
My name is Daniel Slavin, I joined the board in October 2021. I am a Junior Doctor working in the East Midlands.
Outside of medicine, I have an interest in inter-professional working and believe strongly in the power of education.
Ash Field Academy is clearly a place where education and opportunity for our pupils is at the heart of what the school is trying to achieve and I look forward to the opportunity to support the school going forward. |
Rachael Straub
Hello, I am Rachael Straub and I have been a Parent Governor since 2021. I trained as a research scientist, worked in university grants administration, and spent ten years as a manager with Citizens Advice. I'm now a full-time carer for my daughter.
I thought I knew Ash Field fairly well, but I've learnt so much since becoming a governor. It really is an amazing school with staff and students who work incredibly hard to achieve their best. |