Trustees
- Ensure clarity of vision, ethos, and strategic direction.
- Hold the executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the Trust and its pupils, and the performance management of staff.
- Oversee the financial performance of the Trust and make sure its money is spent well.
The Trust Board is accountable to the Members, to the Secretary of State for Education and to the wider community for the quality of the education provided to all our registered pupils and for the appropriate expenditure of public money.
The ALP Articles of Association outline the composition of the Trust Board. At ALP, it has been agreed that parent representation will be allocated to each Academy Council, allowing for two parent governors per school, instead of having only two parent representatives on the Trust Board.
Alan Boddy
Current governance role:
Chair of the Trust Board.
Other governance role past or present:
ALP Director appointed November 2019.
Previous Chair of Whitworth Park Academy Council.
Chair of Spennymoor Neighbourhood Board.
Previous/current employment details:
Currently Chief Executive at Livin.
Previously Head of Human Resources Sedgefield Borough Council.
Skills, knowledge and aims:
Masters’ Degree in Human Resource Management. Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing and the Chartered Institute of Personal Development. Experienced Executive and community champion.
Mark Allen
Current governance role/other governance current or past roles:
Trustee for ALP and previous governor at Witton-le-Wear Primary and Wolsingham School.
Previous/current employment details:
Professor, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Durham. Employed in this role since 2005.
Skills, knowledge and aims:
Husband, father of two children. I teach and research in Earth Sciences, including Climate Science and Sustainability.
I hope to raise educational outcomes for all children in ALP.
Nigel Ashley
Current Governance Role/other governance current or past roles:
Trustee for ALP and governor
Previous/Current employment details:
Nigel began his career as a teacher 25 years ago, rapidly progressing on to senior leadership and held the position of Headteacher for 18 years. His wealth of experience working in Primary Schools forged the basis of his aspiration to form a Multi-Academy Trust, which he did with Elevate MAT in 2017 (initially with three Primary Schools in the Knaresborough and Thirsk areas). As of 2021, there are 14 Primary Schools in the Trust, including two Free Schools, with imminent plans to have even more of a presence in the Primary School sector.
Skills, knowledge and aims:
Nigel is also a National Leader of Education (NLE) where he continues to support schools requiring improvement to achieve rapid and sustainable progress. He provides guidance and proven strategies to help school leaders on their journey of excellence to offer the best possible educational outcomes and experiences for children.
Linda Davies
Current role and when appointed, including if on an academy council:
Trustee of ALP.
Names of any other schools you are also a governor for, or have been in past:
Previous Governor on Parkside Academy Council in capacity of Headteacher.
Previous/Current employment details:
Linda has over 25 years of education leadership experience including 10 years as Headteacher of an outstanding secondary school and five years as the original CEO of ALP having established the Trust in 2014.
Skills, knowledge, awards and qualifications:
Prior to her retirement Linda was a National Leader of Education and an Ofsted Inspector.
Vision and values in the role of Governor:
Committed to improving the life of every child in the ALP family of schools by providing them with the very best education.
Patrick Morton
Current governance role/other governance current or past roles:
Trustee for ALP and previous Chair of Governors at Howden-Le-Wear Primary School.
Previous/Current employment details:
Founder and Managing Director at Lucion Services from 2003- 2019 and employed over 500 members of staff.
Skills, knowledge, awards and qualifications:
Studied at Leeds University and graduated with a PHD.
Ellen Beveridge
Current governance role:
Trustee of ALP.
Other governance current or past roles:
Previously a governor at Dene Community School until 31st August 2019.
Previous/current employment details:
Providence Learning Partnership.
Former Headteacher of Durham Sixth Form Centre.
Skills, knowledge, awards and qualifications:
QTS and First class honours. MA in Education (Leadership) and NPQH. Committed to the education of young people and ensuring we continue to seek out the best in all that we do.
Kelvin Simpson
Current governance role:
Trustee of ALP in capacity as CEO
Member Providence Learning Partnership
Other governance roles past or present:
Previous Governor of Staindrop Academy in capacity of Headteacher.
Previous Governor of Parkside Academy in capacity of Headteacher.
Previous Governor of Dene Community School in capacity of Headteacher.
Current employment details:
CEO of ALP
Previous employment details:
Deputy CEO of ALP
Executive Headteacher at Parkside Academy and Staindrop Academy
Headteacher Parkside Academy
Headteacher Dene Community School
Skills, knowledge and qualifications:
National Leader of Education: Providing support for underperforming schools.
Trust School Improvement Support System Leader – Department for Education.
CEO Mentor – Department for Education.
Debra Swinburn
Current role and when appointed, including if on an academy council:
Co-opted Trustee for Advance Learning Partnership as well as a member of the Finance Committee.
Co-opted Community Governor of Ox Close Federation, Spennymoor. Over 20 years’ experience as a school governor. Director of Spennymoor Town Football Club and Trustee of the Solan Connor Fawcett Family Cancer Trust.
Previous/Current employment details:
Qualified as a solicitor in 1992. Assistant solicitor at Evans Robson, then partner at Evans & Co. Specialises in commercial property, licensing, business, conveyancing, and charity matters.
Skills, knowledge, awards and qualifications:
PGCE in Post-16 Education and Training. CQS Accreditation. Extensive experience in commercial property, licensing, business law, conveyancing, and charity law.
Vision and values in the role of Governor:
Passionate about supporting new and existing businesses. Keen to support the local community, encouraging staff to participate in charity and community events. Committed to training and development.
Helen Tarokh
Current role and when appointed, including if on an academy council:
Trustee
Other governance roles past or present:
Trustee of Hummersknott Academy Trust Previously a headteacher governor in the 2 schools in which I was a head.
Previous/current employment details:
Currently a leadership coach (Mrs T Coaching), helping school leaders across the country develop their effectiveness and wellbeing. Previously I was a headteacher in 2 primary schools (Heathfield Primary, Darlington and Knighton Fields Primary, Leicester)
Skills, knowledge, awards and qualifications:
NPQEL, NPQH, MA in Education ILM Level 7 Certificate in Executive Coaching and Mentoring.
Vision and values in the role of Governor:
I am passionate about supporting disadvantaged communities to flourish through the provision of high-quality education and am dedicated to the development and prosperity of our region.
Andrew Scott
Current governance role:
Trustee for ALP
Other governance roles past or present:
Previously Chair of Dene Academy.
Previous/current employment details:
Currently Supporting Family Time Worker for Durham County Council.
Foster Carer for Together For Children, Sunderland.
Previously Corporate Manager for Handelsbanken and Barclays.
Skills, knowledge and aims:
Active experience of working with children and their parents/carers with an extensive background in corporate finance. I am committed to the core Mission, Vision and Values of ALP.
Peter Coady
Current governance role:
Trustee for ALP and Governor
Previous/current employment details:
With 23 years senior leadership experience within the educational sector with 13 years as a Head Teacher. Currently working as an Education consultant providing leadership support.
Experience with Chairing school governing Bodies as well as MAT boards. Peter is currently the Chair of Parkside Academy, and is a Trustee of St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Academy.
Skills, knowledge and aims:
Committed to ensuring life-chances for all learners, particularly the most disadvantaged
Nicola Cooke
Current role and when appointed, including if on an academy council:
Chair of Academy Council – Middlestone Moor Primary School
I have been Chair of Governors for the past 5 years but a governor for almost 10 years.
Previous/current employment details:
I have over 20 years Internal Audit experience in the Public Sector. With expertise in governance, risk management, and financial control.
I am currently employed as the Internal Audit Manager for Durham County Council where I have been employed for 4 years undertaking work for Durham County Council as well as Durham Police, Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, LEA Schools and 2 Crematoria.
Skills, knowledge, awards and qualifications:
Chartered Internal Auditor (CMIIA) with over 20 years internal audit experience in the local government sector
My skills will bring strong analytical skills, a deep understanding of assurance processes, and a commitment to transparent, ethical decision-making to the board.
Vision and values in the role of Governor:
I have 3 children currently in schools in the Trust.
As a result of this I am passionate about ensuring all young people have access to high quality education and I believe effective governance plays a vital role in raising standards.
As a trustee, I would aim to contribute my expertise in audit, risk, and financial oversight to support the trust’s long-term strategy, ensure public funds are used responsibly, and champion a culture of continuous improvement.
