Members
Responsible for overseeing and holding the Trustees to account for the governance arrangements of the Trust. The Members are the guardians of the constitution (Articles of Association) and the application of Advance Learning Partnership vision and goals within the Trust. Members are responsible for ALP development and Trustees accountability.
David Kingston
Current Governance Role/ Other governance current or past roles:
Member
Previous Chair Parkside Sports College
Previous/Current employment details:
Educational Consultant
Mathematics Teacher
National Leader of Governance
Skills, Knowledge and aims:
Commitment to improving education for all pupils
Extensive knowledge of school governance
Ability to make difficult decisions in the best interest of the pupils
Experience of reviewing the impact of new ideas and initiatives
Understanding and experience of strategic planning and the ability to identify problems
Ability to challenge and hold the CEO/Headteacher to account
Excellent knowledge of current education policy
David Liddle
Current Governance Role/ Other governance current or past roles:
ALP Member and Academy Governor
Previously Willington CofE governor
Previous/Current employment details:
Mactech Ltd, Hydraulic Equipment/ Account Manager.
Key Account Manager for Bolting Products UK wide, for Enerpac Ltd.
Previously COE of an engineering business part of a European company
Skills, Knowledge and aims:
Extensive knowledge of school governance
Commitment to improving education for all pupils
Understanding and experience of strategic planning and the ability to identify problems
Financial and business expertise
Experience of procurement and purchasing
HND Mechanical Engineering
Kevin Reynolds
Current Governance Role/ Other governance current or past roles:
ALP Member
Previous governor Parkside Sports College
Trustee at Park View Academy
Previous/Current employment details:
Retired. Previously Executive Principal, Consett Academy, NCDAT
Accounting Officer for Trust
Previous Deputy HT, Parkside Sports College, Willington
Skills, Knowledge and aims:
BA(Hons), MA(Ed), NPQH, CEO Award from SSAT
9 years as a school leader and 3 years as a system leader (2016-2019)
My vision and values align with ALP and I am fully committed to supporting its progress
Commitment to improving education for all pupils
Experience of professional leadership in an educational establishment
Understanding and experience of strategic planning and the ability to identify problems
Ability to challenge and hold the CEO/Headteacher to account
Pamela Sneath
Current Governance Role/ Other governance current or past roles:
Chair of Ox Close Federation, Spennymoor
Previous governor Whitworth Park School, Ox Close Primary School and Ox Close Nursery School
Previous/Current employment details:
Recently retired as Senior Manager – Strategy, from Lloyds Banking Group
Previous roles included Head of Human Resources and Local Operations Director
National Leader for Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity within Banking
Currently supporting our Local Authority (HR and SGSS) as Independent Investigation Officer
Director of Deerness Gymnastics Academy and Trustee of Deerness Gymnastics Club
Skills, Knowledge and aims:
Master of Business Administration (MBA) – specialism in Leadership and Management. Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and Chartered Institute of Personal and Development
Extensive knowledge of school governance in all 3 sectors
Experienced in attending board meetings – professionally and cumulatively 44 years as a governor, 18 years as a chair
Proven track record of probing and challenging to make the right, difficult decisions
Expertise in the financial sector
Keen interest in the economy of the local region
Passionate about the continuous improvement of education for all children and providing them with the opportunities they deserve
Sarah Monk
Current Governance Role/ Other governance current or past roles:
Trustee and Chair of Finance Committee, Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust.
Previous Non-Executive Director – Aycliffe Business Park Community.
Previous/Current employment details:
Chief Strategy Officer, The Edwin Group (Jan 2023 – present)
Leads group strategy for a national education services business working with approximately 6,000 schools.
Board member of all group businesses, undertaking associated fiduciary responsibilities.
Co-founder and CEO, Avec Partnership (Sep 2010 – January 2022).
Founded and scaled a national education advisory business providing HR, finance, governance, academy conversion, and MAT growth services.
Led business strategy, vision and values, and advised over 300 multi-academy trusts.
School Partnership Director, Place Group (2010).
Worked on national DfE contracts including Building Schools for the Future and the Academies Programme.
National School Business Management Advocate, National College for School Leadership (2008–2010).
Vice Principal – Business Strategy, Darlington Education Village (2005–2009)
Senior leadership role within a pioneering hard federation of schools, with responsibility for finance, governance, HR, ICT, PFI contract management, health and safety, and risk management. Head of Education Finance, Darlington Borough Council (2001–2005).
Senior management role within Children’s Services.
Education Finance Officer, Local Authority roles (1991–2001)
Skills, Knowledge and aims:
MBA NPQH
Extensive expertise in governance, finance, risk management, and strategic planning
Deep understanding of the education sector, including MAT governance, SEND, financial sustainability, recruitment and retention, and system change
Significant experience as a company director and public sector non-executive director
Strong knowledge of effective governance, including the Nolan Principles and management of conflicts of interest
Track record of organisational transformation, rapid improvement, and delivery in complex systems
Commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity
With a career spanning 35 years in the Education sector (both public and private sectors), I am an accomplished, confident, and highly experienced leader, entrepreneur, strategist and non-executive director who has worked in a range of large and complex national organisations as well as at the chalk face in schools.
