Governors’ Information

Under the terms of the Education & Skills Funding Agency’s Academy Trust Handbook, we are required to publish information about the local governing body and attendance of the governors from the meetings held on behalf of the Academy Trust.

Governors' Information

Ben Walsh - Principal

Appointed: 18.04.2017
Term of office began: 18.04.2017 (Ex-Officio)
Appointed by: Trust

Emma Byrne - Local Governor

Appointed: 26.03.2021
Term of office: 22.03.2024 to 21.03.2027 (3 year term)
Appointed by: Trust

Rachel Derrick - Local Governor - Chair

Appointed: 26.03.2021
Term of office: 22.03.2024 to 21.03.2027 (3 year term)
Appointed by: Trust

Lee Walsh - Parent Governor

Appointed: 24.06.2025
Term of office: 24.06.2025 to 23.06.2028 (3 year term)
Elected by: Parents

Kelly Palmisano - Local Governor

Appointed: 24.11.2025
Term of office: 24.11.2025 to 23.11.2028 (3 year term)
Appointed by: Trust

Farah Shah - Parent Governor

Appointed: 24.06.2025
Term of office: 24.06.2025 to 23.06.2028 (3 year term)
Elected by: Parents

Debbie Battle - Staff (Support) Governor

Appointed: 17.10.2025
Term of office: 17.10.2025 to 16.10.2028 (3 year term)
Elected by: Staff

Krishna Nehra - Local Governor

Appointed: 23.03.2026
Term of office: 23.03.2026 to 22.03.2029 (3 year term)
Appointed by: Trust

David Brooke - Local Governor

Appointed: 08.12.2025
Term of office: 08.12.2025 to 07.12.2028 (3 year term)
Appointed by: Trust

Declarations of Interests

Governors who have stepped down in the past 12 months:

Richard Bristow - Governor

Appointed: 03.07.2020
Term of office: 24.03.2023 – 23.03.2026 (3 year term)
Appointed by: Trust
Declaration of Interests/other relevant appointments (as at September 2023):

  • Nil.

Present at 2/3 LGB meetings in 2022-2023.

Peter Way - Chair

Appointed: 09.12.2016
Term of office: 01.07.2022 to 18.03.2025 (resigned)
Appointed by: Trust
Declaration of Interests/other relevant appointments (as at January 2025):

  • Partner, Taylor Rose MW Solicitors.
  • Member, Law Society.

Present at 3/3 LGB meetings in 2022-2023.

Debbie Battle - Non-teaching Staff Governor

Appointed: 01.07.2022
Term of office: 01.07.2022 to 30.06.2025 (3 year term)
Appointed by: Elected
Declaration of Interests/other relevant appointments (as at September 2024):

  • Member, NEU

Present at 3/3 LGB meetings in 2022-2023.

Lara Birkett - Teaching Staff Governor

Appointed: 26.06.2019
Term of office: 01.07.2022 to 30.06.2025 (3 year term)
Appointed by: Elected
Declaration of Interests/other relevant appointments (as at November 2024):

  • Mother employed by the school.
  • Member, NEU

Present at 2/3 LGB meetings in 2022-2023.