Local Advisory Board

The Governing Body is known as the Local Advisory Board (LAB).

The Cumbria Education Trust Board Directors delegate to the LAB members its responsibility and powers as the Governing Body of the School. These responsibilities are discharged by the LAB members in accordance with its constitution, any Cumbria Education Trust Policies and advice from the Department for Education (DFE) and Ofsted.

View the Trust Board Membership here: http://www.cumbriaeducationtrust.org/about-us/leadership/

The Local Advisory Board (LAB) is crucial to helping the School to raise standards.

Some of the roles of the LAB are to:

provide the information required by the Trust and not to withhold any information which the Trust reasonably requires;
refer certain decisions to the Trust for approval as set out in the Scheme of Delegation;
report to the Trust Board Directors on the outcomes and progress within a one-week period of each meeting;
act in accordance with the LAB Protocols.

All members of the LAB complete a Register of Interest annually, which details any relevant business and pecuniary interests (see below).

The LAB can be contacted via the Cumbria Education Trust Office – please email Leanne Coats (Governance Professional): lcoats@cumbriaeducationtrust.org or telephone: 016977 45300.

Composition of Local Advisory Board (LAB) members:

Local Advisory Board Members:

David Helliwell – LAB Chair

David is a media and communications consultant following a career as a journalist and editor.

He advises businesses and organisations on public relations, working with the media, crisis communications and delivers media training for clients across the North West.

David and his family moved to Cumbria in 2012 when he took over as editor of The Cumberland News and News & Star newspapers based in Carlisle.

He was a founder member of Carlisle Ambassadors and is a director of Geltsdale Arts Ltd, responsible for the annual Music on the Marr Festival.

David and his teacher wife have two teenage children.

Lorrayne Hughes – CEO

Lorrayne is the Chief Executive Officer of Cumbria Education Trust, the county’s largest multi-academy school trust.

Lorrayne took up her first Headship at William Howard School in Brampton in 2007 and in 2014 was commissioned by the Local Authority to bring about rapid improvement in two special measures schools in Workington. One of the schools was removed from Special Measures within 20 weeks.

She has led CET since inception to its current position where it is responsible for the education of more than 4,000 children across three secondary schools, eight primaries and West Coast Sixth Form.

Lorrayne passionately believes in inclusion and that all young people deserve a high-quality education. Children are firmly at the heart of all her strategic decision-making.
All schools work closely together following Lorrayne’s lead that collaboration can make a difference to all involved, from pupils and students to staff and their communities.

Lorrayne is a board member of the Confederation of School Trusts, the sector body for school trusts.

Jane Routledge – Lead Director

Jane was born, brought up and went to school in Cumbria before leaving for university and ultimately a career in London in the Financial Services sector. As Marketing & Communications Director in a number of investment management businesses, including two large multi-nationals and a small privately-owned firm, she has led big change initiatives as well as being responsible for developing and implementing communication strategies for a range of internal and external audiences. She has many years of experience in strategic and operational brand development, marketing, client and employee engagement as well as extensive experience of creating and leading client-facing functions in fast growing organisations.

Jane has served in voluntary roles for two adoption and permanency panels. She has also acted as a guest speaker for a national adoption charity to help raise funds, advocating in particular for cared-for children with specific learning difficulties. She is currently a mentor for a University of London programme for first generation undergraduates.

Being brought up on a farm on the Solway coast, Jane had it instilled in her from an early age that education would give her choice and mobility. She firmly believes in the power of education to change lives, and is especially keen to be involved in helping raise the ambitions and opportunities for children with specific learning difficulties – children for whom every day in school can be a real struggle.

Jane is married and has a son, three step children and two rescue dogs from Dogs Trust.

Jemma Nicholson – Headteacher

Jemma has always had a passion for education and has over 16 years’ experience working in Cumbrian schools. Her ambition is to ensure that children love school as much as she does, and she enjoys nothing more than thinking of creative and memorable ways to achieve this.

Following her first successful headship, where she received one of the first ‘excellent’ graded SIAMS inspections on the new framework, she has joined the CET leadership team to take on the role of headteacher at Longtown Primary school.

Working with the local community and pupils’ hand in hand is especially important to Jemma, who believes that school is an extension of family and should be a safe, happy and aspirational place to be. She very much looks forward to maintaining Longtown’s high standards following their first ‘Good’ Ofsted, ensuring it flourishes further.

When not in school Jemma can usually be found having fun with family and friends, growing things in her garden or relaxing with a good book!

Chris McAree – Headteacher, William Howard School

As a proud born and bred Coventrian Chris moved to Cumbria in 2003 and has always lived within the catchment area of William Howard since then. He certainly likes to consider himself now a naturalised Cumbrian (just one with an odd accent).

Chris took on the role of Headteacher at William Howard in September 2016. He has worked in ten schools across the full spectrum of settings; Inner City, International, Special Measures to Outstanding schools. He was previously a Headteacher at another secondary school in Cumbria and has held roles as a senior and middle leader in both curriculum and pastoral roles. Trained as Maths teacher he has a passion for high quality Teaching and Learning and he prides himself in the fact that he still teaches regularly.

Chris is committed to ensuring that William Howard becomes a true flagship academy; one that the Trust, parents and most importantly students take pride in.

Kimberley Simpson – Acting Assistant Headteacher
Longtown Primary School Staff LAB member

Kimberley is currently Acting Assistant Headteacher at Longtown Primary School, as well as SENCo, Inclusion Lead, English subject leader and Class Teacher of Year 6.

She has been with CET for four years now and also leads on the English Primary Curriculum across the trust.

Beginning her career as a teaching assistant, she then graduated at the University of Cumbria with BA Hons in Primary Education. She then took the leap and completed her NQT and subsequent years in the London Borough of Newham also as SENCo and Behaviour Specialist support teacher; before relocating back to Newham.
Kimberley has had heavy involvement with inclusion, safeguarding, leadership and management in a primary school setting.

She has a keen interest in the welfare and education of children, particularly in the field of Social, Emotional Mental Health and has been part of school improvement projects aimed at raising attainment and access opportunities for all pupils; ensuring all pupils progress and achieve is one of Kimberley’s fundamental beliefs. Kimberley hopes to bring a fresh insight to the LAB as well as an opinion from the ‘front line’.

Kerry Atlinski – LAB member

Kerry is a mum to three children whom all currently attend Longtown Primary School, as did she as a child. Kerry has lived in Longtown since 1992 aside from a four year stint which was spent travelling with a horse and circus production company. After settling down back in the town with her husband she then began her career in retail management before starting their family.

Kerry is a registered Licensed Chaperone with Cumbria County Council, which she has used to chaperone her daughters’ dancing shows involving up to 150 children.

Kerry is a fully qualified Girlguiding Unit Leader. She currently runs the local Longtown Rainbow and Brownie Units. Experience gained from doing this will benefit her role in the LAB.

Colin Corlett – LAB member

Following a long career holding senior finance positions in a variety of companies, Colin now practices as an accountant and tax advisor, holding qualifications in both these areas. He knows the crucial importance of high quality education and is keen to offer his life and professional experience to support the children and families of Longtown Primary School.

Colin has lived in Cumbria for most of his adult life. Currently living in Gilsland, he enjoys walking and photography.