What is a Local Advisory Board (LAB)?
The Cumbria Education Trust Board Directors delegate to the Local Advisory Board (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 members here.
View the Structure Of The Trust Board & LABs And Associated Information here.
The 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.
If you have any queries for the LAB or would like to contact the Chair, please email governance@cumbriaeducationtrust.org or telephone 016977 45300.
Composition of Local Advisory Board (LAB) members:
| Type of member | Number | Term of office | Elected by who |
| Chief Executive | 1 | Indefinite | N/A – by appointment as Chief Executive |
| Headteacher | 1 | Indefinite | Appointment as Headteacher by Chief Executive/Trust Board |
| Sponsor Board member (including Chair and Vice Chair) | Max 7 | 4 years | By the Cumbria Education Trust Board resolution |
| Parent Board member | 2 | 3 years | Seconded parent volunteer -applications to be considered by Cumbria Education Trust Board Directors.* *If there are more than 2 applications, an election will take place with all parents eligible to vote |
| Staff Board member | 1 | 3 years | Staff election** ** If only one member of staff is nominated they are automatically elected |
LAB Members
David Helliwell – 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.
Jemma Nicholson – Executive Headteacher at Longtown Primary School and Petteril Bank School
Jemma is a passionate educator with over 16 years of experience 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.
After a successful headship, where she earned one of the first ‘excellent’ SIAMS inspections under the new framework, she has joined CET as Headteacher of Longtown Primary School. Jemma is committed to making school a safe, happy, and aspirational environment, working closely with the local community to continue Longtown’s high standards following their first ‘Good’ Ofsted rating.
Anna Carroll – Headteacher
Anna relocated from Suffolk to attend University in Carlisle. After falling in love with the beautiful countryside, she decided to stay and began her career in Haltwhistle.
Anna then worked at Yewdale Primary School prior to it joining CET and has since progressed in her career with a Deputy Head role at Caldew Lea, she then took her first Headship at Castle Carrock Primary and is presently the Headteacher at Longtown Primary School.
Anna passionately believes in providing a broad and balanced education, which recognises and celebrates the talents of each child enabling them to grow in confidence, develop a sense of responsibility whilst achieving their full potential. Whilst not at work, Anna enjoys spending time with her three young children.
Richard O’Connor – Deputy Headteacher at William Howard School
Kerry Atlinski – LAB member (Safeguarding Lead)
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.
Jodie Dickman, Parent LAB member
Alison Dickman, Parent LAB member
Alison has lived in Longtown along with her husband and young family for the past 9 years. She grew up in the countryside on a farm.
After leaving school, she did a teaching assistant apprenticeship course in a special educational setting, which she completed in 2006. Alison continues to work in the special needs setting, working with a wide range of disabilities and ages. She loves to make a difference to peoples lives.
Alison is a mum of 3 boys, two whom attend Longtown Primary School. Alison enjoys spending time with her family, photography and socialising.
Abbie Sisson, Staff LAB member
Abbie has lived in Cumbria all her life and attended university in Carlisle. After living in the countryside for 20 years, she decided to begin her career in Cumbria.
Abbie became extremely passionate about teaching whilst attending placements in Haltwhistle, Hayton and Carlisle. She began her career teaching Year 5 at Longtown Primary School and has taught Year 6 for the past two years.
Abbie is passionate about helping children reach their full potential and is dedicated to supporting them as they grow in confidence. She believes in creating a nurturing and inclusive environment where every child feels valued and empowered to achieve their best. Abbie’s approach focuses on recognising and celebrating each child’s unique strengths, inspiring them to develop a love for learning and the resilience to overcome challenges. Outside of work, Abbie enjoys spending time with her family.
LAB members in the previous 12 months:
- Colin Corlett – 03/09/2024
LAB Meeting Minutes and other information
If you would like any meeting minutes from previous years, please email governance@cumbriaeducationtrust.org.
