All Academy Trusts have two layers of governance – Members and Directors. Some (like NCLT) choose to have a third, i.e., Advisory Groups. Details of Members and Directors can be found on the Trust’s website – https://nclt.ac.uk/governance-information. Our Advisory Group can be found below.
All governance and financial information can be found on the Trust policies page – https://nclt.ac.uk/policies
Alison recently retired from a career as a teacher and manager in a diverse range of education settings. After teaching in FE and HE she progressed to Head of Sixth Form/Assistant Headteacher in two large secondary schools. She then took a role as a Senior Advisor at Doncaster Local Authority, responsible for implementing the 14-19 strategy, monitoring activity across the borough’s secondary schools and supporting structural intervention. Alison’s most recent position was Vice Principal at Longley Park Sixth Form College in Sheffield, with responsibility for curriculum and quality, where she worked for the last decade of her career before retiring in the summer of 2019.
Throughout her career, Alison has persistently championed strategies to improve teaching, learning and assessment to impact positively on the life chances of young people.
Alison became an Advisor at New College Doncaster when her youngest daughter was studying A levels there and became Chair the following year.
After qualifying as a chartered accountant with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Birmingham and Leeds I spent time in industry before having children and training as a teacher. I learnt my craft at Carleton Community High School in Pontefract in the maths department developing partnership links within Wakefield authority to promote Gifted & Talented activities outside the classroom. A family move to Lincolnshire eventually saw me return to my childhood school, QEHS in Gainsborough in 2012 where I am today. I have had a number of departmental and pastoral roles leading up to my current position as Assistant Headteacher responsible for Sixth Form. This has seen me develop and deliver a new strategic plan, completely redesigning our offer to give students a modern and flexible programme ensuring they have the maximum opportunity to pursue top University courses or apprenticeships, a key part of which was through coaching of staff and students alike. I have a keen interest in ensuring autistic people are better understood and supported to reach their potential.
I am a seasoned senior manager and executive with over twenty years of expertise gained within complex public-sector organisations, offshore companies and the voluntary sector. I have expert level understanding of transformation management that began early in my career from a supplier perspective and as my career progressed within the public sector, I became very familiar with the benefits and risks that are often attached to managing large scale business change.
My current roles, off-shore and at local government allow me to continue developing, operating and achieving benefits for partners, arm-length organisations and Digital services. I have demonstrable success in improving public services and applying good business practices to achieve beneficial results with strong intellectual and analytical abilities. I have excellent knowledge of best practice programme/project management delivery methodologies and a successful record of achievement implementing project governance and maintaining financial control.
I am highly committed to good corporate governance at board level and since completing my MBA thesis I have a newfound passion to continue with applied research and encourage best practice and improvement of board performance particularly within the charity and education sectors. I continue to serve as a Non-executive Director on boards, to advance the board and management teams. These roles have given me a detailed knowledge of social enterprises, including an understanding of the charity sector’s role in building a bigger, stronger society and with a strong commitment to understanding the charity sector’s effective; independent; proportionate; and; impartial regulation.
After successfully completing my MBA and attending Harvard Business School I developed a newfound interest in applied academia and exploring my authentic values in leadership. These values stem from wishing to be socially responsible and playing my part in preparing the next generation. Consequently, I have a genuine desire to excel my passion to serve non-profit organisations. I am very enthusiastic about selecting the right opportunities at board level and have constructively challenged conventional wisdom of the board and gained support for my recommendations for strategic change by motivating and supporting the board and extensively utilising my excellent communication, influencing and listening skills. More recently, I have founded the first Ethnic Culture Staff Network at Doncaster Council and have been elected to serve as Chair influencing transformational change by working collaboratively with colleagues. I sit on the local primary school board as Chairman of the Parents Council and currently Governor, continuing my work over the next three years. My board experience specialities revolve around governance; culture; strategy; change; risk; and management and leadership. I have a ‘can do’ positive attitude and a ‘work smart’ work ethic allowing me to achieve the best.
I am a practising Muslim residing in Finningley, Doncaster with my wife and three children. Having suffered in silence for many years regarding my deafness I have learned to overcome my physical impairment. I have a keen interest in our climate and the impact of human consumption and its consequences. I am eager to learn more about mental health and wellbeing hence have participated in many discussions, debates and workshops exploring this topic. Recently, I have further developed my life-long passion for diversity, inclusion and equality reflecting upon my own experiences. I continue reading and attending lectures, debates and discussions aiming to promote a healthy environment for transformational change.
Jackie Hamer
Advisor– Board Appointed
Date appointed: 06/02/2023
Patricia Bryn-Jones
Safeguarding, SEND and LAC Link Advisor– Board Appointed
Date appointed: 23/01/2024
All of the Advisory Group members (except the Principal) serve a 4 year term of office.
The group are currently seeking parents to join the group.
Advisory Group members who have stepped down
Jane Peagram (formally Burton) – Date Stepped Down: 16/11/2022