Our Trustees
The Board of Trustees is the Governing Body for the organisation and remains accountable in law and to OFSTED for the exercise of its functions. It is the accountable body for the performance of all Academies within the Trust and has four key functions:
The Trust board meets at least termly and has a number of committees which meet at least termly. Trustees have decision making powers described fully in the Scheme of Delegation and are both company directors and charity trustees as academies have the legal status of both company and charitable trust.
To support the work of schools and the Trustees, Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust ensures the local stakeholder voice is represented and heard through our Local Stakeholder Boards. The provide a local level of access and accountability for our parents and carers, framed within a cooperative structure to build and deepen partnership and connection. This is the place where the individual pupil and parent voice is heard and understood; where the lived experience of our provision and offer is felt and triangulated.
Information about our Trustees, and the various committees and their terms of Reference can be found below:
- Ensures clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- Holds the CEO to account for educational performance and the performance management of staff
- Oversees the financial performance of the Trust, ensuring financial probity and value for money
- Holds the Local Stakeholder Boards to account
The Trust board meets at least termly and has a number of committees which meet at least termly. Trustees have decision making powers described fully in the Scheme of Delegation and are both company directors and charity trustees as academies have the legal status of both company and charitable trust.
To support the work of schools and the Trustees, Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust ensures the local stakeholder voice is represented and heard through our Local Stakeholder Boards. The provide a local level of access and accountability for our parents and carers, framed within a cooperative structure to build and deepen partnership and connection. This is the place where the individual pupil and parent voice is heard and understood; where the lived experience of our provision and offer is felt and triangulated.
Information about our Trustees, and the various committees and their terms of Reference can be found below:
Our Trustees
TANIA SKEAPING - CHAIR OF TRUSTEES
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Tania worked at Sotheby’s in London as a valuation manager with an extensive international portfolio. Tania sought a new challenge in 2002, taking a PGCE in Art (Secondary) at Exeter University and subsequently worked at Okehampton College. When her first child was born, Tania returned to her former career as a valuation manager, working with an internet start-up, a job she does today alongside working as a professional artist. Tania is married with two stepsons and two sons.
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KATE SCRIVENER
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Kate was a Holsworthy Cluster Parent Governor for seven years including several years as Co-Chair. During that time, she experienced leadership changes, joining the Dartmoor Mat , Ofsted and many other things along with spending time in each of the four schools within the cluster.
She taught at a primary school in Devon for over ten years and was staff governor for most of her time in post. Whilst teaching she experienced all aspects of what it means to work at a village school. She lead across several subjects and supported trainee teachers and other staff. Kate now helps run two family businesses based in Devon and Cornwall. Kate has enjoyed the opportunities given to her and others as a result of becoming part of the Trust. She is looking forward to seeing how it will develop the opportunities for all pupils and staff across all the schools. |
PETE LAST - VICE CHAIR
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Pete studied Geography at Cambridge and then entered into a long career in teaching. He has taught at an International school in India and at a boarding school in Hampshire (where he chaired the Education Committee of the local Primary School) before moving to Stowe School as Head of Geography. Whilst at Stowe he also became a Housemaster of a boys’ boarding house and then became Head of Boarding, Senior Housemaster and eventually Pastoral Deputy Head. He arrived in Devon in December 2016 to become Headmaster of Kingsley School in Bideford, a position he held until April 2020. He is also an Independent Schools’ Inspectorate inspector and is currently qualifying as an Executive Coach and Mentor and is excited about supporting Senior leaders to develop their potential.
He is passionate about helping schools deliver high quality education for all pupils and, as a committed Christian and member of Westward Ho! Baptist Church, he is delighted to be appointed to support the MAT as a Foundation Director. He is looking forward to helping to maintain the Christian ethos of our Church of England schools as well as promoting good relationships between the schools and their local church communities. Pete is currently working as a Senior Leader Tutor for the National College of Education. |
CHRIS GOULD
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Chris is delighted to be part of Dartmoor Academy Trust. Having taught for over 20 years, he has been a Headtacher for the past 10 years at Chacewater School in Cornwall. Alongside this role, he has been the lead for the Cornwall and West Devon Maths Hub for five years supporting the implementation of teaching for mastery across schools in Cornwall and Devon. Currently, he also supports schools as part of Truro Penwith Academy Trust with School Improvement with a particular focus on maths.
Chris is passionate about collaboration between schools and also learning that can be taken from working with different trusts. |
STEWART BIDDLES
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Stewart is CEO of Riviera Education Trust in Torbay, he is a National Leader of Education (NLE) and prior to his current role has been headteacher of two outstanding primary schools. Stewart has been a governor in maintained schools for the past 20 years, and through his current position has a detailed understanding of the governance of academy trusts.
As an NLE, Stewart has experience of driving forward school improvement and supporting schools through change. He is a headteacher advocate for the Cornwall and Devon Maths Hub, and the trust he leads has its own teaching school which supports teacher development across Torbay and into South Devon. One of the primary reasons that Stewart became involved with Dartmoor Multi-Academy Trust is that he has a strong belief that collaboration and challenge are central to development in the current educational landscape. |
Philip Sanders
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Philip studied Agriculture at Nottingham University, and then started his early career in hotel management. Philip has worked in the NHS as a Trust Board Director. He now runs his own Health Care Consultancy business part time.
Philip ran a youth club for many years and is still actively involved in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme assessing at Bronze, Silver and Gold Award levels. He has also been a Voluntary Warden with the Dartmoor National Park for almost 40 years and regularly walks and help maintain a network of paths on Dartmoor. Philip is currently a Town Councillor on Tavistock Town Council and is also the Mayor this year. Philip has been a Governor of Tavistock College since 2009 and has chaired the Resources Committee for a number of years. |
REBECCA LEDGER
Rebecca has worked in education for over 20 years within corporate, charitable and public sector organisations. In her current role at the Department for Education, she works with academy trusts nationally. Rebecca is a founding trustee of Dartmoor Multi Academy and returns to the role after a short break. She is committed to providing all students with access to the very best education.
GRAHAM BRISCOE
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Graham Briscoe is a Chartered Engineer, a Chartered Information Technology Professional, a Certified Management Consultant, a Fellow of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management and the Institute of Administrative Management, and in 1997 was awarded the annual Fellow Medallist of the World Productivity Congress in Chile.
Graham has worked in many management services roles throughout his thirty-five year career with Royal Sun Alliance along with seconded company appointments in group companies in the USA, Sweden, Mexico and Southern Africa. He has worked in a variety of roles including project and change management, information technology, quality and customer service management, HR and Talent Management, facilities management, continuous improvement, business process re-engineering, transformational change, due diligence and office relocations associated with company mergers and acquisitions. Since retirement, Graham has built up a portfolio of University Boards, Further Education Corporations, Multi Academy Trust and Awarding Body Boards Governor and Director positions, along with NED and Trustee roles with Housing Associations, University Student`s Unions and a number of Charities. He is Chair of the Redcliffe Parish Charity in Bristol, and is a Trustee and Chair of the Audit, Risk & Governance Committee of CXK in Ashford - an ex Connections young peoples support Charity. Graham also provides Change Management and Facilities Management pro-bono support to Charity, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations in South-West England and South-East Wales. |
Peter Elliott
Peter has been working in school leadership for over 20 years. In 2012 he co-founded the Bridgwater and Taunton College Multi-Academy Trust which has a proven track record of removing schools from ‘inadequate’ and making them ‘Good’. He chooses to focus his work in the more disadvantaged parts of the region and has been instrumental in leading the Opportunity Area in West Somerset. As a passionate believer in social-justice Peter is an advocate of education being the spring board for social-mobility and doesn’t subscribe to the view that where you live should determine your future life chances and well-being. Peter has a background and expertise in all-through education and is responsible for learners aged 2-19. As such he has a comprehensive understanding of child development and education across all stages of the National Curriculum. Peter has held various positions of governance in and beyond our sector, including two terms of office for a housing association based in Somerset.
TOM USHER
Over the last 20 years Tom has worked in the government and public sector financial recovery team at one of the UK’s largest consultancies. He has worked in some of the most challenged foundation NHS trusts in the UK and has been the Chief Operating Officer of a global NGO, seeking to reduce plastic waste in the Ocean. A former soldier, his military service includes three operational tours to Afghanistan and Bosnia. During 2021 Tom set up the non-clinical volunteer programme for the Devon mass-vaccination sites in Exeter and Plymouth. He has previously been a parent Governor of a Voluntary Controlled Junior School and sat on the Guardian Newspapers Public Leaders Network editorial advisory board. Tom is married with 3 school age children and lives in Devon.
Tracy O'Kennedy
EmMA Neath
After studying law at university, Emma went on to become a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Advisor. She has worked in a number of accountancy practices in the South West, both international and regional, including 16 years at Ernst & Young in Exeter where she specialised in company tax. She had a wide variety of clients from PLCs, owner-managed businesses, farmers and charities. For a couple of years, she was also an exam marker at Exeter University, marking the tax papers for the Accountancy Degree course.
Emma became a parent governor 8 years ago at South Tawton Primary school when her son was there, she then joined the Three Hares governing body when the DMAT was formed. She has, therefore, seen many changes in her time as a governor. She has been the Resources Lead and, for the last 3 years, Chair. Emma has enjoyed being involved with the three Primary schools that make up the Three Hares; South Tawton, North Tawton and Chagford and helping to develop the identity of the Three Hares.
Emma has also been the Treasurer for the South Zeal Scout group for the past ten years.
She is looking forward to taking on her new role as Trustee and sitting on the Resources, Estates and Digital Committee.
Emma became a parent governor 8 years ago at South Tawton Primary school when her son was there, she then joined the Three Hares governing body when the DMAT was formed. She has, therefore, seen many changes in her time as a governor. She has been the Resources Lead and, for the last 3 years, Chair. Emma has enjoyed being involved with the three Primary schools that make up the Three Hares; South Tawton, North Tawton and Chagford and helping to develop the identity of the Three Hares.
Emma has also been the Treasurer for the South Zeal Scout group for the past ten years.
She is looking forward to taking on her new role as Trustee and sitting on the Resources, Estates and Digital Committee.
Our Committees of the Board
AUDIT, RISK & COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE
Compliance and Assurance Committee
Monitors the integrity of the MAT’s financial statements, financial performance, internal financial controls, internal control and risk management, along with reviewing the effectiveness of the internal audit function.
Monitors the integrity of the MAT’s financial statements, financial performance, internal financial controls, internal control and risk management, along with reviewing the effectiveness of the internal audit function.
RESOURCES, ESTATES AND DIGITAL COMMITTEE
RESOURCES, ESTATES AND DIGITAL COMMITTEE
Accountable for managing financial resources, operations (estates) and digital resources to achieve maximum effectiveness and best value. Ensure the Trust is financially secure and compliant with statutory financial reporting, the Trust Handbook and Accounts Direction.
QUALITY EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Quality Education Committee
Ensure that the overall curriculum provision for cohorts, groups and phases of children meets the standards and expectations of the Trust and the entitlement for each community.
Ensure that the overall curriculum provision for cohorts, groups and phases of children meets the standards and expectations of the Trust and the entitlement for each community.
REMUNERATION COMMITTEE
RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE
NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE
Nominations Committee
To act on behalf of the Board of Trustees to approve candidates for membership of Local Stakeholder boards and to act on behalf of the board to review and recommend Board member candidates to the Trust Board.
To act on behalf of the Board of Trustees to approve candidates for membership of Local Stakeholder boards and to act on behalf of the board to review and recommend Board member candidates to the Trust Board.
ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE
Admissions Committee
To annually review the impact of all aspects of school admission arrangements and practice. The Committee will consider all Admission Round applications and all In Year applications for admission in accordance with the current admissions arrangements.
To annually review the impact of all aspects of school admission arrangements and practice. The Committee will consider all Admission Round applications and all In Year applications for admission in accordance with the current admissions arrangements.
