Our Trustees

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.
 
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:

• 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 
Trustees are both company directors and charity trustees as academies have the legal status of both company and charitable trust.

Terms of Reference for our various committees can be found below:

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.
 
HR, Pay and People Committee
Accountable for staff in terms of performance management and pay, employee relations and wellbeing, equality and diversity, changes to terms/conditions and joint union relationships. Specifically accountable for ensuring an effective performance system, setting pay policy and ensuring HR legal requirements are met.
 
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.
 
Resources, Estates and Digital Committee
Accountable for managing financial and estates resources to achieve maximum effectiveness and best value. The Committee is responsible for ensuring the Trust is financially secure and complies with statutory financial reporting, the Academies Financial Handbook and Accounts Direction.
 
Local Stakeholder Board Terms of Reference
Admissions Committee
Resolutions Committee

TANIA SKEAPING - CHAIR OF TRUSTEES

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.

​JOHN LAWLOR

​John has wide experience of governance in education having been a primary school governor for many years both in Solihull and latterly in Devon. This has included being both Chair of the board and Chair of Finance.  Besides being a Trustee of the Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust and Chair of the Audit Committee, John is also Chair of Governors two small federated schools near Holsworthy.

In his day job, before retirement, he was a senior member of general management within the logistics and aerospace industries. Besides having a number of line management roles involving multi-disciplinary teams, he was the lead on a number of change and reorganisation projects.
​
John strongly believes that by formally collaborating we can ensure the best educational outcomes for our children and the best career prospects for our staff.

JANE DUMERESQUE

Jane is a first time Trustee and excited to be part of the Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust working to support all pupils in reaching their full potential.  She is a Chartered Accountant, has an MBA from the London Business School and has spent most of her career working in the financial services industry as a corporate financier, investment manager and latterly as Finance Director of a number of AIM quoted companies. 

For three years Jane worked at Ardingly College as Development Director raising money to support the school bursary program and capital projects including the building of a sports pavilion.  Jane was part of the senior management team who successfully achieved an outstanding inspection report. 

Jane moved down to the South West four years ago to take on the role of CEO at Folk2Folk and has since made Tavistock her home.  Jane works as an executive coach, and holds four Non-Executive Directorships, including two locally with Exeter Science Park and South West Mutual, with a focus on governance, strategy and finance.

CHRIS GOULD

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

​​

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

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.

JEANETTE SAVAGE

 Jeanette started her teaching career in 1995 in a large inner city school in Birmingham before moving to Devon and teaching in both small rural and large urban settings. In 2013 Jeanette took up a post as SEND Adviser for Babcock LDP, promoting the best possible outcomes for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities through supporting and challenging schools to ensure high quality provision for these learners. She has extensive experience of working in partnership with a wide range of services and teams. In 2018 Jeanette was promoted to Strategic Lead for SEND & Inclusion for Babcock LDP and now leads the SEND and Inclusion teams, working in close partnership with the local authority and schools.

Jeanette has a degree in Human Psychology, PGCE in Primary Education (SEND), has completed Ofsted training (PTSI), ILM Level 3 and Ipsea SEN Legal Training.

GRAHAM BRISCOE

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.​​​
​

VACANCY

PETE LAST

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.

CAROL CHAPMAN

Carol is excited to be part of Dartmoor Academy Trust. Having lived in the area all of her life and attending South Tawton Primary School and later Okehampton College she is keen to be involved in her local area and is passionate about ensuring all pupils have the best education possible.
Carol has worked in Education administration since 1997 when she was the school administrator at Bridestowe Primary School. Whilst at the school she was seconded to the Local Authority to work as a School Support Officer supporting schools across the county in Finance & Personnel. In 2006 she became the School Business Manager at Blackpool CE Primary School, Newton Abbot and played a key role in setting up the back office structures as the school became the First Federation. Carol has continued to work at the school and has developed these structures as the Federation has grown from a two-school federation to a Multi Academy Trust of 16 primary schools . Carol’s role has developed over the years to become the Chief Finance & Operating Officer. Carol has extensive knowledge and experience of the financial & operational functions of schools joining the Trust of both sponsor and converter academies.

KATE SCRIVENER (Sept 2021 start)

BIO TO FOLLOW