Local Governing Body
Northallerton School & Sixth Form College works very closely with its Local Governing Body. This group of individuals, who have a very wide range of backgrounds, offers both support and high levels of challenge to the Headteacher and the leadership team, ensuring that standards across the school are constantly being raised.
As an academy within Areté Learning Trust, which has within the governance structure Local Governing Bodies (LGBs) as sub-committees of the Board of Directors, the role of our LGB is clear.
The terms of reference for the committee include realising the Trust’s vision, values, policies and priorities, providing internal assurance/risk management, developing the local community and employer links and focusing primarily on the core areas of the effectiveness of leadership and management in the school, the quality of teaching, learning and assessment, students’ personal development, behaviour, safeguarding, wellbeing and progress.
contact the local governing body
The Chair of the Local Governing Body, Mr A Bayston, can be contacted by emailing: abayston@arete.uk
The Trust Governance & Compliance Lead, Mr P. White, can be contacted by emailing: governance@aretelearningtrust.org
member profiles
Mr A Bayston, Co-Opted Governor and Chair of Governors
Term of Office: 7 April 2022 to 6 April 2026
Andrew is a former CEO & Executive Headteacher of a North Yorkshire MAT – now retired he is still keen to use his experience to improve the life chances of young people in Northallerton and the surrounding area. He previously worked at Northallerton College and has thirty two years SLT experience and a career spanning five secondary schools including thirteen years as head in two secondary schools requiring school improvement. In addition he represented North Yorkshire on the Headteacher Board of the RSC North Region from September 2014. He has experience of working with two Multi-Academy Trusts leading on due diligence, school improvement, growth strategy and has successfully utilised System Leadership and the Deeps school improvement model. From 2019 until March 2022 he worked closely with the leadership at Northallerton School and has developed a detailed understanding of the school as it is today.
Mrs. J. Bates, Co-Opted Governor and Vice-Chair
Term of Office: 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2027
Janet Bates is currently the Chair of the Interim Executive Board at Forest Moor School, and Vice Chair of the Local Governing Body at Northallerton School.
She has a background in education as a teacher, school leader and local government officer. She has a lifelong love of learning and education, and of supporting children and young people to develop as motivated and effective learners.
Mrs. S. Adsett, Co-Opted Governor
Term of Office: 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2027
Sue has been a teacher, Headteacher and Senior School Advisor for the primary sector over a career in education spanning nearly 40 years. This included a short period as a trained Ofsted Inspector. Now happily retired, she is an elected Councillor on Romanby Parish Council and also involved in youth work with All Saints and St. James churches. As a member and past president of Northallerton Mowbray Rotary Club, she enjoys being involved in youth and community projects, focusing on equality of opportunity and support for vulnerable young people. She is also a trained volunteer with Citizens Advice, running a local outreach project. Previously Vice Chair of a Governing Body in a primary school, she was appointed to the Interim Executive Board for Northallerton School and Sixth Form College in February 2017 and was reappointed to the Local Governing Body when the school became an academy.
Mr. B. Stuart, Co-Opted Governor
Term of Office: 13 July 2023 to 12 July 2027
Ben has lived in Northallerton for ten years with his family. He is a father to two girls, the eldest of which attends a Northallerton Primary school. He has worked in diesel engine performance and emissions engineering for trucks, buses, and agricultural equipment for the last ten years, now in a strategic sales role driving the adoption of low and zero carbon powertrains across Europe for Cummins Inc. He's proud to spot trucks and buses, powered by engines he has developed, on the road around Northallerton everyday improving local air quality and reducing global warming. He is a passionate advocate for high quality STEM subject provision, environmental awareness, equality, diversity, safeguarding and fostering an environment where all school stakeholders can lead healthy, happy lives. He brings experience of coordinating global teams, made up of diverse individuals, working towards a common goal where integrity and accountability are vital to success.
Mrs. V. Rahn, Headteacher
Term of Office: Ex Officio
Mr. N. Stafford, Co-Opted Governor
Term of Office: 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2027
Mr Stafford began his career in teaching in the independent sector in 1981, but moved into commercial life in 1988. He founded and is now Chairman of Hambleton Brewery and it remains family run today. The brewery was one of the early pioneers in 1991 of the craft beer revolution and is now one of the few speciality beer packaging companies in the UK. Between 1991-2019, he was Commercial Director of the Society of Independent Brewers; 2007-2019 a Director of Deliciouslyorkshire; 2015-2018 a governor of Thirsk School and Sixth Form College and from 2018 a governor of Northallerton School & Sixth Form College. His skills and experience are focussed on strategic planning, operational management and team communication. He believes leadership with purpose is equally applicable in education and dissemination of such values and principles to students is key to developing their aspirations.
Mr L. Jones, Co-Opted Governor
Term of Office: 10 January 2023 to 9 January 2027
Les is a former school and systems leader in education. He has worked in industry, for himself, and now works for the Royal Academy of Engineering in London. In education, he specialised in school mergers and re-organisation of secondary education in Cheshire and Tyneside; he also led pioneering work on the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme and the Private Finance Initiative (PFI). Principal roles in the Royal Academy are the establishment of University Technical Colleges; a new design and technology curriculum; sustainable development engineering for schools. Much of his consultancy work in engineering education has an international dimension. As a result, students and staff have experienced innovative projects in Venice, Naples, Sorrento, Hamburg and Berlin. He also helped to establish Initiative Naturwissenschaft & Technik (NaT), a twenty year old schools and industry natural sciences and technology network in Germany, which, among many things, promotes women into Engineering. In a private capacity he develops property, writes, including poetry, and is an art and antiques collector.
Miss S Harrison, Parent Governor
Term of Office: 15 January 2024 to 14 January 2028
Sarah grew up in Ripon but has lived in Northallerton since 2012. Mum to one son who joined Northallerton school in Year 7 in September 2023, Sarah is an Information Technology professional with over 20 years experience in a corporate IT environment. As Head of IT Service Management for Wolseley UK, she recognises the importance of defining and communicating a clear strategic vision and has a solid understanding of the value of ensuring strong stakeholder engagement throughout delivery and implementation of initiatives. A champion of the enormous creative and commercial benefits of a diverse and neuro-diverse workforce, Sarah is passionate about ensuring young people of all dispositions are supported and encouraged to recognise their strengths, seek opportunities to grow and develop their skills, and aspire to be the best that they can be.
Ms L Bruton, Parent Governor
Term of Office: 15 January 2024 to 14 January 2028
Laura is a Psychotherapist working in private practice, providing services at The Retreat in York and as a trainer and supervisor for trainee therapists at The Northern Guild of Psychotherapy. Her son is a new student at Northallerton School. As a non-executive director at Sunderland Counselling Service, which provides counselling and well-being services to adults and children across the North East, Laura also has experience of governance, supportive challenge and oversight of safeguarding. Laura will bring her knowledge of mental health and wellbeing to her role on the Local Governing Body and support the school to consider the mental wellbeing of students in decision making and service delivery.
Miss J Smith, Staff Governor
Term of Office: 16 January 2024 to 15 January 2028
