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 Head of School 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, Ms J Linsley, can be contacted by emailing Sarah Hague, Clerk to the Governors, at governance@aretelearningtrust.
member profiles









Ms. J. Linsley
Chair of Governors
Ms J Linsley is the Chair of the Local Governing Body. She is also Chair of Governors at Richmond Methodist School. In 2017, she was designated by the Department for Education as a National Leader of Governance (NLG).
She has a background in education as a teacher, school leader, civil servant and latterly, as an independent education consultant. She has a keen interest in ensuring all children get the best education they can and that they enjoy doing so.
Mrs. J. Bates
Vice Chair
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
Governor
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. Barnbrook
Parent Governor
Lieutenant Colonel Barnbrook has served for 32 years in the Army, both as a Regular and now as a Reservist. He has served operationally in Iraq and Afghanistan and has a wealth of experience in leadership, management and planning. He now works as a regional director of a national military charity. He has a strong commitment to upholding values and standards and is the link governor for behaviour and attitudes.
Mr. G. Fielding
Governor
Awaiting Profile
Mr. S. Jennings
Staff Governor
Mr Jennings has been teaching English in Northallerton for 11 years and really feels part of the school community. As a Senior Examiner and former Lead Practitioner (now Pedagogical Coach) he knows the importance of high-quality teaching and learning.
He aims to bring current experience of teaching and learning at Northallerton School & Sixth Form College into governors’ meetings and to provide the experience of a professional as well as an understanding of the issues facing our students and staff. One of his main passions is being a champion for LGBT+ and disadvantaged students; he is always looking at ways we can be more inclusive and raise the achievement of all students so they can be the best versions of themselves.
Mrs. V. Rahn
Ex Officio
Awaiting Profile
Mr. H. Rees Jones
Parent Governor
Mr Rees Jones has worked in and around Northallerton for most of his career. He is currently employed by the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership where he works closely with schools and multiple agencies, including the Police, Health and the Local Authority. As well as holding postgraduate qualifications in Education and Management Development, he has experience in risk management, vetting, quality assurance, project management, auditing and working across the public sector to develop stakeholder relationships in multi-agency environments. He has seven years’ experience working on the governing body of a local primary school, six of which as the Chair of Governors.
Mr. N. Stafford
Governor
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.