Local Advisory Board

What is a Local Advisory Board (LAB)?

The Prince William School Local Advisory Board is the local tier of governance of East Midlands Academy Trust, and it acts as a sub-committee to the Trust Board. Members of the Local Advisory Board as known as Governors.

The key roles of the LAB are:

To offer proactive support and constructive challenge to the Headteacher
To advise the board of trustees about local issues they need to consider that affect the academy.
To ensure that EMAT vision, mission and values are evident throughout the Academy
Represent the local community.
Represent the Academy in its community.

These roles translate specifically into the following tasks:

ensure that all children receive the best possible education
ensure safeguarding is effective
support the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team in the development and implementation of the School Development Plan and other relevant plans,
ensure the implementation of Academy policies.
regularly review the Academy’s performance.
oversee and monitor the effectiveness of local strategies
act as a key link between the Academy, parents, and local community.
support the work of the Academy in the community.

The LAB’s role is not to manage the Academy as such. This is done through the Board of Trustees. Therefore, the LAB is not required to take decisions on staff or financial matters affecting the Academy.

Governors at the LAB will gain an understanding of strategic issues that impact on the Academy and will be updated on them regularly by the Headteacher, but they are not required to have direct responsibility for them. Instead the LAB should be in a position to assess the impact of the Academy locally; how it is contributing to the local community, how it is relating to local families and how it understands local issues. This in turn, will enable the LAB to contribute effectively to decisions which may require LAB involvement.

The LAB is drawn from the staff of the school, parents and the wider community that the school serves. The usual term of office for a governor is four years but many members of the LAB stand for re-election and serve more than one term. Members of a LAB need to take a full and active role in fulfilling the role assigned to them by the Board. This will include regular visits to the Academy and attending up to six meetings per year.

To contact any of our governors, please email governance@emat.uk

For details about EMAT'S trustees and members, click here.

Governors

Name	Position
Anna Hewes	Headteacher
Richard Fincher (Chair)	Co-opted governor
Emma Tansley	Co-opted governor
Alan Measures	Co-opted governor
Jo Giddings	Staff governor
Clare Oliver	Co-opted governor
Kealey Burbidge	Co-opted governor
Justin Mumford	Parent Governor

Meet our Governors

Richard Fincher

Richard works in wholesaling and publishing. His working life started in the Royal Navy, and he subsequently joined one of the UK’s largest media companies – EMAP – as a journalist. He worked in the motorcycle, outdoor and fishing divisions, editing Bike magazine and eventually running the fishing titles as General Manager. He owned a ski media company for 20 years.

During the past decade he has developed online B2B web stores, editorial websites and worked with wider teams bringing digital processes into his existing business which delivers distribution and wholesale for the hair and beauty industry.

He has been the Chair of the Local Advisory Board at Prince William School since 2021, with responsibility for working with the Sixth Form and the careers team. He has been a Trust-appointed governor since 2012.

Richard has had three children at Prince William School.

Emma Tansley

Emma is an qualified architect with nearly 20 years’ experience who has worked all over the UK and also in Australia. She initially specialised in school buildings, including the procurement of 8 school buildings through the Building School for the Future initiative. More recently she set up her own practice locally and now concentrates her work more on domestic and heritage buildings.

As a pupil at PWS herself in the 1980’s, Emma was keen to give something back to the school, becoming a governor in 2012. She has chaired various committees and focus groups and with a very personal connection to the school, Emma is our longest serving governor.

Alan Measures

Alan is retired from a career in agriculture including 20 years in farm management consultancy and 30 years as a farmer near Oundle – though he still takes a keen interest in farming and environmental issues.

As well as being a governor at Prince William School, Alan is also a governor at the College of West Anglia (FE) and Ormiston Bushfield Academy.

Prince William is his local secondary school and he has employed ex-pupils. Many members of his extended family have also attended the school in the past.

Jo Giddings

Jo has worked in schools for 18 years, starting as a Teaching Assistant at Oundle Middle School and Clerk to the Governors at Oundle Primary School. She changed to a Staff Governor at the Middle School for two years and was the link between the governors and staff. During this time the school went through a change to a two-tier system from a three tier.

Jo is a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead within the Pastoral Team at PWS dealing with any student welfare issues arising. She has been on a number of training courses to help with this, including Child Sexual Exploitation, Emotional Regulation, Domestic Abuse, Emotional Support, Alcohol with the Young Person and Drug abuse (both parental and child).

Jo herself went to Prince William School, many moons ago! And both her children have gone through the school, one through 6th form and on to university.

Clare Oliver

Clare has more than thirty years of experience in logistics, supply chain and customer service management.

She is a graduate of Leeds University and has a degree in Economics. Clare was previously a parent governor at a middle school for several years and has a long-standing relationship with Prince William School, her three children having attended between 2011 and 2024.

Clare was previously a Parent Governor and is now a Co-Opted governor.

Kealey Burbidge

Kealey is a HR professional with over 12 years’ experience in Food Manufacturing, Retail, Transport, Logistics and Supply Chain. Having a real strength for setting and delivering people strategies that supports Company’s overall growth, managing business risk and governance.

Kealey’s passions involve business transformation and turnaround projects, and she is passionate about creating positive, inclusive, and high performing cultures.

Kealey holds a CIPD qualification as well as various professional qualifications within Fashion and Textiles, Health and Safety and currently studying towards a Life Coaching and Corporate and Executive Business Coaching qualification. In 2022, Kealey was shortlisted as a finalist for the Woman in Meat Industry awards.

Kealey is excited to be part of the governor board build up her learning and knowledge and contribute to school improvements and the future of others, whilst working collaboratively with other professionals.

Outside of work, Kealey loves to travel, socialise with friends and family and being a huge food lover, try different cuisines.

Justin Mumford

Justin Mumford has practiced in forestry and woodland management for over 30 years, with the last 25 years being spent in Northamptonshire managing the ancient woodlands of Rockingham Forest and the surrounding area. Justin is a Director at Nicholsons, which is a forestry, environmental consultancy and contracting company based in Corby and Oxfordshire.

Justin has been a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Foresters since 2010 and is Chartered Environmentalist.

Justin has only recently taken on the role of Parent Governor at Prince William School, he has been involved in forestry industry groups and organisations including Chairman of the Northamptonshire branch of the Country Landowners and Business Association and Regional Chairman of the forestry trade body The Confederation of Forest Industries.

Justin has two children currently attending Prince William School.