Who’s who

Who’s who

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Dr Sarah Clark

CEO

Sarah Clark joined Derby Diocesan Academy Trust as Chief Executive Officer in May 2023. With National Professional Qualifications for both Headship and Executive Leadership, she has a strong track record as a leader in education. Sarah, who has a PhD in Molecular Genetics and a BSc in Microbiology, has held a variety of senior roles across South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire.

Since January 2020 Sarah was CEO of Uttoxeter Learning Trust in Staffordshire, leading the trust through the pandemic, and its expansion with The Richard Clarke First School joining in September 2021 and the opening of a new Free school at Bramshall Meadows in September 2022.  During this time all nine schools within Trust that have been inspected by Ofsted have continued to be graded ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’.

Prior to this Sarah was Principal of UTC Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park from its opening in 2016. The pioneering academy specialises in Health Sciences, Sport Science and Computing, preparing students for careers in high tech job sectors of the future. Under Sarah’s leadership the UTC achieved a judgement of Good in its first Ofsted in 2019.

Sarah is committed to providing an inspired and innovative education for all students within our schools. She has ambitions to expand DDAT and build on the Trusts existing successes.

Declan McCauley

Deputy CEO and Head of School Improvement

Declan has experience of teaching across both the primary and secondary sector. Throughout his career he has held a number of senior roles. He was a headteacher for 14 years of a Church School. Declan has worked as a School Improvement Partner for two different Local Authorities and as such has vast experience of working with schools in a variety of contexts. Declan has been a section 48 inspector for Birmingham Diocese.

Declan has led section 5 and section 8 inspections on behalf of Ofsted since 2009. Before joining DDAT Declan held the position of Principal at CFBT, one of Ofsted’s three inspection service providers. As Principal, Declan quality assured inspection and line managed a team of over 120 inspectors. Declan oversaw the training of lead inspectors as well as leading his own inspections and carrying out section 8 monitoring visits. As such Declan has vast knowledge of the Ofsted Inspection Framework. Declan has been subject to enhanced DBS disclosures.

Hayley Wharton

Chief Operating Officer

Hayley has over 15 years’ experience working for Derbyshire County Council, 11 years of which were working with schools including training the SBMs and Head teachers on how to use Finance, HR & Payroll systems (SAP), configuring SAP to accommodate the different Terms and Conditions for Academies and presenting the Single Status in schools’ road shows. Hayley has a Masters Degree (Msc) in Human Resource Management and is an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

Pat Mosley

Chief Finance Officer

Pat joined the Derby Diocesan Academy Trust’s Finance Team in the early part of 2017. He holds a full AAT Finance Qualification and has over 16 years’ experience of supporting Derbyshire Schools.

During his time with Derbyshire he was responsible for producing and monitoring budget plans for Schools within the Nursery, Primary, Special and Secondary sectors. Pat has an excellent knowledge of school funding, and in particular, he has significant experience in assisting and advising schools which are facing financial challenges.

Pat has also played a key role in the recent implementation of a new finance system in the schools, alongside developing systems to ensure the close monitoring of budgets, so that both the Trust and the Schools have a clear understanding of their financial position. Pat has been subject to enhanced DBS disclosures.

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Paul Clark

Finance Manager

Paul joined DDAT in April 2017 initially as School Business Manager for a federation of schools. He has a great deal of experience in School Business Management and in particular finance, having previously worked in Local Authority Schools Finance and has held finance roles in the commercial sector. Paul holds the full Assocation of Accounting Technicians qualification.  Paul has been subject to enhanced DBS checks.

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Jaime Barrett

HR Manager

Jaime has 25 years’ experience working in Human Resources, with over 11 years of those working within Local Authority Children’s Services HR, supporting schools across Nottingham City and more recently in Derbyshire. She has a Master’s degree (Msc) in Human Resource Management and is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Jaime has over 25 years’ experience working in Human Resources, with the majority of those working within HR in the Education sector, supporting schools across Nottingham City and more recently in Derbyshire. She has a Master’s degree (Msc) in Human Resource Management and is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Jaime has experience of Governance in a Primary setting, which has allowed her to gain a more in-depth knowledge and understanding of school life and the challenges that schools face.

Jaime will lead the HR Team to provide professional HR advice and support to schools within the Trust on all aspects of people and change management. She will continually review and develop best HR practices, policies and procedure alongside DDAT colleagues and our employment solicitors, to support our academies to achieve their organisational strategies and objectives, whilst protecting them from the risk of litigation. Jaime has been subject to enhanced DBS disclosures

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Jo Harris

Senior Operations Officer

Jo joined DDAT in February 2020 and has a wealth of operational administrative and PA experience. Prior to joining DDAT, Jo worked as a Business Services Officer for the Local Authority Adult Community Education Service. Jo has previously worked with several MATs and their local governing bodies in South Yorkshire. Jo has been subject to enhanced DBS disclosures.

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Dawn Bradley

Senior Finance Officer

Dawn joined DDAT in Sep 2020 and has a wealth of experience gained in both commercial and education sectors, having more recently worked in a Primary School, an inner city Multi Academy Trust and Local Authority Schools Support Finance.  She holds an AAT qualification and IAB certificates in manual payroll. Dawn has been subject to enhanced DBS checks.

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Helen Denison

Finance Officer

Helen joined DDAT in November 2023 and has a wealth of finance and funding experience from previous roles in both public and charitable sectors. Prior to joining the Trust, Helen had also been office manager for an Academy, spent many years in finance support roles for both Staffordshire and Derby Universities, and also spent 3 years as a central finance support manager for a Multi Academy Trust based in Staffordshire. Helen has been subject to enhanced DBS checks.

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Gemma Eales

Executive PA to CEO

Gemma joined the Derby Diocesan Academy Trust in 2024 as Personal Assistant to the CEO. Prior to joining DDAT, Gemma has over 9 years experience in Civil Litigation and Contract disputes, working in-house and for Solicitor’s. She has a Level 6 Higher Professional Diploma in Law and Practice. Gemma has been subject to enhanced DBS disclosures.

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Ellie Johnson

HR Officer

Ellie joined the Derby Diocesan Academy Trust HR team in 2020. Prior to joining DDAT, Ellie completed a graduate management trainee scheme working across HR, procurement, customer service and quality improvement, having studied a degree in Business Management with a year in industry. Ellie has been subject to enhanced DBS disclosures.

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Hannah Boulby

HR Assistant

Hannah joined the Derby Diocesan Academy Trust HR team in December 2022. Hannah has completed a level 5 CIPD in Human Resources and has got previous four years of experience working in HR Services processing HR & payroll systems and also working in the Pensions department for the local authority. Hannah has been subject to enhanced DBS disclosures.

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James Hopkinson

Central Business Administrator

James joined DDAT in April 2022. He has over 14 years experience working with the local authority. Most recently working in the Payroll Department. In this role he supported School, Academies and Council staff with payroll, tax and pension queries as well as being responsible for ensuring salaries were made to employees on time.

James has been subject to enhanced DBS disclosures.

Jackie Stirland

Senior School Improvement Officer

Jackie has experience of teaching in a variety of Primary settings in three different local authorities, across all ages from EYFS to Year 6. Jackie is a qualified teacher and holds the National Professional Qualification for Headship. She was the headteacher of an inner city and a large county primary school over a period of eleven years in two different local authorities.  Jackie also leads and facilitates training for Early Careers Teachers and Special Educational Needs. She has specialised in both these areas whilst in school and is passionate about delivering the very best provision for our youngest and most vulnerable pupils.

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Under Jackie’s leadership, in both schools, great improvements were made moving the schools from satisfactory to good with outstanding features. Jackie has worked and led schools that have many challenging contexts and was appointed as a Local Leader of Education.

Jackie has worked as a senior advisor for a local authority and has experience of working with a variety of schools in a range of contexts. During her time as an LLE and as a Local Authority SSIO Jackie has worked with schools in Special Measures and with her support has brought about rapid improvement.

Jackie has worked across several trusts as a school improvement officer and has good links with the local authority and teaching schools. Jackie is an experienced school inspector and has led inspections as well as being a team inspector. Jackie is committed to working in partnership with schools to bring about improvements for the pupils. Jackie has been subject to enhanced DBS disclosures.

Sue Vasey

Senior School Improvement Officer

Sue has substantial teaching and leadership experience across a variety of secondary settings in three local authorities. Sue worked as a teaching and learning consultant supporting school improvement in the primary and secondary phases.  Sue leads and facilitates training for inspections, safeguarding, disadvantaged and curriculum.

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Sue has a breadth of experience working with schools in a wide range of contexts but specifically in challenging circumstances and those with high levels of deprivation.

Sue is currently a trustee of a multi academy trust and has provided support for many governing boards both within MATs and maintained schools.

Sue has worked with many local authority schools and academies and has strong links with teaching schools, teacher-training providers and the local authority and is committed to partnership working. Sue has vast experience of leading school inspections in both primary and secondary phases. Sue has been subject to enhanced DBS disclosures.

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Joanne Harvey

Senior School Improvement Officer (partner consultant)

Joanne Harvey is a qualified teacher and formerly worked for Ofsted as a HMI. She regularly led inspections of schools in the maintained and independent sectors and inspections of children’s centres. She has particular expertise in working with  schools causing concern and the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Prior to joining Ofsted, she had extensive experience of inspection in a range of settings in the UK and overseas, and has provided professional leadership for inspectors. She has worked internationally as a school improvement consultant and trainer, and held senior management positions, including headship, in primary schools. Joanne has been subject to enhanced DBS disclosures.

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Ged Philbin

Senior School Improvement Officer

Ged is a qualified teacher and holds the National Professional Qualification for Headship. Ged’s education experience has primarily been in the East Midlands. He trained as a teacher in Leicester and took up his first teaching post in Nottinghamshire over 30 years ago. Ged gained extensive experience as a subject leader, deputy headteacher and a headteacher in several primary schools across the East Midlands. Ged’s most recent headship was at a Derbyshire school and during his final years there worked as an Associate School Improvement Advisor (ASIA) for the LA and also trained as a lead Ofsted inspector. The ASIA role involved supporting and challenging headteacher colleagues along with HTPM.  In addition to Ged’s headship responsibilities he has also led on whole school assessment, raising achievement and curriculum development.  Ged leads and facilitates training for Recently Qualified Teachers and English/reading.

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Ged regularly leads  S5 and S8 inspections for Ofsted as well as undertaking  significant number of team roles. Prior to moving to work for DDAT Ged worked for  Derby City Council, as a SSIO, where he was involved with all aspects of school improvement. Ged had specific responsibilities for NQT Induction and an Opportunities Area programme aimed at reducing exclusions in key stage 3.

Ged  worked, in a link capacity, with a number of academies across Derby and Derbyshire and these have included DDAT schools. As part of DDAT Ged is adding to the high levels of expertise that the school improvement team provides for its schools and, going forward, with DBE colleagues.

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Lisa Harrison

Senior School Improvement Officer

Lisa has over twenty years’ experience as a senior leader, much of the experience has been at multi academy trust level, leading teaching and learning. She is trained as a lead Ofsted Inspector, has gained the National Professional Qualification for Headship and recently been accredited as a National Leader for Education.

Lisa started her career within the East Midlands and then worked improving teaching and learning as an Advanced Skills Teacher (AST). Lisa has led a SCITT and enjoys working with teachers new to the profession. Additionally, Lisa has worked as part of the Teaching School Hub, leading strategic leadership professional qualifications.

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Paul Lowther

Senior School Improvement Officer (partner consultant)

Paul is a primary educational practitioner with over 23 years experience in teaching in early years, KS1 and KS2. Within this time he has been a subject leader in a range of curriculum subjects including maths, PE, computing, geography and history.

Paul is a qualified headteacher who has achieved the NPQH award. He has implemented high quality teaching and learning experiences and assessment systems to support all pupils to make outstanding progress. During this time his school achieved World Class Schools status, TES English team of the year and became a research schools lead school.

Paul has worked as a SENCo in three different settings which were successful in achieving the dyslexia quality mark and supported pupils whatever their need to be able to access rich and impactful learning experiences. Paul has used his experience and expertise to support new SENCOs in their role and continue to do this through his role with TES as a Pathway Tutor.

Paul is a qualified schools inspector with 11 years’ experience in schools. Within this time, he has enhanced his experience through inspecting special needs, independent and early years settings. During his work as an inspector he has completed the NPQSI- National Professional Qualification for School Inspectors.

Currently, Paul is working with schools to empower them to enable all pupils to have all the tools they need to be ambitious and strive for the very best.

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Heather Hogg

Safeguarding Lead

Heather joined DDAT in October 2022, taking on the role of Safeguarding Lead.

Heather has 15 years’ experience of working in safeguarding in education settings, most recently as a DSL and Inclusion Lead in an academy in Staffordshire.

Prior to working in education Heather managed volunteering projects on behalf of local authorities, providing services to vulnerable children and young people, including befriending and advocacy services for looked-after children and advocacy services for children and young people involved in the child protection process.

Heather has a Degree in Applied Community and Youth Work Studies; she is passionate about keeping children safe and the role that education can play in bringing about positive change for those who are most disadvantaged.

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Jason Hampton

Governance Professional and Company Secretary

Jason’s role as Governance Professional is to provide procedural guidance to the Board on governance, constitutional and procedural matters, and to support the Chair in ensuring that the Board and its decision making is effective. Jason has worked with DDAT since its inception in 2014 providing the Trust with Company Secretary, Governance and data protection services.

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Jayne Hadfield

Jayne Hadfield

Derby City Council Governor Support Manager

Jayne has worked in the local authority for over 20 years and was instrumental in setting up the Governor Support Team for Derby City Council in 2002. Jayne is keen to support Clerks and Governors’ to help them in their role fulfilling their core functions. Jayne is passionate about quality up-to-date training being available for governors and clerks to enable them to be confident, strong, challenging and thereby meeting the six key features of effective governance.

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Jayne manages the Governor Support and Advice Helpline, GovernorHub and the yearly training programme for governors and clerks. She has vast experience in advising schools and governors on the governance regulations, the Governance handbook and how to deal with Complaints. She has arranged and delivers a wide array of courses covering the Competency Framework of Governance and has arranged successful Conferences across Derby and Derbyshire. Jayne regularly updates Governing Bodies and heads with national governance updates.

Jayne is a member of both the National and Regional Co-ordinators of Governor Services group and is a qualified Professional Co-ordinator of Governor Services. Jayne works alongside the Senior School Improvement Officers to appropriately challenge and support schools and governing bodies. Jayne is currently a Parent Governor at a Secondary Academy and has been Chair of a Pre-School Management Committee.

Trustees

Dr. Sarah Charles

Director & Chair of the Board

Dr Sarah Charles is the Head of the Institute of Education at the University of Derby where she continues to teach on a range of UG and PG Initial Teacher Education programmes. She is an experienced Governor and Multi Academy Trust Trustee. Prior to joining the University of Derby, in 2006, Sarah worked, for ten years, in the primary education sector where she taught across the 5-11 age range, in schools in challenging circumstances, and undertook a range of management/leadership roles. She has a commitment to promote inclusive practice and is an active researcher in the field of dyslexia and LGBT+ issues.

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Mike Holt

Director & Vice Chair of the Board

Mike has significant public company board, general management, financial management and trustee experience. He is currently Executive Chairman of Real Good Food Plc and a Non-Executive Director of Schroders Asian Total Return Investment Trust Company plc. He was CFO of Low & Bonar plc (2010-2017) and Vp plc (2004 – 2010). Prior to joining Vp, Mike held senior financial positions within Rolls-Royce Group in the UK, Hong Kong and USA. Mike is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, having qualified with Arthur Andersen, and is an associate member of The Association of Corporate Treasurers. He is also a trustee and director of Hollybank Trust Limited. He was a trustee and director of Target Ovarian Cancer (2009 – 2016) and Nottinghamshire Hospice (2019 -2022).

Mark Emly

Director

Mark has had a career in education initially as a teacher in special schools in three local authorities and then in senior leadership positions including headship of two special schools. His roles over the next 16 years were with a Local Authority and included being a school improvement adviser, senior adviser and subsequently in a strategic role as Assistant Director for Learning, Access and Inclusion. He now works as an independent education consultant. Mark has a good understanding of the Ofsted inspection framework and how inspections are undertaken. He is currently Chair of Trustees of another multi-academy trust and has been for many years a foundation governor for the school in the village in which he lives. Mark also served as a trustee for over twenty-five years on a national charity which produced resources and delivered training in the field of special educational needs.

Mark is committed to helping young people achieve the best possible outcomes and therefore maximise their life chances. By effectively governing and successfully driving the development of a strong and effective trust, he is confident that we can positively influence the evolving educational landscape and the learning journey of our children and young adults.

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Justin Wilson

Director

Justin is an educationalist with experience of working across the age range from primary to Further Education. He has also worked in the manufacturing industry as a consultant, as a business unit director for Academy and new school development with two public sector consultancies. Most recently he has run a small company specialising in HR services for schools and multi-academy trusts.

He has experience as a trustee in several academy trusts, as a chair of governors of a Church of England primary school and as a director of the Archbishop of York’s Youth Trust.

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Harjinder Kaur

Director

Harjinder comes with a strong HR commercial, consultancy and public sector background. Having worked with a number of local authorities over the last 20 years as well as consultancies – PwC, E&Y and Accenture – in senior HR roles. She has experience across the strategic, operational and regulatory aspects of HR. Harjinder  has been involved in advising and supporting at Board-level including a number of the sub committees and managed  organisational development initiatives including leadership development and organisation design.

She has significant experience of  payroll, polices, succession and talent, training, performance management, TUPE  and well-being. She has taken on  a role as an Academy Director, advising on staff pay, school improvement and TUPE matters as well as consultancy roles in the education sector. Harjinder has a BA (Hons) in Economics, MBA, Post Grad Advanced Dip in Human Resource Management and is  Fellow Member of the CIPD.

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Sharron Philpot

Director

Sharron has considerable experience in education leadership and school improvement. She is currently CEO of a Multi-Academy Trust of mainstream and SEND schools in the West Midlands, previously having been head teacher, executive head teacher, director of quality assurance and governance, and working as a school improvement partner (a role which she still undertakes in addition to her substantive post).

Sharron has experience across a range of governance roles. Sitting on and chairing a number of local Head Teacher groups during her time as a school leader, chairing a local Management Committee for an Alternative Provision School, and chairing local CEO forums. Currently, Sharron is a member of the Sandwell Priority Education Investment Board, working with the DfE and local stakeholders to improve outcomes across the local authority at both KS2 and KS4, in addition to being system leader as part of the DfE Trust and School Improvement Offer.

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John Kelly

Director

John is a Chartered Accountant who currently works as a self-employed consultant in retail Financial Services.  After qualifying with Coopers & Lybrand, he worked for Air New Zealand in a variety of roles including internal audit, financial and service management, IT and Marketing in the 1990s.  He has since held senior management and executive positions in a number of companies in retail financial services in the last 20 years, including Britannia Building Society, Cooperative Banking Group and, most recently, as Operations Director at Leek United Building Society (2017–22). He has extensive experience in Business Strategy and Planning, delivering transformation and change and managing all aspects of customer operations.

John currently advises Executive teams on how to define and deliver their business transformation programmes with a focus on digitalisation, as well as improving customer experiences through process and systems enhancements

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Helen Galbraith

Director

Dr Helen Galbraith is Senior Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer at the University of Chester. She is responsible for strategic oversight of the student experience and for leadership of professional services across the University. Helen joined the University in 2021, initially as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Experience). Prior to taking up this role, Helen was Academic Registrar and Secretary at Keele University, where her role encompassed oversight of student welfare and support services, planning and registry services, and corporate and academic governance.

Before arriving at Keele in 2016, Helen spent her career in a range of professional roles at the University of Bristol, latterly as Director of Strategic Planning and Projects.

At a national level Helen is a member and Honorary Treasurer of the AHUA Executive Board. She is also an active member of other HE professional organisations including Advance HE and AMOSSHE. Helen has an undergraduate degree in music and a PhD in Russian music.

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R Peter Upton CMG

Director

Peter is a committed educationalist who has worked extensively in the UK and overseas.

He has been Director of K2P2, an international educational consultancy, since 2016. Clients have included the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), Cambridge University Press and Assessment, Oxford Education group, the EU, World Bank and Palladium. His projects have included developing bid proposals for national assessment reform in Kazakhstan to leading the reform of shared services at the ACU, and from advising on the Turing Scheme for Capita to masterclass workshops on education contracting.

Prior to K2P2, Peter was a senior Director for the British Council. He led their global education programmes responsible for school, TVET and Higher Education partnerships. He then undertook a series of Country Director roles in Thailand, Nigeria, South China and Pakistan. This included supporting education reform, arts and cultural dialogues and leading business units on English and exams.  During this time, he also led regional education teams working on girls education.

Before joining the British Council, Peter was Chief Executive of the SSAT, was principal of Tavistock Community College and the Colne Community School. He trained as a History teacher and has attended university in the UK and the USA. Peter is a Governor of Edinburgh Napier University, a Trustee of United World Schools and is a Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society.

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Henry Taylor-Toone

Director

Henry is Deputy Principal of the Chesterfield College Group, a provider of Further Education. Having begun his career at Deloitte, Henry has gained extensive financial experience working across publicly listed companies across various industry sectors. His experience includes financial transformation, financial reporting, compliance, and process improvement.

Prior to joining the Chesterfield College Group, Henry served as Group Technical Finance Director of K3 BTG plc (an AIM listed software company) and previously was Head of Management Reporting at SIG plc (a Sheffield based FTSE listed multinational). Henry is a qualified Chartered Accountant.

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Sue Whyld

Director

Further information to follow soon!

Members

  • The Bishop of Derby, The Rt Revd Libby Lane
  • The Diocesan Director of Education (DDE) for Derby
  • The Derby Diocesan Board of Education
  • The Diocesan Secretary of the Derby Diocesan Board of Finance