Woodlands Academy of Learning
Governance
The current Governing Body at Woodlands Academy of Learning for 2026-2027 is as follows:
Community Governors
- Mr R Lawrence (Chair)
- Dr K Glanville
- Mrs MB McGrath
Co-opted Governor
- Mr S Simpson (Vice Chair)
- Mrs D Sims
- Mr J Whitehouse
Parent Governors
- Mrs E Bate
- Mrs K Sohal
Staff Governors
- Mrs T Newton (Headteacher)
- Mrs J Jackson (Assistant Headteacher)
- Mrs J Graham (Pastoral Team and Safeguarding)
Members
- Mr M Reid
- Mr R Eynon
- Mr I Whitehouse
Governance Structure
Trustee Registers of Business & Pecuniary Interest 2026/2027
| Trustees Name | Appointment Date & term of Office | Type of Trustee | Appointed by | Business Interest & Date | Charity Trustee Details & Date | Member of professional body, organisation or Public body & Date | Contractual Link to Academy or Other Education Setting & Date | Relationship to staff / pupils / trustees | Signed/ Confirmed | Date | |
| Ellena Bate | 14/10/2022 – 13/10/2026 | Parent Trustee | Parents | N/A | N/A | None | None | Parent of registered pupils | Yes | 20/01/2026 | |
| Russell Eynon | December 2022 | Member | Members | Company director Breakwells Paints Ltd and Arcs & Sparks | N/A | None | None | None | N/A | N/A | |
| Kate Glanville | 06/07/2023 - 05/07/2027 | Community Trustee | Board of Trustees | Head of Dept – BCU Sept 2013 |
N/A | Member of Geographical Association | Woodlands provide Teacher Training for BCU students via School Direct | None | YES | 25/09/2025 | |
| Jayne Graham | 19/10/2025 – 18/10/2029 | Staff Trustee | Staff | None | N/A | None | Pastoral & Safeguarding Team
Sept 2010 |
None | YES | 07/09/2026 | |
| Julia Jackson | 25/09/2026 – 24/09/2030 | Staff Trustee | Staff | None | N/a | None | Assistant Head
Sept 2009 |
None | YES | 24/09/2026 | |
| Robert Lawrence | 11/10/2024 – 10/10/2028 | Chair Community Trustee | Board of Trustees | None | 1. Dunston with Coppenhall PCC – April 2019
2. Hyde Lea & Coppenhall Village Hall July 2010 |
None | None | None | YES | 19/09/2026 | |
| Mary B McGrath | 17/03/2026 – 16/03/2030 | LA Governor | Board of Trustees | None | N/A | None | None | None | YES | 01/09/2026 | |
| Tamsin Newton | Accounting Officer | Headteacher | Board of Trustees | None | NAHT
2020 |
None | Headteacher
2015 |
None | YES | 07/09/2026 | |
| Matthew Reid | December 2021 | Member | Members | None | N/A | None | None | None | N/A | N/A | |
| Sam Simpson | 02/12/2025 – 01/12/2029 | Vice Chair Co-opted Governor |
Board of Trustees | Relationship Director, HSBC Bank
April 2022 |
N/A | None | None | Parent of a registered pupil
Related to T Alves (Staff Member) |
YES | 23/09/2026 | |
| Diane Sims | 17/03/2026 – 16/03/2030 | Co-opted Governor | Board of Trustees | None | N/A | Member of – The Rotary Club, Willenhall
2004 |
None | None | YES | 09/09/2026 | |
| Karmjit Sohal | 12/06/2025 - 11/06/2029 | Parent Trustee | Parents | None | N/A | None | None | Parent of a registered pupil | YES | 13/01/2026 | |
| Ian Whitehouse | September 2023 | Member | Members | Staffordshire Police | N/A | None | None | None | N/A | N/A | |
| Joshua Whitehouse | 23/03/2023 - 22/03/2027 | Community Trustee | Board of Trustees | N/A | None | None | None | YES | 18/11/2025 |
Committee Members & Attendance 2025/2026 – 2026/2027
Full Board Meetings |
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| Dates: | 25/09/25 | 04/12/25 | 19/03/26 | 16/07/26 | 24/09/26 | 03/12/26 | 18/03/27 | 15/07/27 |
| Ellena Bate | P | X | X | X | X | |||
| Kate Glanville | P | P | P | P | P | |||
| Jayne Graham | P | P | P | P | P | |||
| Julia Jackson | P | P | P | P | P | |||
| Robert Lawrence | P | P | P | P | P | |||
| MaryB Mcgrath | P | P | P | P | P | |||
| Tamsin Newton | P | A | P | P | P | |||
| Sam Simpson | A | P | P | A | P | |||
| Diane Sims | P | P | P | P | P | |||
| Karmjit Sohal | X | X | P | P | A | |||
| Susan Spriggs | P | P | P | - | - | - | - | - |
| Joshua Whitehouse | A | P | A | P | P | |||
Key: P = Present, A = Absent (Apologies), X = Absent (No Apologies), – = Attendance not Required
Finance, Staffing & Buildings Committee (Audit & Risk) |
||||||
| Dates: | 13/11/25 | 12/02/26 | 18/06/26 | 19/11/26 | 28/01/27 | 24/06/27 |
| Julia Jackson | - | - | - | |||
| Robert Lawrence | P | P | P | |||
| MaryB McGrath | P | A | A | |||
| Tamsin Newton | A | P | P | |||
| Sam Simpson | P | P | P | |||
| Diane Sims | P | P | A | |||
| Joshua Whitehouse | P | P | P | |||
Curriculum & Standards Committee |
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| Dates: | 23/10/25 | 05/03/26 | 15/05/26 | 22/10/26 | 04/03/27 | 13/05/27 |
| Ellena Bate | P | P | P | |||
| Kate Glanville | P | P | P | |||
| Jayne Graham | P | P | P | |||
| Julia Jackson | P | P | P | - | - | - |
| Robert Lawrence | P | P | P | |||
| Tamsin Newton | P | P | P | |||
| Karmjit Sohal | X | X | X | |||
| Susan Spriggs | P | P | P | - | - | - |
