Governors

Our Governors

Ingoldsby Academy is governed by an Academy Scrutiny Committee.

Our governors are:

• Melanie Capes
  Principal
  Melanie Capes

• Clare Greenhalgh
  DRET Appointed Governor (Chair)
  Clare Greenhalgh

  Clare joined the ASC as a DRET Appointed Governor on 26 June 2017 and is currently serving her second term. She is currently also serving her second term of office as Chair of the ASC at Ingoldsby and Charles Read Academy. Clare decided to become a Governor because all of her children either attended or are attending DRET Schools. She wanted to support the Trust and believed she could offer her skills and time. Clare owns an antiques business with her husband, which has now been successfully running for a few years. Clare understands the outside business world and how to get the best possible outcomes from the resources available. Clare has six children, all of whom have different needs and aspirations, which gives her experience in understanding how schools have to be able to provide a high standard of education for all whilst catering for the individual needs of a child. Clare's passions and interests include Music, Dance, Theatre, Countryside, Seaside, Walking and Animals.

• Alex Green
  DRET Appointed Governor (Vice Chair)
  Alex Green

  Alex was appointed a DRET Appointed Governor on 4 February 2021. School and education has always played a big part in his life both on a personal and professional level. The academy really values enrichment, both sporting and the arts and this is something that is close to his heart, as he feels they are very important for pupils to gain a rounded education. Alex is the Primary Sports Enrichment Manager for the David Ross Education Trust. This is a rounded sports job in terms of financial management, sports development (coming up with new ideas and events), physical education lesson delivery, working with local sports clubs and other institutions and running events. During Alex's time in the sports sector, he has predominately worked in education, although he has also worked at county council and national governing body level for Table Tennis England. He also has experience of working in inner City London for the charity Greenhouse Schools, and this involved mentoring pupils through the medium of sport to become more engaged in education and their broader community. This child engagement strand is also something that Alex used at community level when working for Positive Futures, where he has used sport to help tackle anti-social behaviour.

• Rachel Cope
  DRET Appointed Governor
  Rachel Cope

  Rachel was appointed a DRET Appointed Governor on 18 January 2022. She is keen to support an academy within the Trust that is local to the area where she lives. Rachel has worked for the Human Resources Department in the David Ross Education Trust for many years, and looks forward to utilising her skills for the benefit of the academy. She is very friendly and approachable, and in her spare time she likes to travel and walk her sausage dog Mable.

• Sam Cheffins
  DRET Appointed Governor
  Sam Cheffins

  I have two children at Ingoldsby Academy and as an Ingoldsby resident, I am keen to be more involved in the community. I have an interest in child development, education and behavioural science and I hope to help support the staff and pupils at Ingoldsby academy. I have over 10 years experience working in public and private sector healthcare. I have worked as a physiotherapy and musculoskeletal specialist at teaching hospitals, private practice and GP practices in London, Oxfordshire and now Lincolnshire. I am also employed in a digital healthcare research position. I have an interest in public health promotion, behavioural science, and digital innovation in healthcare and the wider public health community. I enjoy being active and love spending time with my family and friends.

• Jeanette Gledinning
  Staff Governor
  Jeanette Gledinning

  Jeanette was appointed on 21 November 2017 and is currently serving her second term of office as a Staff Governor. She is the academy's Assistant Principal, Key Stage One Class Teacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead. As DSL it is important to ensure the ASC understands the academy's commitment to safeguarding and ensures the wellbeing of the children and how this is carried out. Being a governor is important to Jeanette as it has given her the opportunity to make a broader impact on the academy. Jeanette's roles and experience put her in a good position to be able to understand how and what will benefit their school community. In her free time Jeanette enjoys spending time with family and friends, taking on different walking or hiking challenges, reading and attending fitness classes.

• Charlotte Schofield
  Staff Governor
  Charlotte Schofield

  I am interested in learning more about the workings of the school outside of my EYFS role, which is where my knowledge lies. Deepening my understanding of the role that the governors play to the overall school community and the impact that they have. I am Higher Level Teaching Assistant in Ingoldsby Academies Reception class, so I bring an extensive knowledge of the early years sector as well as how the EYFS classroom is run etc. I also work part time at a creative play studio delivering birthday parties and other creative and messy play events for children and adults. I have a passion for the importance of the arts and how children should be allowed to explore and create in their own ways. Finally, I support a local nursery with their social media accounts, as a result I have knowledge of various social media sites and creating marketing content for them. As this nursery is a feeder for Ingoldsby Academy, it also supports the relationship between them and the school.

• Edyta Tomlinson
  Parent Governor
  Edyta Tomlinson

  Edyta was appointed a Parent Governor on 1 December 2021. She wanted to become a governor to be more involved in her children's education and ensure that the education they receive is of the best quality. She did not attend a UK school, and therefore wishes to further her knowledge of the curriculum British education system. Edyta is an Account Manager, selling fruit ingredients to a major branded and private label food manufacturer in the UK. She has good networking skills and has experience of public speaking and presenting. Edyta is also very creative and loves to inspire. She enjoys Zumba, crafts, baking, cooking and house decorating.

• Joseph Currie
  Parent Governor
  Joseph Currie

• Emma Stephens-Dunn
  Clerk
  Emma Stephens-Dunn

  Emma Stephens-Dunn has been clerking academies for DRET since 2013. Emma is Clerk to ASCs for all but one of the academies in the DRET Greater Corby Region, as well as an  independent Clerk for several other schools in Northamptonshire, and Company Secretary for a Peterborough based Multi-Academy Trust. Emma has also served as a governor for fifteen years, in three different schools. She has a broad insight into school governance across all sizes, types and phases of school. She has an excellent understanding of current issues in education as well as best practice in governance. Emma has four children aged between eight and twenty and is therefore keenly aware of the crucial role played by education in shaping young lives. Emma enjoys supporting governors to fulfil their role within this through providing governance advice and guidance and an efficient governance administration service. Emma's interests and hobbies include gardening, singing, fitness, running and walking with her two dogs.

Current Governors

Former Governors

Below is a list of Governors that have served in the past 12 months. 

Contacting Us

The Governance Officer for Ingoldsby Academy is Gemma Yates. Gemma can be reached at governance@dret.co.uk. 

To contact a governor, please contact the Trust Governance Team by emailing governance@dret.co.uk.

If you are looking to contact a Governor to make a complaint or share a concern, please note that as per our Complaints Policy, governors do not investigate complaints at Stage 1 or Stage 2.  This enables them to be impartial should a complaint be escalated to a Stage 3 governor panel. If you wish to make a complaint, please complete this form and your complaint will be investigated accordingly.

Scheme of Delegation

Information about the David Ross Education Trust’s scheme of delegation is available here.

Minutes of the Academy Scrutiny Committee

Should you wish to view a copy of the minutes of the ASC at this academy, please contact the Trust Governance Team (governance@dret.co.uk), who will be able to provide you with an electronic or paper copy of the minutes.

Are you interested in becoming an academy governor?

We are looking for new governors to support our academies. Our governors work closely with their academies to support the Trust’s goal of broadening the horizons of young people through a world-class education, equipping our students with the skills and experiences to become their confident, academic best, no matter what.

If you have an interest in, and commitment to, improving education and would like to make a difference within your community, please register your interest in becoming a governor by completing our governor application form. If you have any questions about a governor’s role or responsibilities please contact us at governance@dret.co.uk or review our information pack below. 

march 2024 governor recruitment booklet.pdf

What is it like being a Governor with DRET?

To understand what it is like to be a governor with us, take a look at our testimonial booklet and videos which contain insights from serving governors.

governor testimonial booklet .pdf

 Emma Bennett 

Angela Watts 

Stephen Platten 

Garry Allen 

What training do Governors receive?

We offer an extensive range of training opportunities. Take a look at what is on offer for the current academic year.