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Governance
Each academy in the Affinity Learning Partnership has a Local Governing Body (LGB) which works on behalf of the Trust Board to exercise leadership in the running of the individual academy and hold the Principal and staff to account. The LGB is responsible for promoting high standards and strives to ensure that our young people are attending a successful academy which provides them with a good education and supports their well-being.
The role of the Local Governing Body:
- helping the Principal and senior leadership team to set high standards by planning for the academy´s future and setting performance targets for the academy;
- monitoring the effectiveness of the academy provision;
- the management of risks against the academy's risk register;
- acting as a critical friend to the Principal and senior leadership team, offering support and advice;
- helping the academy respond to the needs of parents and the community;
- helping make the academy be open and accountable to the public for what it does;
- working with the academy on planning and developing policies and keeping the academy provision under review; and
- exercising the responsibilities and powers delegated to it by the Directors in partnership with the Principal and staff.
The Affinity Learning Partnership is currently recruiting for governors in both primary and secondary schools. Should you be interested please visit The Affinity Learning Partnership's website.
If you wish to contact the Local Governing Body, you can do so by contacting the Clerk to the Governors by emailing clerktogovernors.grn@affinitylp.co.uk or writing to:
Granville Academy
Burton Road, Woodville, Swadlincote
Derbyshire,
DE11 7JR
The Affinity Learning Partnership Governance Documents
Meet Our Local Governing Body
Ex-Officio Governor
The Principal of our Academy also sits on our Local Governing Body as a Governor. They are referred to as an Ex-officio Governor, by virtue of their office. This means that they will remain a Governor for as long as they are employed in their role as Principal.
| Gemma Lowe
| Appointed: 1st October 2025 Attendance for 2024/5: Declarations: None |
Board Appointed Governors
Governors who are Board Appointed are appointed by the Trust Board. Their term of office is four years. At Granville Academy the governance structure allows for four Board Appointed Governors.
| Kristopher Harvey
| Appointed: 19 March 2019 Term of office: 19 March 2023 - 18 March 2027 Attendance for 2023/24: 4/4 Declarations: None declared Bio: I joined Granville Academy as a Trust Appointed Governor in March 2019 and was previously a Parent Governor at Woodville Infant school. I have lived in the area for the last 20 years and I am a Chartered Engineer, working at Rolls-Royce in Derby. I have a son attending Granville Academy and my daughter has recently left the school having completed her GCSEs in 2019. As a governor I enjoy using the skills I've learnt as an Engineer in a completely different environment, one that makes a difference to young people. |
| Martin Goldby
| Appointed: 19 September 2023 Term of office: 19 September 2023 - 18 September 2027 Attendance for 2023/24: 4/4 Declarations: Employed at Rolls Royce PLC. Bio: I am delighted to join Granville Academy as a Trust Appointed Governor in September 2023. I've lived in Church Gresley since 2007, moving to Moira in 2017. I've an Engineering background working at Rolls Royce in Derby, more recently moving to Project Management becoming a Chartered Project Professional. I'm a big advocate of personal development and I'm a volunteer and Midland branch events organiser with the Association for Project Management, I'm also a STEM outreach contributor through Rolls Royce which combined with being a Governor gives me the opportunity to help young people progress where I can. |
| Nicola Parker | Appointed: 17 December 2025 Term of office: 17 December 2025 - 16 December 2029 Appointed by: The Trust Board Attendance for 2024/25: NA Declarations: TBC Bio: TBC |
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Parent Governors
Parent governors are elected by the parents/guardians of the students who attend Granville Academy. When a parent governors vacancy occurs, nominations are requested from all registered parents and guardians and an election takes place. Their term of office is four years. At Granville Academy the governance structure allows for two parent governors.
| Louise Kersey
| Appointed: 09 July 2025 Term of office: 09 July 2025 - 08 July 2029 Attendance for 2024/25: NA Declarations: TBC Bio: I have lived in Woodville my entire life and was once a pupil at Granville. Now my children attend as pupils, so to be a Parent Governor and have a voice is almost coming full circle for me. I am passionate about SEND and have served as a treasurer on committees, including local Pre-schools, for a number of years. |
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Staff Governor
The staff governor by the staff based at Granville Academy. When a staff governor vacancy occurs, nominations are requested from all members of staff based at Granville Academy and an election takes place. Their term of office is four years. At Granville Academy the governance structure allows for one staff governor.
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Co-opted Governors
At Granville Academy the governance structure allows for the local governors listed above to co-opt up to four further local governors to the local governing body in order to bring a specific skill set that will add value to the academy, making local governance even more efficient and effective. Co-opted governors have a term of office of four years.
| Hollie Benton
| Appointed: 01 May 2025 Attendance for 2023/24: N/A Declarations: Chief Executive Officer of South Derbyshire CVS, Co-Chair of South Derbyshire Place Alliance, Vice-Chair of South Derbyshire Partnership Board Bio: I was pleased to join Granville as a co-opted Governor in May 2025. I have always lived in Swadlincote and my career to date has focussed on community and family services. I hope to be able to give something back to the community I live in, using my experiences and knowledge of the local area. I am keen to hear what students think and work closely with the Granville team in my role as Safeguarding Governor for 2025/26. |
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Previous Governors in the last 12 months
| Philippa Saddington | Resigned: 12 January 2026 Appointed: 09 May 2022 Attendance for 2024/25: 2/4 Register of Interests: Vice Chair East Staffordshire TUC. Women's Officer, South Derbyshire NEU |
| Steve Brown | Resigned: 6th January 2026 Appointed: 9th July 2025 Attendance for 2024/25: Register of Interests: None declared |
| Karen Harris | Resigned: 3rd June 2025 Appointed: 23rd January 2023 Attendance for 2024/25: 1/2 Register of Interests: None declared |
| Gemma Handley | Resigned: 8th September 2025 Appointed: 23rd November 2023 Attendance for 2024/25: Register of Interests: Parent of child at Granville, employed at Arthur Terry Learning Partnership |
| James Keith | Resigned: 26th February 2025 Appointed: 19th September 2023 Attendance for 2024/25: Register of Interests: None declared |
Clerk to Governors
The Clerk provides professional advice to the Governing Body on governance, constitutional and procedural matters. They provide administrative support including minute taking and convening meetings, ensure the Governing Body is properly constituted and manage all Governing Body information effectively. It is the Clerk’s role to ensure the Governing Body meets all of its statutory duties.
| Peter Davies | clerktogovernors.granville@deferrerstrust.com |