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
Meet Our Local Governing Body
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.
| Michelle Oliphant 
| Appointed: 01 September 2020 Attendance for 2023/4: 4/4 Declarations: Parent of child at Granville Academy Bio |
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
Chair of Governors 
| Appointed: 19 March 2019
Term of office: 19 March 2023 - 18 March 2027
Appointed by: The Trust Board 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
Appointed by: The Trust Board 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. |
| VACANCY | |
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.
| Gemma Handley 
| Appointed: 23 November 2023
Term of office: 23 November 2023 - 22 November 2027 Attendance for 2023/24: 2/3 Declarations: Parent Governor at Broom Leys Primary School, Parent of pupil at Granville Academy. Bio: I was elected as a Parent Governor at Granville Academy in November 2023, having previously served for three years in the same role at Broom Leys School in Coalville. I have one child at Granville, with two more joining soon. I am a Chartered Health & Safety professional with experience in a multitude of industries and settings, including transport, manufacturing, and defence. As a parent and a professional, I look forward to using my skills and experience for the betterment of all at Granville Academy. |
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.
| Philippa Saddington 
| Appointed: 09 May 2022
Term of office: 09 May 2022 - 08 May 2026 Attendance for 2023/24: 2/4 Committee Membership: None Register of Interests: Vice Chair East Staffordshire TUC. Women's Officer, South Derbyshire NEU Bio: I found my love of languages at secondary school, and I worked hard to achieve my dream of studying languages at university, a dream I was fortunate to relive when I learnt a whole new language at the mid point in my career. Having trained to teach MFL in Leeds, I started my teaching career in North Yorkshire, but soon moved to South Derbyshire. Swadlincote has shaped my teaching as I have taught here for more than 30 years, and sometimes I do feel as if I am part of the furniture! It is a real privilege to be able to work with young people and to nurture their inspiration and joy as they develop and grow into their adult selves. |
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
Term of office: 01 May 2025 - 30 April 2029 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: |
| Vacancy | |
| Vacancy | |
| Liza Freeman | Appointed: 23 January 2023 Resigned: 15 February 2024 Attendance for 2023/24: 1/2 Committee Membership: None Register of Interests: None declared |
| Laura Braybrooke | Appointed: 03 May 2023 Resigned: 25 January 2024 Attendance for 2023/24: 0/2 Committee Membership: None Register of Interests: Employed at Arthur Terry Learning Partnership |
| Rachel Rosen | Appointed: 12 December 2023 Resigned: 10 October 2024 Appointed by: The Trust Board Attendance for 2023/24: 2/3 Declarations: None declared. |
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 |