Advisory Board
Welcome to Leighfield Primary School’s Advisory Board
At Discovery Trust the Board of Trustees (sometimes known as the board of directors or governing body) is ultimately responsible for governance of the schools in the trust and is accountable for their performance. To support effective governance and oversight, the Board has delegated governance function to be carried out through committees, locally through each school Advisory Board and through the central executive team.
The School Advisory Board has a key role in influencing the direction of the school by offering their experience and expertise to strengthen the decision-making process to support the strategic development of the school and ensure it is meeting the needs of the children. The functions of the Advisory Board are set out in the Trust Scheme of Delegation which sets out the requirements of the Trust and details where the Trustees delegate governance functions locally.
The Advisory Board consists of parents, staff and community representatives; the Headteacher is a member of the Advisory Board by virtue of their office. Community Members are appointed by the Advisory Board and are people, who in the opinion of the Advisory Board, have the skills required to contribute to the work of the board; Parent and staff members are elected to the board by the parent and staff body respectively.
School Advisory Board Members: 2025-26
| Name | Position Held |
| Sarah Eaton | (ex-officio) Attendance at AB meetings 2025-26: n/a Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 4/4 Daughter attends Leighfield Primary School. declared 2.9.25 |
| Claire Cunniffe | Parent member & AB Chair Term of Office 12.2.24-11.2.27Attendance at AB meetings 2025-26: n/aAttendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 4/4 Chief Executive, CLAPA (registered charity) since February 2011 declared 17.10.24 |
| Barry Read | Community member & AB Vice-Chair Term of Office: 3.2.2023-2.2.26 Attendance at AB meetings 2025-26: n/aAttendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 3/4 Business interests declared 17.9.24: Member, Citizen Advice Rutland since 2009; Councillor, Uppingham Town Council since Sept24. |
| Sophie Dawson | Elected parent member Term of Office 15.5.25-14.5.26 Attendance at AB meetings 2025-26: n/a Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 4/4 Employee, Rutland & District Schools’ Federation (MAT) since June’13; SSMA Property Ltd, Landlord, Director since Oct’21 and Quad D properties, Landlord, Director since Oct’21; Trustee, Friends of Leighfield PTA since May’23; spouse is MD of Rutland Merchandise Ltd & Deco School Wear since March’15 declared 3.9.25 |
| Laura Runcorn | Co-opted Community member Term of Office 1.9.25-31.8.28 Attendance at AB meetings 2025-26: n/a Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: n/a Clinical Lead/Head of Therapy/Psychotherapist at The Grange Therapeutic School. Specialist education for students with complex SEMH/neurodivergence. Commenced Oct 2021; children attend Leighfield Primary School declared 14.10.25. |
| Steph Wallace | Elected staff member Term of Office 10.1.24-9.1.2027 Attendance at AB meetings 2025-26: n/a Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 4/4 Son and daughter employed in support staff roles at Leighfield Primary School declared 2.9.25 |
| Chris Bishop | Parent member Term of Office 6.2.24-1.2.27 Attendance at AB meetings 2025-26: n/a Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 3/4 Assistant Principal, Ormiston Bushfield Academy since Sept’13; children attend Leighfield Primary School declared 2.9.25 |
| Ruth Byrne | Co-opted Community member Term of Office 1.9.25-31.8.28 Attendance at AB meetings 2025-26: n/a Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: n/a The Grange Therapeutic school, OFG. Highly specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Sept 2021; children attend Leighfield Primary School declared 14.10.25. |
Scheme of Delegated Authority
Get in Touch
If you have a passion for improving outcomes for children and would like to use your skills and expertise to contribute to the governance of our schools please get in touch by contacting the Trust Central team c/o clerk@discoverytrust.org
You can contact our Chair of the Advisory Board, Claire Cunniffe by email (ccunniffe@dsatleighfield.org) or via the Trust Clerk
Board meeting minutes are available on request. Requests should be directed to the Trust Clerk clerk@discoverytrust.org
Further information can be found on the Discovery Schools Academy Trust Website here