Trustees (Board of Directors)
The relationship between the Trust and the Secretary of State for Education is set out in a legal document known as the funding agreement. The funding agreement and the Academy Trust Handbook are two key documents that DSAT trustees work to.
DSAT trustees are responsible for three core functions. They are setting the direction of the trust, holding the appointed DSAT Executives to account and ensuring financial probity.
As charity trustees, they ensure that DSAT complies with charity law requirements and, as company directors, must comply with company law requirements.
The details of what has been delegated from the trustees to executive leaders appointed by DSAT are detailed in a scheme of delegation. This makes it clear what functions the trustees have delegated and to whom.
Note: Each DSAT academy also has a Local School Board, which acts in an advisory capacity with no formal governance function. How these important bodies function and support DSAT is outlined in the following document:
DSAT Academy Trust Local School Boards 8 June 2023.
Huw Thomas
Director of Education for the Diocese of Sheffield
- 25 years in primary education as teacher and headteacher
- Former lecturer in English and Education at Sheffield Hallam University
- Church of England curate
- Established the Diocese of Sheffield Academies Trust
Brings skills in school leadership, supporting schools, Diocesan leadership and working with the Church of England
Mark Wheeler
Present working role:
Associate Lecturer/ Link Tutor for the University of Huddersfield, working with trainee teachers on their journey towards qualified teacher status.
Member of Wickersley Partnership Trust.
Experience:
I began my career in teaching quite late after initially working at Parkgate steel works. My teaching career has been within Rotherham Primary Schools up until 2017 when I retired from headship. I enjoyed the position of Head Teacher for twenty years, the last five years as Executive Head of three primary schools. In 2013- I became a designated National Leader of Education- working with Learners First School Improvement team and Wickersley Secondary School to form a Teaching School Alliance aimed at supporting the development of educational practice across Rotherham and beyond.
I have a particular interest in the development of new teachers and how as a profession we can inspire our children’s learning.
LJ Buxton
Communications Manager for the Diocese of Sheffield
- CIM Prof Diploma in Marketing, CMI Pro Diploma in Management & Leadership, IOSH Managing Safely
- Experience working for Groundwork (charity that worked with young people on the fringes of education)
- Worked for Grantfinder (UK-based grants funding database)
- Triathalon competitor
Bring skills in digital communications and campaigns, media relations and crisis comms
Zoe Lintin
Zoe was appointed to the Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development role at the Trust in March 2017, following a period of 9 months of acting into the role on an interim basis.
She joined Chesterfield Royal in April 2014 as the Deputy Director, having joined the NHS in 2006 at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. Prior to this, Zoe worked in a range of HR, OD and learning and development roles in the private and legal sectors. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
Zoe is the Joint Vice President of the East Midlands branch of the Healthcare People Management Association (HPMA) and the Co-Chair of the East Midlands Social Partnership Forum. She is also a Trustee on the Board of a local schools academy on a voluntary basis.
Dave Moore
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Managing Director at Alpha 3 Manufacturing.
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Background in Finance as an ACCA Fellow.
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Experience as Finance Director predominantly in manufacturing firms of all sizes including SME owner-managed, PE backed and multi-national FMCG organisations.
Dave bring skills in finance, functions of business.
Robert Peace
- Programme Manager (Group Transformation Insurance & Wealth) at Lloyds Banking Group.
- Association of Project Management Professional
- Working for a FTSE 100 organisation Robert understands the ‘customer experience’ so keen to help DSAT’s messaging and engagement with its ‘customers’ who are the parents and pupils.
- Currently Lead Governor for Sheffield Childrens Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and have been for around 5 years. Here the governance model is slightly different as I hold the Non-Executive Board members to account for the performance of the unitary board.
Robert brings skills in finance, project and risk management.
