The role of the Advisory Board
Farndon Fields Primary School is part of Discovery Trust. The Trust has a Board of Trustees (sometimes known as the board of directors or governing body) who are ultimately responsible for governance of the schools in the trust and is accountable for their performance. To support their work, the Trustees delegate governance function to be carried out locally through the school Advisory Board.
As an Advisory Board our focus is on challenging and supporting the school to provide the best possible education for all pupils. We help influence the direction of the school by offering our experience and expertise to strengthen the decision-making process, and challenge the leadership team to help ensure that the school is meeting the needs of the children.
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 on the basis of the skills; Parent and staff members are elected to the board by the parent and staff body respectively.
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 [email protected]
You can contact our Chair of the Advisory Board at [email protected] or via the Trust Clerk
Board meeting minutes are available on request. Requests should be directed to the Trust Clerk [email protected]
Scheme of Delegated Authority
Governance Strategy
Governance Strategy
| Advisory Board 2026-27 | |
| Simone Harrison | Headteacher (ex-officio) Attendance at AB meetings 2026-27: n/a Attendance at AB meetings 2025-26: 3/3 Interests declared 2.9.25: Director, Cherrybrook Properties, Residential lettings, with a property in catchment for the school (wholly managed by agent), 50% shareholder since June’21; spouse, Director, Cherrybrook Properties since June’22; Community Governor & trustee, Welland Park Academy (SAT) since July23. |
| Verina Wenham | Community Member & Chair Term of Office 22.1.26-21.1.29 Attendance at AB meetings 2026-27: n/a Attendance at AB meetings 2025-26: 3/3 Interests declared 13.8.26: Self-employed consultant trading as BHC Consultancy; associate with Hoey Ainscough Associates Limited (conduct investigations and general governance work for local authorities). Self-employed since 2022 and an associate with Hoey Ainscough Associates Limited from 2022. |
| Victoria Sherwood | Elected Parent Member Term of Office 23.9.24-22.9.27 Attendance at AB meetings 2026-27: n/a Attendance at AB meetings 2025-26: 3/3 No interests declared 8.9.26 |
| Tori Douglas | Elected Staff Member Term of Office 1.2.24-31.1.27 Attendance at AB meetings 2026-27: n/a Attendance at AB meetings 2025-26: 2/3 No interests declared 4.9.26 |
| Pauline Craig | Community Member & vice-chair Term of Office 25.10.23-24.10.26 Attendance at AB meetings 2026-27: n/a Attendance at AB meetings 2025-26: 3/3 Interests declared 16.11.25: Macmillan Cancer Support, Charity, since June 2012 |
Kim Laughton | Elected Parent Member |
| Sarah Parbhu | Community Member Term of Office 8-10-25-7-10-28 Attendance at AB meetings 2026-27: n/a Attendance at AB meetings 2025-26: 2/2 Interests declared 24.8.26: Daughter attends a school in the Trust (Wellington Place Primary School) |