Governors
Our Governors
Charles Read Academy is governed by an Academy Scrutiny Committee.
Our governors are:
Governors (ID 1070)
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Kerry MilliganPrincipal
Kerry Milligan
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Clare GreenhalghDRET Appointed Governor (Chair)
Clare Greenhalgh
Clare decided to become a Governor because all of her children either attended or are attending DRET Schools. She wanted to support the Trust and believed she could offer her skills and time. Clare owns an antiques business with her husband, which has now been successfully running for a few years. Clare understands the outside business world and how to get the best possible outcomes from the resources available. Clare has six children, all of whom have different needs and aspirations, which gives her experience in understanding how schools have to be able to provide a high standard of education for all whilst catering for the individual needs of a child. Clare's passions and interests include Music, Dance, Theatre, Countryside, Seaside, Walking and Animals.
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Rachael ColesDRET Appointed Governor (Vice Chair)
Rachael Coles
I have been a governor at a previous school and really enjoyed my time being able to help make a difference to a child's school. I work for an accountancy firm and have an NVQ level 4 in training a development. I used to work for the Legal Aid Board and as well as my usual job, I was also in charge of training my team and quality controlling their work. I used to run the committees and deal with any appeals. I have also been a Town Councillor and have chaired various committees. Our roles involved representing our local community and spending public money for the good of the Town. I love fund raising and am the trustee of a charity that has raised £250,000 so far, for equipment and training for the heart department in our local hospital. I really enjoy being part of a team and helping make things come together. I like sharing ideas, then putting them in place and watching them grow.
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Rachel CopeDRET Appointed Governor
Rachel Cope
Rachel joined the ASC as a DRET Appointed Governor in October 2023. She has also been a governor at Ingoldsby Academy since January 2022. Rachel has worked for the Human Resources Department in the David Ross Education Trust for many years, and looks forward to utilising her skills for the benefit of the academy. She is very friendly and approachable, and in her spare time she likes to travel and walk her sausage dog Mable.
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Richard WiddisonDRET Appointed Governor
Richard Widdison
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Elizabeth CannyDRET Appointed Governor
Elizabeth Canny
A former employee of Charles Read Academy, Elizabeth was keen to continue to support the school. In her current role, Elizabeth is a Director of Learning Development and Head of SEND.
Outside of work Elizabeth works closely with local community charities, educational charities and SEND charities (local and national). Elizabeth is also an avid reader and safeguards time for Yoga and practice holistic wellbeing.
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Caroline SharpStaff Governor
Caroline Sharp
Caroline was appointed Staff Governor on the 16 December 2021. Caroline has worked as a Maths and Music Teacher at Charles Read Academy since September 2019 and is passionate the development and progress of all of her students within the Academy. Having been a Secondary School teacher since the Year 2000 Caroline has worked in a number of roles involving Maths, Music, SEND and SEMH. Caroline is keen to work with the Governors collaboratively to assist getting the best outcomes for all our wonderful and highly valued Students and Staff. Outside of Charles Read Academy, Caroline is also passionate about her own family and children, enjoying dog walks and playing the piano. Caroline is looking forward to contributing to the ASC.
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Teresa BurrellStaff Governor
Teresa Burrell
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I decided to become a governor to provide my insights and support from a teaching perspective and day-to-day being part of the Charles Read community. I was a science teacher at the school prior to it joining the trust and have almost thirty years of experience as an educator, though not always as a teacher. As a scientist my analytical approach is useful in measuring the impact of initiatives and to ensure evaluation that reviews progress. As a former Project Manager for a multimedia company, I am good at providing strategies for keeping projects within scope. I run a small ETSY business specialising in stained glass, having learnt the skill at evening school many years ago. I am a keen reader, gardener and enjoy being in nature, whether that be for photography or just to explore the great outdoors.
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Emma Stephens-DunnClerk
Emma Stephens-Dunn
Emma Stephens-Dunn has been clerking academies for DRET since 2013. Emma is Clerk to ASCs for all but one of the academies in the DRET Greater Corby Region, as well as an independent clerk for several other schools in Northamptonshire, and Company Secretary for a Peterborough based Multi-Academy Trust. Emma has also served as a governor for fifteen years, in three different schools. She has a broad insight into school governance across all sizes, types and phases of school. She has an excellent understanding of current issues in education as well as best practice in governance. Emma has four children aged between eight and twenty and is therefore keenly aware of the crucial role played by education in shaping young lives. Emma enjoys supporting governors to fulfil their role within this through providing governance advice and guidance and an efficient governance administration service. Emma's interests and hobbies include gardening, singing, fitness, running and walking with her two dogs.
Current Governors
| Name | Governor Type | Appointed By |
Term of Office |
Term From | Term To | Declarations of Interest and other Governance Roles | Governor Assigned Responsibilities | Attendance 24/25 | Attendance 25/26 |
| Teresa Burrell | Staff governor | Elected by school staff | First | 25 Feb 2025 | 24 Feb 2029 |
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2 of a possible 2 | 0 of a possible 1 | |
| Elizabeth Canny | Appointed governor | Appointed by foundation/Trust | First | 27 Aug 2025 | 26 Aug 2029 |
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|
Not applicable, not in post | 1 of a possible 1 |
| Rachael Coles | Appointed governor | Appointed by foundation/Trust | First | 07 Feb 2024 | 6 Feb 2028 |
|
|
4 of a possible 5 | 0 of a possible 1 |
| Rachel Cope | Appointed governor | Appointed by foundation/Trust | First | 18 Oct 2023 | 17 Oct 2027 |
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|
4 of a possible 5 | 0 of a possible 1 |
| Clare Greenhalgh | Appointed governor | Appointed by foundation/Trust | Third | 5 May 2025 | 4 May 2029 |
|
|
5 of a possible 5 | 1 of a possible 1 |
| Kerry Milligan | Principal | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | N/A | 1 Sept 2025 | N/A |
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Not applicable, not in post | 1 of a possible 1 | |
| Caroline Sharp | Staff governor | Elected by school staff | First | 16 Dec 2021 | 15 Dec 2025 |
|
|
4 of a possible 5 | 0 of a possible 1 |
| Richard Widdison | Appointed governor | Appointed by foundation/Trust | First | 4 Apr 2025 | 3 Apr 2029 |
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|
0 of a possible 1 | 1 of a possible 1 |
Former Governors
Below is a list of Governors that have served in the past 12 months.
| Name | Governor Type | Appointed By | Terms Served | First Appointed | Leaving Date | Declarations of Interest and other Governance Roles | Attendance 23/24 | Attendance 24/25 |
| Louise Smith | Parent governor | Elected by parents | 1 | 5 Dec 2023 | 12 Feb 2025 |
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2 of a possible 3 | 1 of a possible 2 |
| Michelle Rawlings | Parent governor | Elected by parents | 1 | 14 Feb 2024 | 8 Apr 2025 |
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1 of a possible 2 | 1 of a possible 4 |
| Charlie King | Head of School | Ex-officio by virtue of office a headteacher/principal | Not applicable | 1 Jan 2023 | 31 Aug 2025 |
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3 of a possible 4 |
4 of a possible 5 |
| Jessica Beeton | Appointed governor | Appointed by foundation/Trust | 1 | 17 Oct 2023 | 9 Sept 2025 |
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3 of a possible 3 |
1 of a possible 5 |
Contacting Us
The Governance Officer for Charles Read Academy is Victoria Linthwaite. Victoria can be reached at governance@dret.co.uk.
To contact a governor, please contact the Trust Governance Team by emailing governance@dret.co.uk.
If you are looking to contact a Governor to make a complaint or share a concern, please note that as per our Complaints Policy, governors do not investigate complaints at Stage 1 or Stage 2. This enables them to be impartial should a complaint be escalated to a Stage 3 governor panel. If you wish to make a complaint, please complete this form and your complaint will be investigated accordingly.
Scheme of Delegation
Information about the David Ross Education Trust's scheme of delegation is available here.
Minutes of the Academy Scrutiny Committee
Should you wish to view a copy of the minutes of the ASC at this academy, please contact the Trust Governance Team (governance@dret.co.uk), who will be able to provide you with an electronic or paper copy of the minutes.
Are you interested in becoming an academy governor?
We are looking for new governors to support our academies. Our governors work closely with their academies to support the Trust’s goal of broadening the horizons of young people through a world-class education, equipping our students with the skills and experiences to become their confident, academic best, no matter what.
If you have an interest in, and commitment to, improving education and would like to make a difference within your community, please register your interest in becoming a governor by completing our governor application form. If you have any questions about a governor’s role or responsibilities please contact us at governance@dret.co.uk or review our information pack below.
aug 2025 governor recruitment booklet.pdf
What is it like being a Governor with DRET?
To understand what it is like to be a governor with us, take a look at our testimonial booklet and videos which contain insights from serving governors.
governor testimonial booklet .pdf




