What is a Local Advisory Board (LAB)?
The Cumbria Education Trust Board Directors delegate to the Local Advisory Board (LAB) members its responsibility and powers as the Governing Body of the school. These responsibilities are discharged by the LAB members in accordance with its constitution, any Cumbria Education Trust Policies and advice from the Department for Education (DFE) and Ofsted.
View the Trust Board members here.
View the Structure Of The Trust Board & LABs And Associated Information here.
The LAB is crucial to helping the school to raise standards.
Some of the roles of the LAB are to:
- provide the information required by the Trust and not to withhold any information which the Trust reasonably requires;
- refer certain decisions to the Trust for approval as set out in the Scheme of Delegation;
- report to the Trust Board Directors on the outcomes and progress within a one-week period of each meeting;
- act in accordance with the LAB Protocols.
If you have any queries for the LAB or would like to contact the Chair, please email governance@cumbriaeducationtrust.org or telephone 016977 45300.
Composition of Local Advisory Board (LAB) members:
| Type of member | Number | Term of office | Elected by who |
| Chief Executive | 1 | Indefinite | N/A – by appointment as Chief Executive |
| Headteacher | 1 | Indefinite | Appointment as Headteacher by Chief Executive/Trust Board |
| Sponsor Board member (including Chair and Vice Chair) | Max 7 | 4 years | By the Cumbria Education Trust Board resolution |
| Parent Board member | 2 | 3 years | Seconded parent volunteer -applications to be considered by Cumbria Education Trust Board Directors.* *If there are more than 2 applications, an election will take place with all parents eligible to vote |
| Staff Board member | 1 | 3 years | Staff election** ** If only one member of staff is nominated they are automatically elected |
LAB Members
Ian Hick – Chair
Ian has an Engineering degree and is a qualified Chartered Accountant. Ian joined Sellafield in 1995 when it was part of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd (BNFL). He worked on the finance side of the business for 22 years, from dealing with monthly management accounting through to being Chief Accountant, responsible for the statutory financial reporting of the business. Along the way he project managed a major finance and procurement system implementation, and was on the project board of the subsequent implementation of HR functionality. From 2017, Ian had the role of Business Relationship Manager within the Sellafield Information Communications Technology (ICT) function, but then retired in 2021 to focus on personal opportunities and local support in the West Cumbria community – he is currently a volunteer driver for the Cockermouth social car scheme.
Sellafield continues to have a strong interest in supporting the education of the potential future workforce in West Cumbria. Ian is keen to maintain strong links between the Whitehaven LAB and Sellafield (as well as other local agencies and employers), through both Board membership and ongoing co-operation in the interests of school pupils.
Whilst Ian’s background is not in education, he brings relevant and transferable skills and experience. He has experience of working with Government departments over many years. Sellafield operates in a highly regulated environment with a strong focus on health and safety, and his understanding of these governance disciplines will help frame his approach to the activity of the Local Advisory Board.
Stephen Wilkinson – Vice Chair
Stephen was previously the CEO of The Queen Katherine School Multi-Academy Trust (MAT). He also headed up the MAT Management Team, which provided back office services to Trust schools and others.
Stephen was Governor of the Local Governing Body of George Hastwell School, The Queen Katherine School, Walney School and the Virtual Headteacher Board for Looked After Children. He is still on the Management Committee of Newbridge House Pupil referral unit in barrow.
He is also Senior Lead for the North West Maths Hub and Local Representation for the Association of School and College Leaders in Cumbria.
Stephen has previously held two Headteacher posts. In 2017, he was seconded to the post of Chair of Local Alliance of System Leaders (LASL) in the south of Cumbria and the Board of the Cumbria Alliance of System Leaders (CASL). He was also the voluntary Chair of the Cumbria Partnership for Emotional Resilience and Mental Health.
Stephen’s three children attended The Queen Katherine School and his wife taught at Sandgate Special School until her well-earned retirement. In his spare time, he is a keen photographer, wildlife admirer, hill walker, glider pilot and official family dog walker. Most recently, he has become a keeper of bees and chickens.
Des Bird – Director of Secondary Improvement
Des is responsible for the School Improvement Framework in CET’s secondary schools and is responsible for ensuring a rigour and focus on this vital area of work, to ensure that the School Improvement Strategy is well designed and implemented effectively in all CET secondary schools.
As the only National Leader for Education in Cumbria, Des is extremely well-placed to support our schools in our endeavour to achieve year-on-year improvements.
Nigel Youngman – Headteacher at The Whitehaven Academy
Nigel attended Bristol University to read English and French Literature before taking a teaching role in Pakistan. He returned to the UK to complete his PGCE at Nottingham University before taking teaching roles in schools in Birmingham and Bristol.
A Head of English department role saw Nigel returning to his Norfolk roots, where he spent 7 years at Thorpe St Andrew High School. He then moved to be Deputy Headteacher at Alderman Peel High School before becoming Vice Principal at City Academy Norwich. He became Headteacher at Beccles Free School from the Open Academy where he was Director of Sixth Form and Director of Strategic ICT. Nigel is now the Headteacher at The Whitehaven Academy.
Nigel is married and has two children, and the whole family are relishing the opportunity of living and working in the Lake District.
Amanda Brotherhood – Headteacher
Amanda has been in the Cumbrian education sector for over 20 years, having taught in both primary and secondary schools, ranging from Nursery to Year 11. She started her CET career as an Assistant Headteacher, before taking on a Deputy Headteacher and Head of School role at a school in Carlisle. She is now Headteacher at Hensingham Primary School.
Amanda takes great pride in leading such an outstanding team of staff and children, consistently prioritising the provision of broader opportunities for pupils, alongside a solid foundation to build their skills for the future. She is eager to see the team continue to grow and strengthen.
Judy Davidson – LAB member and Joint Safeguarding Lead
Judy originates from South Yorkshire and was educated at Doncaster High School for Girls. After teacher training in Birmingham, Judy’s first teaching role was at Doncaster Grammar School.
Judy moved to West Cumbria in 1979 where she taught at both Whitehaven and Cockermouth Grammar Schools, prior to holding both academic and pastoral positions at Whitehaven School until her retirement in 2011. Subsequently, she became both a teacher, and then, a community governor at the school.
In addition to teaching, Judy trained with Relate to become a counsellor for them in the local area.
Now that she has retired from teaching, Judy is part-owner of a local counselling centre. She trained to be a family consultant and continues now to use her experience and skills to help people suffering from family conflict or relationship difficulties.
Judy is passionate about building a better future for the people of the local area and, as a member of The Whitehaven Academy LAB, is committed to providing the best possible education for its students.
Outside of work Judy enjoyed a number of sporting activities and at one time was Cumbria tennis captain. Today, she can often be found on the golf course.
Lindsay Edmiston – LAB member
Amanda Lightfoot – LAB member
Amanda has a master’s degree in Security & Risk Management from Leicester University and has worked in the nuclear industry for 32 years. Amanda joined Sellafield in 1990 when it was British Nuclear Fuels Ltd (BNFL). She has worked in many nuclear facilities, Training and the Environmental, Safety and Security Directorate
Although Amanda’s background is not within education, she believes she can utilise her experience and knowledge in regulation, strategic planning, training, and risk to assist The Whitehaven Academy on its journey to excel.
Amanda is married and has two children, one whom attends The Whitehaven Academy. In her spare time, Amanda is the chair of the CPTA at a local primary school.
Kerry Lawson – LAB member
Kerry studied her A Levels at Whitehaven School before gaining a BSc in Applied Chemistry at Northumbria University. She has 20 years of experience in the nuclear industry, working in front line operations and, more recently, in transition management, compliance and assurance.
Although Kerry’s background is not within education, she is keen to support The Whitehaven Academy achieve its vision and values.
Kerry is married with two children, one of whom attends The Whitehaven Academy. In her spare time, Kerry enjoys reading, walking and crochet.
Nigel Woodcock – LAB member
Nigel read Politics & Economics at Queen Mary, University of London before undertaking senior executive leadership programmes at both the London Business School and JF Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Subsequently, he was awarded a MBA in Public Policy & Governance from Warwick University Business School.
He has over 35 years Board-level experience locally and nationally in the NHS, education, social enterprise and charity sectors in both Chief Executive and Chair roles. Currently, he is Vice Chair at Carlisle FE College, Chair of the Independent Remuneration Panel at Carlisle City Council, and a Trustee of the Cumbria Cerebral Palsy Society.
Within education, he has been a Parent Governor, Governor and Chair of the Audit Committee at St. Martin’s FE College (Lancaster & Ambleside) and Governor at the West Lakes FE College, Lillyhall.
He passionately believes that all young people should have the best opportunity of accessing an excellent education to enable them to realise their full potential and make a positive contribution to their local community and wider society.
Abi Skillen – Staff LAB member
Abi is the Curriculum Leader for Expressive Arts at The Whitehaven Academy and teaches Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre.
Originally from Cockermouth, Abi completed her BA (Hons) in Dance at Teesside University, followed by PGCE training and completing a Masters in professional dance practice through Teeside University.
Abi has interests in all areas of Performing Arts, enjoys live music and visits to the theatre, as well as taking care of her pets and has a keen interest in skincare and wellbeing.
Anita Bone – Parent LAB member and Joint Safeguarding Lead
Anita studied Business and Finance at Kingston University before running the Sales and Admin office of an architectural design firm in South West London. Originally from Eastbourne in East Sussex, she lived in South West London for 12 years before relocating to Whitehaven in 2006.
She worked as a Senior Executive Secretary and Secretary to the Deputy Chief Executive at a local building society in Carlisle, before taking a break from work for 5 years to raise her family. She now works full time running the school office at a local primary school.
Anita and her husband have two children, one of whom is at The Whitehaven Academy.
In her spare time, Anita enjoys spending time with the family, being outside and driving steam traction engines and steam rollers when she visits family down south.
Mike Branney – Parent LAB member
Mike, a former pupil of Whitehaven School, completed an Advanced Modern Apprenticeship with BT before going on to work at Iggesund Paperboard and then joining Johnson Controls as an Instrument Mechanic on the Windscale Site. He later joined Sellafield Limited Control Systems, prior to moving into operations, where he currently works as Operations Support and a Duly Authorised Person.
He is a Prospect Workplace and Safety Representative, as well an elected member of the Prospect K280 Branch Executive Committee, which represents its over 5300 members, and is the largest branch in Prospect Union. He is also a trained Mental Health First Aider, supporting colleagues both at Sellafield Limited and in its supply chain.
Mike is married with two children, both of whom attend The Whitehaven Academy. Additionally, he holds a voluntary role as a committee member of Lowca Village Hall and is Chair of the Whitehaven Labour Branch. He has also previously done extensive voluntary work for Youth Rugby Union in Cumbria.
LAB members in the previous 12 months:
- Julie Pennington – 03/07/2024
LAB Meeting Minutes and other information
If you would like any meeting minutes from previous years, please email governance@cumbriaeducationtrust.org.