School Advisory Board

If you are interested in joining the Advisory Board, please contact the school office.

Welcome to Merrydale Junior 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, the Board delegates governance functions 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.

You can contact our Chair of the Advisory Board, Karen Ludden , directly at kludden@discoverytrust.org or via the Trust Clerk clerk@discoverytrust.org

School Advisory Board Members: 2025-26

Attendance at AB meeting 205-26: n/a
Attendance at AB meeting 2024-25: 3/3
No interests declared 2.9.25

Appointed Community member
Appointed Chair Sept 2024
Term of Office: 6.4.25-5.4.28
Attendance at AB meeting 205-26: n/a
Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 3/3
Employed within the Central Team, Discovery Schools Trust declared 2..9.25

Appointed Community member
Term of Office: 6.4.25-5.4.28
Attendance at AB meeting 205-26: n/a
Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 2/3
Declarations declared: 28.09.23
Senior Lecturer, De Montfort University since Sept 2018 declared 2.9.25

Elected Parent member
Term of Office: 9.11.22-8.11.25
Attendance at AB meeting 205-26: n/a
Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 2/3
Employed as a Customer Services Specialist declared 7.11.24

Elected Staff member

Term of Office: 19.5.23-18.5.26

Attendance at AB meeting 205-26: n/a

Attendance at AB meetings 2024-25: 3/3

No interests declared 6.11.24

Scheme of Delegation

Governance Strategy

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 Board meeting minutes are available on request. Requests should be directed to the Trust Clerk