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

Barbara Hindley, Chair of LAB

Matt Butler – Director of Primary Improvement and Professional Development

Matt is responsible for implementing the School Improvement Framework in Cumbria Education Trust’s primary schools and his key area of responsibility focuses on design, specifically designing the blueprint for school improvement.

Matt has a wealth of experience in the sector, having previously led curriculum and subject development.

Cate Floyd – Executive Principal

After 12 years in education, working across the country in a variety of settings and alongside national bodies such as the North West Maths Hub, Cate moved from Accrington to join the CET Leadership team to take on her first headship at Longtown Primary School in 2017. She believes that all children are entitled to the very best education and that it is important to work within a school improvement model to develop sustainable change, for the benefit of young people. 

After successfully securing their first ‘Good’ judgement at Longtown Primary School, she then took on her second headship within the Trust. At Yanwath Primary School, she ensured that they, as a leadership team, continued to provide a sustainable school improvement model where the mental health and wellbeing of both children and staff were at the heart of all decisions being made.

Sarah Lee – Headteacher

Sarah started her teaching career at Petteril Bank School in the south of Carlisle. Throughout her career, she has taught in every year group from Nursery to Year 6 and has led Maths, Science and English.

She has worked at Newtown Primary School and Yewdale Primary School within the Trust, and as a School Improvement Lead across the ten CET primary schools.

As Headteacher of Castle Carrock Primary School, she is passionate about making a difference to not only pupils, but to the families and communities she serves as a whole.

Kath Pigdon – Headteacher at William Howard School

Kath counts herself lucky to have started her career in a designated sports college, where opportunities to develop as a young PE teacher were aplenty. Moving through the ranks – from second in charge of PE to a Director of Specialism – gave Kath the opportunity to experience the power of sport and PE across the whole school. This whole school leadership role enabled Kath to progress further as an Assistant Headteacher at William Howard School. Enjoying the experience of senior leadership, Kath soon progressed to Deputy Headteacher and then to Headteacher.

Kath fully believes in CET’s vision and values and works hard to instil this in staff, students and her own two boys. Although Kath has over a decade of experience of Senior Leadership, and has completed her NPQH, she believes her most valuable lessons in leadership and life have come from competing at the highest level in her sport of canoe slalom.

Sally Fryer – LAB member

Sally has lived in Castle Carrock for the over 7 years and both her children attend the school.

She is an artist and printmaker and also works locally as a gardener. Sally is a member of the village carnival committee and the school PTA.

Ruth Drew, LAB member

Ruth relocated to the lovely village of Castle Carrock in 2018. Her career has been in accountancy and finance in both the public and private Sector.

Ruth’s experience as a governor spans over 20 years, 14 of which as a Chair of Governors.

Her passion is to ensure that every child has the opportunity to attain and achieve in a safe and happy environment – this is the reason Ruth became a governor. The Castle Carrock Primary School LAB is crucial to helping the school raise standards, and, as a LAB member, Ruth looks forward to being part of the ongoing journey.

Heather Edgar – Parent LAB member, Safeguarding member and Health and Safety Lead

Heather lives in Castle Carrock and has two children who attended Castle Carrock School.

Heather is a social worker, currently working for the local authority.

She loves the beautiful area in which she lives and enjoys walking and camping in the Lake District.

Nicola Moynan – Staff LAB member

Nicola studied Education Studies at the University of Cumbria for three years, then went on to complete a PGCE in 2021.

She started supply work at Newtown Primary School, which resulted in her covering in a range of classes. After a year there, Nicola joined Castle Carrock Primary School where she has had the opportunity to finish her ECT, gain more confidence in her teaching with the support from the Head, and was a part of the amazing Ofsted inspection.

She is looking forward to all the exciting opportunities which she has yet to discover in her career.

LAB members in the previous 12 months:

  • Lewis Flanagan, Staff LAB Member – resigned 19/12/2023

  • Alison Mitchinson, LAB Member – resigned 09/10/2023