Governance

Northern Lights Learning Trust Governance 

Current Serving Governors

Current Register of Business Interests

Register Of Business Interests 24-25

Attendance at Meetings

Local Governing Body Register of Attendance 24-25.pdf

Attendance at Meetings Archive

Local Governing Body Register of Attendance 23-24.pdf

St Aidan's Secondary Attendance 2023-24.pdf

St Aidan's attendance autumn term 2021.pdf

Trustee Attendance 22-23

Governor Profiles

Merion Baker

Merion is Chair of the Board. And Link Trustee for SEND. He is an experienced teacher, specialising in post-16 education, who has worked for nearly thirty years in a variety of roles, currently as Assistant Principal of Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington. During that time Meirion has led successful curriculum and guidance teams and has had whole-college responsibility for a range of functions including student wellbeing, behaviour, personal development, school liaison and recruitment, and equality, diversity and inclusion. A Trustee since 2018, Meirion is passionate about education and social mobility and has enjoyed putting his professional experience to use in a different educational context, including as former Chair of the Curriculum and Standards Committee and monitoring the progress of SEND students. Originally from North Wales, Meirion now lives in North Yorkshire and counts among his interest’s music, literature and politics.

Dean Lythgoe

Dean was appointed Headteacher of St Aidan's in July 2022. He is extremely experienced having previously held a variety of senior leadership roles including two Headships. He came to the Academy from Colne Primet, a school with a very similar social and economic demographic to St Aidan's. With an M. Ed. and an academic background in Economics and Social Sciences, Dean is well placed to lead the Academy during its next stage of development. In his spare time Dean can be found officiating at RFU matches.

Jo Keane

Jo is the Teaching Staff Trustee being appointed to the role in December 2021.

Jo graduated with a BA HONs, PGCE and Master’s in Education from the University of Durham and joined the Academy in 2007 as a Drama/English NQT. She is now employed as SENDCO. Jo completed the NASENDCO Award in 2015 and has recently completed the CPT3A (Psychometric Testing, Assessment and Access Arrangements) course, registering with the British Psychological Society.

Molly Robinson

Molly is the Support Staff Trustee. As well as being one of the Deputy Safeguarding Leads, she is a Year Lead with responsibility for liaising with pupils and their families/carers. Molly deals with all issues, queries and concerns raised and supports pupils in achieving their goals and resolving any issues regarding their education and school career. Her pastoral role involves monitoring behaviour, attendance and signposting pupils and those who care for them towards support, both within the school and externally.

Molly appreciates the importance of her role as Support Staff Trustee and is keen to work with the Board to help grow and further improve the Academy. Outside of her working day she enjoys spending time with her young family, going to the beach, visiting the cinema and eating out.

 Marco Ramsey

With 21 years of experience in primary education, Marco has been the Headteacher at a local primary school since 2021. His passion lies in improving the life chances of deprived children, and he is now eager to broaden his expertise in secondary education. Marco is committed to supporting the local secondary school, aiming to contribute to the advancement of the community's educational landscape.

Lucy Wiper

My professional working career commenced within the corrugated packaging sector for a large PLC company based in the Northeast of England. Primarily my role and progression was in production, design, commercial and sales departments. Ultimately, I became Sales and Commercial Director for an independent corrugated packaging company for over 20 years.  With this company I was also involved in HR and the personal development of the employees. 

After retiring, I became an advisor at Citizens Advice in Darlington. Following this, I trained to be a Listener and mentor for the Listening Post within schools in Darlington. I attend St Aidan’s weekly, providing a safe space and in-person listening offering support to young individuals provides them with opportunities to express their emotions and process their experiences. This initiative addresses situations and issues that may be causing them distress or anxiety.