Vacancy – Chair

Jeff O’Neill – Co-opted Director

Jeff is a Chartered Accountant and an experienced Non-Executive Director.

Following a career in financial services based in the North-east, Jeff relocated to Cumbria in 2015 and retired from executive employment in 2017. He lives in Eamont Bridge near to Penrith.

He is currently a Non-Executive Director of Justships Ltd. which is a wholesale marine insurance broker; and for the three years to September 2021 was a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee of a local NHS Trust.

With involvement as a non-remunerated Non-Executive Director between 2006 and 2018, Jeff was for several years Chair of RASCALS Ltd which was an OFSTED regulated community social enterprise providing affordable childcare in the economically deprived area of South-East Northumberland.

In his executive career, Jeff was employed for 25 years by North Group, a marine mutual general insurance group of companies where he was Finance Director and a member of the senior leadership team.

Lorrayne Hughes – Chief Executive

Lorrayne is the Chief Executive Officer of Cumbria Education Trust, the county’s largest multi-academy school trust.

Lorrayne took up her first Headship at William Howard School in Brampton in 2007 and in 2014 was commissioned by the Local Authority to bring about rapid improvement in two special measures schools in Workington. One of the schools was removed from Special Measures within 20 weeks.

She has led CET since inception to its current position where it is responsible for the education of more than 4,000 children across three secondary schools, eight primaries and West Coast Sixth Form.

Lorrayne passionately believes in inclusion and that all young people deserve a high-quality education. Children are firmly at the heart of all her strategic decision-making.
All schools work closely together following Lorrayne’s lead that collaboration can make a difference to all involved, from pupils and students to staff and their communities.

Lorrayne is a board member of the Confederation of School Trusts, the sector body for school trusts.

Cate Floyd – Interim Executive Principal and Executive Headteacher at Yanwath & Tebay Primary Schools

After 12 years in education, working across the country in a variety of settings and alongside national bodies such as the North 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 working within a school improvement model to develop and sustain change, change that is for the better and not just reactive, is important to her.

After successfully securing their first Good judgment at Longtown, she have moved into her second headship within the Trust, at Yanwath Primary School ensuring that they, as a leadership team, continue to provide a sustainable school improvement model where children and staffs mental health and wellbeing are at the heart of all decisions being made.

Sarah Davies – Head of School, Yanwath Primary School

Sarah has had a rich and varied career in education including two years’ teaching experience in Australia and a further eleven years’ experience teaching and leading in primary settings across a diverse range of schools in London, Sheffield and Cumbria. As a Specialist Leader in Education, Sarah has worked collaboratively with numerous multi-academy trusts to improve outcomes for all children through effective mentoring and strategic leadership. She believes strongly that each child should be given every opportunity to reach their full potential.

Lucy Peile – Staff LAB Member

Lucy joined the teaching team at Yanwath in September 2021. Throughout the year Lucy has been working in year 2, completing her first year as an early career’s teacher. Lucy will continue to work towards her early career’s programme next year, this will be completed in July 2023, as she continues her journey at Yanwath.

In July 2021, Lucy graduated from Cumbria University in Carlisle with a BA degree in Primary Education (3-11) with QTS. As Lucy moves into her second year of teaching she will hold a Science subject leadership role and lead the school council within Yanwath.

Outside of work, Lucy enjoys being outside on her family farm and playing netball. As a staff LAB member, Lucy is looking forward to helping the Cumbria Education Trust continue to strengthen by working closely with the LAB in a collaborative manner and continuing to support school and trust values.

Eleanor Galloway – Parent LAB member

Eleanor grew up in Ulverston, south Cumbria and studied Archaeology and Prehistory at university before working for Warwickshire County Council. She moved back to Cumbria 16 years ago to work for the Lake District National Park Authority as their Archaeologist, advising on all aspects of the historic environment.

Eleanor lives in Penrith with her husband, a vet, and their two children who both attend Yanwath Primary School. She likes being out in the countryside and walking the fells with family and friends. Eleanor is enjoying working on the Local Advisory Board and becoming more involved in school life.

Emma Fleming – LAB member

Emma lives in Penrith with her husband and two children who both attend Yanwath School.

In her free time she loves to run, mountain biking, walking with the family and watching her children sail at Ullswater Yacht Club.

Emma is currently working at a local holiday Park in Pooley Bridge in accounts, previously she worked at Cumbrian Homes working in the accounts department.

Hannah Mason – LAB member (Subject to DBS clearance)

Hannah grew up in Penrith before moving to Durham to attend University, after graduation she began her career in the NHS and obtained a master’s degree in Leadership and Management from Lancaster University. She has worked in senior operational roles and as an Executive Director for a local NHS organisation for over 13 years, and now works at a national level within NHS England’s Maternity Team, a role that involves strategic oversight and policy making, to ensure Maternity Services across England are equipped to provide the best possible care to women and start in life to babies. Hannah has also previously held a position as a Trustee for citizens advise.

Hannah and her husband live in Penrith with their son who attends Yanwath nursery and will start in Reception in September 2023.  They love to spend to time outside, exploring the fells and bagging Wainwrights whenever they can!

Richard Green – LAB member – Safeguarding lead

LAB members in the previous 12 months:

  • Chloe Park – 18/06/2022
  • Jane Davis – 26/06/2022
  • Tom Rice – 15/12/22
  • Victoria Gibbons – 13/06/23

To view the Meeting Attendance Records and Registers of Interest for the Yanwath Primary School Local Advisory Board click the button below.