Local Advisors

On 1 April 2021, The Emmbrook School converted to academy status and joined the Circle Trust, a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT), made up of six schools in the local area.

The Trustees of the Circle Trust are responsible for the running of all their schools, including The Emmbrook School.  However, certain functions and decision-making is delegated to the Local Advisory Board of each school.

The local Advisory Board has a similar role to that of the Governing Body, which managed the School prior to conversion, but their remit is set out within the Trust’s Scheme of Delegation.   The Local Advisory Board will also follow the Trust’s Policies and Procedures. 

Local Advisors work closely with the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team and continue to follow the Department of Education and Local Authority guidelines.  However, as a charitable company, the Circle Trust has articles of association and a scheme of delegation.  These are legal documents, which set out the governance composition, and procedures for the Trust and Local Advisors must operate in accordance with these.

Eight Local Advisors currently make up the Local Advisory Board of the Emmbrook School.  There are currently five co-opted local advisors, two parent advisors and one staff advisor.

Within the Local Advisory Board, there are two committees: The Teaching, Learning and Student Committee and the Resources and Staffing Committee.   Each Local Advisor belongs to at least one committee (further details can be found under the details of Local Advisor link below). 

Local Advisors have a broad range of skills, a diversity of experience and a range of perspectives, to enable effective governance for the School.  They are all volunteers who give a significant investment of their time and expertise to the school, putting the needs and well-being of students and staff at the forefront of what they do. 

The current Local Advisors are: 

Staff Local Advisor Mrs Madeleine Lloyd
Co-opted Local Advisors

Mrs Nicky Hopkins - Joint Vice-Chair of Local Advisors, Vice-Chair of Resources and Staffing Committee, Link Advisor SEND and Safeguarding

Mr Claymore Richardson - Joint Vice-Chair of Local Advisors and Chair of Resources and Staffing Committee
Mr Peter Collins - Chair of the Teaching, Learning and Student Committee

Parent Local Advisors

Mrs Karen Knight - Vice Chair of the Teaching, learning and Student Committee

 Emma Wilkinson 

Further information on the Emmbrook School Local Advisors can be found using the links below. 

If you would like to find out more about the role of the local advisors or if you wish to contact the governors regarding a specific matter, please feel free to contact the Clerk to Local Advisors, Faye Andrews by email at fandrews@thecircletrust.co.uk.

Chris Rothwell

Chair of Local Advisors

C/O The Emmbrook School, Emmbrook Road, Wokingham, RG41 1JP


Circle Trust Governance