Sarah is the Head of the Institute of Education at the University of Derby. She has worked at the University of Derby since 2006, having first gained employment as a Senior Lecturer in Primary Initial Teacher Education. In 2015 she was promoted to Head of Discipline for Primary Initial Teacher Education and, most recently, in 2020, she was appointed as the Head of the Institute of Education. In her role as Head of the Institute of Education she has strategic responsibility for educational research and all education focused undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
Prior to working at the University of Derby, Sarah trained as a primary school teacher. Throughout her time in the classroom, she taught all primary year groups and undertook a range of middle and senior leadership roles. Drawing on both past and present experiences as a qualified teacher, she aims to motivate the next generation of educators to strive for excellence in their chosen profession.
She has sustained experience of school/Multi-Academy Trust governance, having been a school governor and currently being a Trustee of three other Multi Academy Trusts. She has extensive links, both locally and nationally, to a range of diverse educational settings.
Sarah is committed to quality, research-informed provision that encourages critical thinking and the application of knowledge and skills to real-life working. Her doctoral research explored stakeholder attitudes towards students, with dyslexia, on Teacher Education programmes. Her current research explores trainee teacher preparedness to address homophobic bullying in primary and secondary schools.
David is an ambitious leader of business transformation and ongoing operational delivery, with over 30 years’ experience gained through a multi-disciplined career in FTSE100Plc, private equity/ownership and public sector environments. An MBA graduate, with procurement, operations, facilities management, commercial fleet, retail pharmacy and change management expertise, strong commercial acumen and a history in delivering significant value improvement to organisations.
David is currently a senior management consultant for Go M.A.D. (Make A Difference) Thinking, a business improvement consultancy working with individuals, teams and organisations, supporting them to deliver transformative results and enabling change.
David enjoys playing sport in his spare time; golf, tennis, badminton and spinning, as well as relaxing with yoga and hiking.
On a personal level, David has been married to Dawn for over 30 years, living in Derby for the majority of that time. Their two sons attended Derby schools, enjoying their academic, musical and sporting experiences. Having graduated as dentists they now work in the NHS and privately in Manchester and Halifax.
Canon Carolyn Shoyer
Canon Carolyn Shoyer is the Diocesan Director of Education for the Dioceses of Derby and Leicester. This role involves advising the Bishop on all educational matters and in leading the vision and strategy for the Diocesan Board of Education which in Derby serves 111 church schools.
Carolyn is also a member of the Bishop’s Leadership Team and so contributes to the wider life of the diocese.
Previously, Carolyn was a primary school teacher, headteacher and an inspector for Ofsted and SIAMS (Statutory Inspection of Anglican & Methodist Schools).
Chasca Twyman
Chasca is a consultant and trainer with the National Governance Association (NGA) and was a National Leader of Governance under the reformed programme. She delivers external governance reviews, support and training for schools and academy trusts on behalf of the NGA.
As former University academic, with a PhD in the social sciences, Chasca’s professional experience in higher education means she has excellent strategic and analytic skills that transfer well into school and trust governance. Her work as a trustee in the charity sector further broadens and deepens her relevant expertise for school and trust governance.
Chasca is currently chair of governors in a large rural local authority-maintained foundation secondary school. She has also governed in a small rural Church of England primary school. She has experience of governing in schools exploring federations, collaborations and academisation, as well as those managing expanding and contracting pupil intakes. She is a trustee and vice-chair in a city-based multi academy trust with nine schools across all phases. Chasca joined the Embark Federation as a member in 2024.