Meet the Governors

Our Trust of Schools

Lorraine Mitchell

Chair of Governors

Lorraine has a passion for all things governance in education and at her core are her values of social inclusion, whereby all students thrive in the school environment. By placing the students at the heart of decision-making, and being both ambitious and relentless in striving for excellence, she believes we will transform our young people's lives.

Lorraine has had a varied career in education and governance, encompassing the role of a leader and teacher in an inner-city secondary school, a strategic lead for governance in a London local authority, and more recently Head of Governance in Ted Wragg Trust before joining a national organisation in the support of trusts. Lorraine has supported others in governance through mentoring, training and speaking at national conferences. She strives to support the governors strategic oversight of school improvement and positive relationships across the school community, work in partnership with the Trustees of Ted Wragg Trust as well as both the senior leadership of the school and Trust executive teams.

Lorraine feels honoured to take the role of Chair of the Local Governing Board at ISCA Academy to provide support, challenge as well as championing all the inspirational work taking place in the school.

Lorraine is also a Secondary Academy Representative on the Devon Association of Governance (DAG) and the Devon Education Forum (DEF). More recently, Lorraine has set up a regional network for the development of the next generation of governance collaboratively working with a small group of trusts and organisations to provide leadership training and facilitate termly networks.

Dan Jenkins

Vice Chair / Co-opted Governor

I am currently Headteacher at St Thomas Primary. I joined the school in September 2016 as a Year 6 teacher, one month before the Exeter Learning Academy Trust was incorporated. My relationship with the school extends as far back as 2000 when the first of my 3 sons joined, what was then, St Thomas First School.

I became a Parent Governor in 2001 and was appointed Chair of Governors in 2006.

In 2012, I resigned from a company Directorship and decided on a career change – to follow my dream of becoming a primary school teacher!

Having been brought up with many foster brothers and sisters, I have seen how important a quality education is to positive life outcomes. I am driven every day to give every child, no matter their circumstances, the skills and opportunities to thrive in life.

I went to Exeter University in 1989 and loved the City so much I never left!

Diane Brown

Trust Appointed Staff Governor

Diane is the Link Governor for Disadvantaged inc. Pupil Premium

I’m proud to serve as Head of Secondary at Cranbrook Education Campus, where I’ve worked for the past nine years and have been with the Ted Wragg Trust for over eleven years. During this time, I’ve had the privilege of leading in a range of roles, including Head of English, Assistant Head leading on Curriculum, Disadvantage, Careers, and Literacy before becoming Deputy Head for Quality of Education. I hold a First-Class Honours degree in English, along with an NPQSL and NPQH, and I’m part of the current West100 cohort.

I’m deeply passionate about social mobility and ensuring every young person—particularly those facing disadvantage—has the opportunity to thrive. Outside of school, I love travelling and exploring new places, enjoying good food, reading, and spending quality time with my family and our dog.

Helen Dallimore

Parent Governor

Helen is the Link Governor for SEND.

Helen lives in Exeter and grew up in Devon, where she attended a local state comprehensive school. This has given her a strong appreciation of the important role that accessible, high-quality education can play in creating opportunities and helping young people reach their potential. She is passionate about an education system that enables all children to thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances, and believes that every child should be able to attend an excellent local school that is rooted in and serves its community.

Helen has two children at ISCA, whose different needs and experiences of education have given her a strong awareness of the school community and the diverse challenges and opportunities facing pupils and families.

Professionally, Helen spent nearly 18 years as an employment lawyer and now advises employers and business leaders on creating respectful, inclusive and fair workplace cultures. Her work focuses on equality of opportunity, accessibility, recruitment practices, tackling bias - including socio-economic bias - and ensuring people feel safe to speak up and are heard, valued and able to succeed in organisations. She is also a mentor to young people through her involvement with the 93% Club and is part of the Empowering Girls programme.

As a governor, Helen hopes to use both her professional expertise and personal experience to support the school's strategic development, champion pupil and staff wellbeing, and contribute positively to the success of the whole ISCA community.

Nick Bruce-White

Parent Governor

Nick is the Link Governor for Careers

Nick, Catriona and their daughter moved to Exeter ten years ago, not far from Isca Academy, where their daughter is now in year 8.

Nick has enjoyed a career working for environmental charities and is currently Chief Executive of Devon Wildlife Trust. He is passionate about restoring the natural environment and recovering nature in Devon, not only for the sake of threatened wildlife but also for the enormous health & wellbeing benefits which derive from people’s connection with nature and the outdoors.

Nick hopes that his experience of organisational governance and leadership can support the parents, pupils and staff at Isca to create the very best school experience in Exeter. He has a specific interest in wellbeing and resilience, and how organisations keep people well in the face of the intense, complex demands of modern society.

Nick is a keen marathon runner and as a family they spend most of their spare time in the great outdoors, enjoying the wild landscapes of the South West and beyond.

Pippa Truman Davies

Co-opted Governor

Bio Coming Soon!

Rebecca Gilchrest

Staff Governor

Oversight of Governor Development.

As a committed teacher and Head of year, it is my absolute privilege to be the staff governor for Isca Academy. Ensuring we have the highest of standards, outcomes and relentlessness for our students is something I embody and I am delighted to follow this through with a governorship.

I look forward to serving our Isca community in this way.

Victoria Hatfield

Co-opted Governor

Victoria is the Link Governor for Safeguarding and Attendance

Victoria has worked at Exeter City Council for 23 years, managing a range of services including destination marketing, a wide range of tourist attractions, events and festivals, economic development, inward investment and led on a wide range of roles as part of Exeter hosting 3 matches as part of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Today, Victoria is the Head of Service for City Centre & Net Zero, leading and managing services on delivering net-zero for Exeter City Council, supporting our business community and ensuring our city centre is a vibrant and safe place to visit, shop, live and work.

Victoria has been a school governor for ISCA Academy for over 5 years and was appointed to the Board of Exeter Science Park 2023 as a Non-Executive Director.

Vicki Joyce

Ex Officio / Headteacher

Vicki, originally from Birmingham, made the bold move to Devon seven years ago, bringing with her a deep passion for education and a desire to make a difference in the lives of young people. She became the Headteacher of Isca Academy in September 2022 and fell in love with the deep passion and commitment shown by every single member of staff to shape and transform the lives of every single child both in and beyond the classroom.

Outside of her professional life, Vicki is a devoted wife and proud mother to three amazing children. Her home is very busy and she also shares it with two dogs, one of whom is the beloved school dog, Missy, a gentle and affectionate St. Bernard.

Charlotte Wylie

Prospective Co-opted Governor

Bio Coming Soon!

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