Local Governance Committee
Overview
The governance of a multi-academy trust differs from those of maintained schools. The White Horse Federation (TWHF) believes that placing statutory responsibilities firmly at its centre, in the remit of the board of trustees, allows the Local Governance Committee (LGC) to focus on providing support, overcoming challenges in the delivery of educational excellence, and outstanding outcomes for all pupils.
There are direct channels of communication between the principal and the LGC chair and central services. The clerk to the board of trustees will hold contact details for all members of LGCs within TWHF. However, routine communication for day-to-day school business should come from the chair of that LGC, managed by the school or through an LGC clerk.
The principal and the chair of the LGC are responsible for ensuring the quality and timely distribution of all material needed to keep LGC members well-informed about the school and TWHF. The principal and the chair are also responsible for ensuring the views of the LGC have good lines of communication to the board of trustees. This can be done via the elected chair’s representative on the board of trustees. Senior executives from TWHF will be nominated by the CEO to attend any LGC.
The White Horse Federation has a very clear and shared understanding of what constitutes good and effective governance. Schools within TWHF will be judged to have outstanding governance when members of the LGC:
- Talk about teaching and learning.
- Know a great deal about the school and its community.
- Are ambitious for the school and its community.
- Ask questions which make colleagues reflect, and that these discussions lead to delivering the very best outcomes for every child and adult within the school community.
- Maintain strong and effective relationships within TWHF.
For the shared model of governance to be effective for TWHF and the schools, it is essential that there is effective communication between the board of trustees, the LGCs, chairs groups, principals, the central team, and the executive leadership team.
Current Local Governance Committee
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Michael Park | Principal |
| Mrs Vicky Just | Local Co-opted Governor, Vice-Chair |
| Mrs Michelle Wells | Staff (Support) Local Governor |
| Hafizah Choudhury | Parent Local Governor |
| Meabh O’Kane | Staff (Teaching) Local Governor |
| Toni Mills | Chair of Local Governors |
| Charlie Thomson | Foundation Local Governor |
| Mary Seaman | New Foundation Local Governor |
Register of Interests 2023-24 and Attendance 2022-23
Local Governors have been elected by parents or staff or co-opted by the LGC and will serve a four-year term of office. The Principal is also a local governor.
| Name | Role | Nature of Interests | Date Interests Registered | Terms of Office | Attendance 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Park | Principal | TWHF Employee | 03/01/2023 | N/A | |
| Mrs Vicky Just | Chair of Local Governors Foundation Local Governor |
Melksham Messy Church – Volunteer St Michaels Church – Volunteer The Manor PTFA – Volunteer University Of Bath - Employee Media & PR Manager |
23/09/2020 |
03/09/2019 – 02/09/2023 | 4 of 4 |
| Mrs Michelle Wells | Staff (Support) Local Governor | TWHF Employee | 23/09/2020 | 01/06/2020 - 31/05/2024 | 3 of 4 |
| Hafizah Choudhury | Parent Local Governor | Parent | 24/06/2021 | 28/05/2021 - 27/05/2025 | 3 of 4 |
| Meabh O’Kane | Staff (Teaching) Local Governor | Staff (Teaching) | 03/11/2021 | 03/11/2021 - 02/11/2025 | 3 of 3 |
| Toni Mills | Local Co-opted Governor, Vice-Chair | Parent | 01/03/2022 | 01/03/2022 - 28/02/2026 | 2 of 2 |
| Charlie Thomson | Foundation Local Governor | Parish Rector | 19/05/2022 | 19/05/2022 - 18/05/2026 | 2 of 3 |
| Mary Seaman | New Foundation Local Governor |
No declarations of interest. |
13/06/2023 | 13/06/2023 - 12/06/2027 | N/A |
Previous Governors
Katie Scammell - Left 26/06/2022 (attended 3 of 4)
Mrs Hannah Gordon - Left 31/08/2022 (attended 4 of 4)
Ms Yvonne Crook - Left 07/04/2022 (attended 7 of 7 meetings)
Mrs Pam Prance - Left 07/06/2021 (attended 7 of 7 meetings)
Mr Phil Bevan - Left 13/09/2021 (attended 3 of 7 meetings)
Ms Valerie Ferris - Left 29/07/2021
Anna Wilcox - Left 02/01/2023
Mrs Christine Harvey - Left 20/02/2023
David Pearce - Left 07/07/2023
Steve Fivash - Left 16/09/2023
Ben Maher - Left 21/01/2024
Welcome from the Chair
The local governors have an overview of a number of key areas. Parent local governors in particular are here to represent your view and can help you if you have any questions or concerns. If you would like to speak to a local governor informally, we can often be found on the school playground before school. If you would like to contact us formally or are unable to come and speak to us personally, we can be contacted through the school office or in writing by leaving a letter for the attention of the chair of the local governance committee.
Please note: that we meet 4 times a year so it may not always be possible to answer a query straight away. However, your query will always be acknowledged and we will endeavour to give you a timescale for answering your questions.
Minutes are available on request by contacting the school office.
The chair of each LGC will also sit on a collective group of similar chairs, from which one representative will be elected and then co-opted onto the Board of Trustees This process will be repeated every two years, thus affording new chairs the opportunity to be similarly elected.
TWHF executive board has clearly identified the areas of responsibility that they delegate to the LGCs. Although not in any way legally responsible, and not itself accountable for the statutory functions, the LGC has an important role to play in assisting the school to operate effectively in line with the wishes of TWHF Board of Trustees as communicated to the LGC.
To learn more, visit The White Horse Federation website.
The White Horse Federation Governance Information
Click on the button below to access TWHF Governance information including
- Annual report
- Annual audited accounts
- Memorandum of association
- Articles of association
- Names of charity trustees and members
- Funding agreement