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 governing body (LGB) to focus on providing support, overcoming challenges in the delivery of educational excellence, and achieving outstanding outcomes for all pupils.

There are direct channels of communication between the principal and the LGB chair and central services. The clerk to the Board of Trustees will hold contact details for all members of LGBs within TWHF. However, routine communication for day-to-day school business should come from the chair of that LGB, managed by the school or through an LGB clerk, if such a position is deemed necessary.

The principal and the chair of the LGb are responsible for ensuring the quality and timely distribution of all material needed to keep LGB members well-informed about the school and TWHF. The principal and the chair are also responsible for ensuring the views of the LGB are well communicated 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 sit on an LGB. Trustees reserve the right to attend any LGB meeting.

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 LGB:

  1. Talk about teaching and learning.
  2. Know a great deal about the school and its community.
  3. Are ambitious for the school and its community.
  4. 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.
  5. Maintain strong and effective relationships within TWHF.

In order 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 LGbs, chairs groups, principals, the central team, and the executive leadership team.

Current Local Governors

Ms R Harper - Principal, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Mrs M Askey - Chair of Governors, Appointed Governor

Mrs C Kelly - Co-opted Local Governor

Mr A McVernon - Co-opted Local Governor

Mrs S Rolley - Parent Local Governor

Mr I Mullings - Staff (Non Teaching) Local Governor

Mrs V Mackay - Staff (Teaching) Local Governor

Mrs H Philips - Co opted Local Governor

Mr J Slater - Co opted Local Governor

Mrs A Wright - Staff (non teaching) Governor

Miss H Sauders - Parent Local Governor

Register of Interests 2022-23 and Attendance 2021-22

Governors have been appointed by the board of trustees and will serve a four-year term.

NAME- ROLE NATURE OF INTEREST DATE REGISTERED DATES OF SERVICE ATTENDANCE 2021-22

Ms R Harper

Principal & Local Governor TWHF employee 01/09/2022 N/A N/A
Mrs M Askey Chair of Governors
Co-opted Governor
None 01/02/2021 01/02/21 - 31/01/25 5 of 6
Mr I Mullings Staff (Non Teaching) Local Governor TWHF Employee 01/02/2021 01/02/21 - 31/01/25 6 of 6
Mrs V Mackay Staff (Teaching) Local Governor TWHF Employee, Governor at St Thomas a Becket School, Tilshead 01/02/2021 01/02/21 - 31/01/25 6 of 6
Mrs C Kelly Co-opted Local Governor Deputy Head & Staff Governor at
All Cannings School
01/02/2021 01/02/21 - 31/01/25 2 of 6
Mr A McVernon Co-opted Local Governor None 22/05/2023 22.05.23 - 21.05.27 4 of 6
Mrs S Rolley Parent Local Governor Parent of a child at the school 16/10/2019 16/10/19 - 15/10/23 4 of 6
Mrs H Philips Appointed Governor The Meads Primary School 01/07/2021 01/07/2021 - 30/06/2025 2 of 6
Mr J Slater Co opter Local Governor None 01/12/2020 01/12/2020 - 01/12/2024 5 of 6
Mrs A Wright Staff (Non Teaching) Governor None 19/04/2021 19/04/2021 - 18/04/2025 4 of 6
Miss H Sauders parent local governor Parent of a child at the school 14/11/2022 14/11/2022 - 13/11/2026 N/A

Previous Governors resigned in last 12 months

Mr K Rose - Left 16/01/2023

Mr J Morgan - Left 31/08/2022

Mr P Moorcroft - Left 14/09/20

Mr P Jenkins - Left 05/02/20

Mr M Burr - Left 05/02/20

Mrs J Edwards - left - 25/03/19

Mrs Easton - left - 4/12/19

Mr M Pinches - Left 12/09/2022

The White Horse Federation Local Governing Body

Each school has its own local governing body (LGB). The chair of each LGB 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 Board of Trustees has clearly identified the areas of responsibility that they delegate to the LGBs. Although not in any way legally responsible, and not itself accountable for the statutory functions, the LGB 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 LGB.

To learn more, visit The White Horse Federation website.

VIEW TWHF GOVERNANCE INFORMATION & ACCOUNTS