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 trustee board, 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 trustee board 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 trustee board. 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:
- 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.
Current Local Governors
Elaine Murphy
Principal
Doug Copestake
Chair of Governors, Co-opted Local Governor
Matt Wheeler
Vice Chair of Governors, Parent Governor
Jo McQuade
Co-opted Local Governor
Jonathan Smethurst
Co-opted Local Governor
Caroline Arnell
Co-opted Local Governor
Matthew Foley
Parent Governor
Karen Myler
Staff Local Governor (Teaching)
Rachel Coombes
Co-opted Local Governor
Hannah Berriman
Co-opted Local Governor
Register of Interests 2022-23 & Attendance 2021-22
Local Governors have been elected by parents or staff or co-opted by the LGB and will serve a four-year term of office. The Principal is also a local governor.
| Governor's Name | Role | Nature of Interest | Date Interest Registered | Date Interest Ceased | Terms of Office | Attendance 2021-22 | Notes | Training courses completed 2021-22 |
|---|
Elaine Murphy | Principal | TWHF Employee | 01/09/19 | NA | NA | 6 of 6 | NA | Safeguarding |
Doug Copestake | Chair of Governors, Co-opted Local Governor | None | NA | NA | 17/07/19 - 16/07/23 | 6 of 6 | Safeguarding, Admissions, ICT and Pupil Premium | Prevent. Online Safety. Compliments, Concerns and Complaints. Parent View - Encouraging the Views of Parents. Safeguarding Governors. |
Matt Wheeler | Vice-Chair, Parent Governor | None | NA | NA | 16/07/22 - 15/07/26 | 5 of 6 | English | Prevent. Online Safety. The Role of Vice Chair. |
Jo McQuade | Co-opted Governor | None | NA | NA | 02/03/20 - 01/03/24 | 6 of 6 | Early Years | Prevent. Online Safety. Ofsted 2019 - Evolution not Revolution. Creative Curriculum. |
Jonathan Smethurst | Co-opted Local Governor | None | NA | NA | 02/09/201- 01/09/25 | 4 of 6 | Maths | Online Safety. |
Caroline Arnell | Co-opted Local Governor | None | NA | NA | 02/09/21 - 01/09/25 | 4 of 6 | SEN | Prevent. Online Safety. Co-opted governors - Seeking a new perspective. Safeguarding, it's everyone's responsibility What do we need to know? |
Matthew Foley | Parent Governor | Married to employee of TWHF | 02/09/21 | NA | 02/09/21 - 01/09/25 | 5 of 6 | Wellbeing | Prevent. Online Safety. Role of parent governor. |
Karen Myler | Staff Local Governor (Teaching) | Employee of TWHF | 02/09/21 | NA | 02/09/21 - 01/09/25 | 5 of 6 | NA | Prevent. Online Safety. The Role of the Staff Governor. Ofsted 2019 - Evolution Not Revolution. Safeguarding, it's everyone's responsibility. What do we need to know? |
Rachel Coombes | Co-opted Local Governor | None | NA | NA | 30/11/22 - 29/11/26 | NA | NA | NA |
Hannah Berriman
| Co-opted Local Governor | None | NA | NA | 30/11/22 - 29/11/26 | NA | NA | NA |
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 on 01793 430084 or in writing by leaving a letter for the attention of the chair of the local governing body.
Alternatively, if you do not wish to contact us via the school or cannot pop into the office, you can contact the governors using the contact form on this page.
Please note: that we meet 6 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 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 executive board 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
Minutes are available on request by contacting the school office.
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
