--- title: "Local Governance Committee" url: "https://www.melkshamoak.wilts.sch.uk/about-us/local-governance-committee" school: "Melksham Oak Community School" --- # Local Governance Committee ## 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 (LGC) David Cooper - Executive Headteacher Moira Laffey - Chair of LGC & Trust Appointed Governor Julian Bond - Trust Appointed Governor Andrew Davies - Trust Appointed Governor Joanna James - Trust Appointed Governor Mark Warne - Trust Appointed Governor Jonathan Southall - Parent Governor Zoe Penny – Parent Governor Fiona Litman - Staff Governor Ben Caron-Dawe - Staff Governor --- ### Register of Interests 2026-27 and Attendance 2025-26 Governors have been appointed by the board of trustees and will serve a four-year term. | || | Name | Role | Nature of Interest | Date Interest Registered | Term of Office | Attendance 2025-26 | | David Cooper | Executive Headteacher | TWHF Employee | 29/09/2026 | 19/04/2024 - Ex-officio | 4 of 4 | | Moira Laffey | Chair of LGC & Trust Appointed Governor | TWHF Governor at Southbroom Infants, TWHF Trustee, TWHF Chair of Larkhill Primary | 11/09/2026 | 19/04/2024 - 18/04/2028 | 4 of 4 | | Julian Bond | Trust Appointed Governor | | 03/09/2026 | 03/12/2025 - 02/12/2029 | 3 of 3 | | Andrew Davies | Trust Appointed Governor | | 12/10/2026 | 22/04/2025 - 21/04/2029 | 3 of 4 | | Joanna James | Trust Appointed Governor | | 25/09/2025 | 22/04/2025 - 21/04/2029 | 3 of 4 | | Mark Warne | Trust Appointed Governor | Chair of Devizes LGC | 13/10/2026 | 22/04/2025 - 21/04/2029 | 1 of 4 | | Jonathan Southall | Parent Governor | Parent of Student | 19/04/2026 | 24/03/2026 - 23/03/2030 | 2 of 2 | | Zoe Penny | Parent Governor | Parent of Student | 29/09/2026 | 24/03/2026 - 23/03/2030 | 2 of 2 | | Fiona Litman | Staff Governor | TWHF Employee | 29/09/2026 | 22/04/2025 - 21/04/2029 | 4 of 4 | | Ben Caron-Dawe | Staff Governor | TWHF Employee | | 09/10/2026 - 08/10/2030 | N/A | #### Governors Who Left in the Past 12 Months Sharon Adams - Trust Appointed Governor - 22/04/2025 - 10/11/2025 Graeme Harrison - Parent Governor 22/04/2025 - 28/09/2026 --- ### 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 - Gender Pay Gap Report - Higher Paid Staff reports [TWHF GOVERNANCE INFORMATION](https://thewhitehorsefederation.org.uk/about-our-trust/key-information) ### About Us - [About Our School](https://www.melkshamoak.wilts.sch.uk/about-us) - [Our Vision & Values](https://www.melkshamoak.wilts.sch.uk/about-us/our-vision-values) - [Our Staff](https://www.melkshamoak.wilts.sch.uk/about-us/our-staff) - [The White Horse Federation](https://www.melkshamoak.wilts.sch.uk/about-us/the-white-horse-federation) - [Admissions](https://www.melkshamoak.wilts.sch.uk/about-us/admissions) - [Vacancies](https://www.melkshamoak.wilts.sch.uk/about-us/vacancies) - 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[Ofsted report](https://www.melkshamoak.wilts.sch.uk/about-us/ofsted-report) ![Melksham Oak Community School](https://files.schudio.com/melksham-oak-community-school/images/logo/Image_copy.png) **Melksham Oak Community School** Bowerhill Melksham Wiltshire SN12 6QZ Tel: 01225 792700 ### Useful Links - [Privacy Policy](https://thewhitehorsefederation.org.uk/privacy-policy) - [Cookies](https://thewhitehorsefederation.org.uk/cookies) - [GDPR](https://thewhitehorsefederation.org.uk/about-our-trust/gdpr) - [Modern Slavery Statement](https://thewhitehorsefederation.org.uk/modern-slavery-statement) - [Equality Act](https://files.schudio.com/the-white-horse-federation/files/documents/policies/08_SP_V1_Equality,_Diversity_and_Inclusion_Policy_2026.pdf) ### Useful Links - [Behaviour Policy](https://files.schudio.com/the-white-horse-federation/files/documents/04_SP_V9_Behaviour_Policy_2026(1).pdf) - [Vacancies](https://www.melkshamoak.wilts.sch.uk/about-us/vacancies) - [Curriculum ](https://www.melkshamoak.wilts.sch.uk/learning-education/curriculum) - 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