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 local governors of schools within TWHF. However, routine communication for day-to-day school business should be via the chair of that LGB, managed by the school or through an LGB clerk.
The principal and the chair of the LGB are responsible for ensuring the quality and timely distribution of all materials needed to keep the local governors well-informed about the school and TWHF. The principal and the chair are also responsible for ensuring the views of the LGB are effectively communicated to the Board of Trustees. 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 local governance. Schools within TWHF will be judged to have outstanding local governance when the LGB:
- Talks about teaching and learning.
- Knows a great deal about the school and its community.
- Is ambitious for the school and its community.
- Asks 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.
- Maintains strong and effective relationships within TWHF.
Current Local Governors
Adrian Cush - Interim Principal
Dr Moira Laffey - Chair of Local Governors & Co-opted Local Governor
Ruth Balnave - Parent Local Governor
Edward Pafford - Co-opted Local Governor
Dr Peter Massey - Co-opted Local Governor
Jon Hubbard - Co-opted Local Governor
Fiona Litman - DDSL
Sharon Adams - Parent Local Governor
David Jones - Co-opted Local Governor
Register of Interests 2022-23 & 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 INTEREST REGISTERED | TERMS OF OFFICE | ATTENDANCE 2021-22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adrian Cush | Interim Principal | TWHF Employee | 05/06/2023 |
NA |
NA |
| Dr Moira Laffey | Chair of Local Governors & Co-opted Local Governor | TWHF Chair of Larkhill LGB TWHF Chair of Chairs Trustee |
20/04/21 | 20/04/21 - 19/04/25 | 6 of 6 |
|
Ruth Balnave |
Parent Local Governor & Pupil Premium & Grants Champion | Employee - Creative Services Manager Child is a pupil |
30/09/2020 | 24/05/21 - 23/05/25 | 5 of 6 |
| David Pafford | Co-opted Local Governor | Melksham Without Parish Councillor | 21/10/2020 | 21/10/2020 - 20/10/2024 | 6 of 6 |
| Dr Peter Massey | Co-opted Local Governor | Parent of Pupils at school | 07/07/2021 | 07/06/2021 -?06/06/2025 | 5 of 6 |
| Jon Hubbard | Co-opted Local Governor | YourWebSolution Ltd Company Director, 4Youth (South West), Chair of Trustees, Age Friendly Melksham CIC Director, Wiltshire Council Councillor, Giffords Surgery Employee (Spouse) | 12/11/2021 | 12/11/2021 - 11/11/2025 | 4 of 5 |
| Fiona Litman | Staff (Support) Local Governor | TWHF employee | 03/05/2022 | 03/05/2022 - 02/05/2026 | 2 of 2 |
| Sharon Adams | Parent Local Governor | Parent of a MOAK student | 03/05/2022 | 03/05/2022 - 02/05/2026 | 1 of 1 |
| David Jones | Co-opted Local Governor | - | 13/07/2022 | 13/07/2022 - 12/07/2026 | N/A |
Previous Governors (resigned in last 12 months)
Alan Henderson - left 05/06/2023 (attended 6 of 6 meetings)
Elizabeth Main - left 20/06/22 (attended 4 of 6 meetings)
Tina Kimmitt - left 18/01/22 (attended 4 of 6 meetings)
Mark Fordham - left 19/04/21
Isabelle Bridger Eames - 05/09/2022
Alison Wiles - 17/01/2023
The overall purpose of the governing body is to help the school provide the best possible education for pupils. This involves, in particular:
- Contributing to the establishment of the school’s vision and strategic aims, agreeing plans and policies, and making creative use of available resources.
- Monitoring and evaluating performance and acting as a critical friend to the principal to support and challenge them in leading and managing the school.
- Ensuring that the school is accountable to the children and parents it serves, to its local community, and to those who fund and maintain it, as well as to the staff it employs.
The Way Forward
- To improve student attainment for all.
- To widen inclusion and opportunities for every student.
- To open the school facilities to the wider community.
Interested in Becoming a Local Governor?
We are always keen to get parents involved in the school. Contact the clerk to governors, Sarah Bowler, to find out more. Please address written enquiries to:
Sarah Bowler
The Clerk to the Governors, Melksham Oak Community School, Bowerhill, Melksham SN12 6QZ
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 01225 792700 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
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