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
Charlotte Harmer - Principal
Dr Moira Laffey - Chair of Governors, Co opted Governor, (Safeguarding, Maths and English)
Kerry Ball - PSA & MDSA
Fiona Jenkins - Assistant Principal, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, Maths Lead
Trevor Woods - Co-opted Governor, (Premiums)
Sarah Bowler - Clerk to the board
Charlie Harmer - Co-opted Local Governor
Richard Mealand - Co-opted Local Governor
Shelley Hills - Co-opted Local Governor
Andrew Nothard - Co-opted Local Governor
Sophie Thomas - Co-opted Local Governor
Richard Dewdney - Co-opted Local Governor
Dr. Moira Laffey – Chair of Governors
Champion – Safeguarding, Maths & English
Moira has a PhD in Chemistry. After a few years working as a civil servant, she saw the light and retrained to teach. She initially specialised in supporting adults with difficulties with maths; then by a happy accident embarked on a career in independent prep schools. Over the years she held posts as teacher, head of department, deputy head, and head.
In 2016 Moira became a governor of a primary school in Wiltshire and as chair in 2018 took the school through the due diligence to join TWHF in March 2018. She has particular interests in the teaching of maths and the opportunities for governors to network and obtain training. She is delighted to be the representative of TWHF local governing bodies on The Trust Board and will work to support good communication.
Trevor Wood - Co-opted School Governor
Champion - Premiums
Trevor has served all of his adult life in the British Army. He has enjoyed a varied career serving and living in several areas in the UK and abroad. He has had the privilege of serving a full career as a soldier and also a commissioned officer, with the latter holding down various staff roles predominately in the trade and collective training area and has no plan to retire just yet.
In October 2020, Trevor became a co-opted school governor of Larkhill Primary School responsible for assisting the school with their pupil premiums’ strategies and any other related premiums such a service families and sports premiums. His aim is to ensure our children are supported both pastorally and academically in the best possible way to help attainment and of course make their learning and growing experience as positive as possible.
Trevor along with his wife have now settled down in a sleepy village in Wiltshire, they have one son who has flown the nest and works in finance sector in London. To bridge that gap, they now have a mad little Miniature Schnauzer puppy, who happens to be much better behaved than their boy
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 | Champion | Nature of Interests | Date Interest Registered | Terms of Office | Attendance 2021-22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte Harmer | Head Teacher & Local Governor | Nil | TWHF employee and husband is a local governor | 01/09/2022 | 01/09/2022 | N/A |
| Dr Moira Laffey | Chair/Local Co-opted Governor | Chair, SEND | TWHF Trustee - Sep 1, 2020 TWHF LGC Chair of Melksham Oak - April 1, 2021 |
02/09/2021 | 30/06/2021 | 6 of 6 |
| Kerry Ball | Staff (PSA), Comms and Engagement | Comms and Parental Engagement | THWF Employee, child at school, Personal Business NerD provided stationery and vinyl stickers to school as need | 08/09/2021 - 26/01/2024 | 28/01/2024 | 6 of 6 |
| Fiona Jenkins | Staff (Teaching) | STEM | THWF Employee, children at school | 10/09/2021 - 26/01/2024 | 28/01/2024 | 5 of 6 |
|
Trevor Woods |
Co-opted Local Governor, Pupil Premium and Grants | Premiums | Nil | 16/08/2021 | 07/12/2020 - 06/12/2024 | 5 of 6 |
| Charlie Harmer | Co-opted Local Governor | Maths, Curriculum | Wife is a TWHF employee at Larkhill, Royal Artillery charities Trustee | 23/03/2022 | 22/03/2026 | 3 of 3 |
| Richard Mealand | Co-opted Local Governor | Safeguarding, IT including Safeguarding | Nil | 23/03/2022 | 22/03/2026 | 3 of 3 |
| Shelley Hills | Co-opted Local Governor | Early Years | Hills minding childminder | 19/05/2022 | 18/05/2026 | 0 of 1 |
| Andrew Nothard | Co-opted Local Governor | English | Nil | 19/07/2022 | 18/07/2026 | N/A |
| Richard Dewdney | Co-opted Local Governor | English Heritage Employee | 11/07/2023 | 11/07/2023 - 10/07/2027 | ||
| Sophie Thomas | Co-opted Local Governor | English Heritage Employee | 11/07/2023 | 11/07/2023 - 10/07/2027 |
Previous Governors
Emily Taylor - Left 31/08/2022 (attended 4 of 6 meetings)
Katie King - Left 11/04/2022 (attended 4 of 6 meetings)
Jo Rowell - Left 08/06/2022 (attended 3 of 5 meetings)
Minutes of meetings are available from the school office upon request.
The White Horse Federation Governance Information
Each school has its own local governance committee (LGC). 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 executive board. 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 executive board as communicated to the LGC.
To learn more, visit The White Horse Federation website.
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