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
Chris Neal
Head of School, Designated Safeguarding Lead
Kathryn Twine
Chair of Governors
Sam Yarnold
Vice Chair of Governors
Tanya Houghton
Foundation Governor
Rev Jo Williams
Vicar/ Ex Officio
Liam McWade
Staff Governor
Robin Sharples
Foundation Governor
Gordon MacDonald
Co-opted Local Governor
Register of Interests 2021-22 and Attendance 2020-21
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.
| Name | Role | Date Interest Registered | Register of interests | Terms of Office | Responsibilities | Attendance 2020-21
|
|---|
| Chris Neal | Principal | 01/09/2021 | TWHF Employee
Berkshire Maestros | N/A | Principal | 6/6NA |
| Kathryn Twine | Chair and Parent Local Governor
| 14/10/2020 | Employee of The White Horse Federation | 01/09/19-31/08/23 | Pupil Premium and PE and Sports Premium
EYFS
Phonics and early reading
Safeguarding (and LAC and e-safety)
| 6/6 |
| Sam Yarnold | Vice-chair and Parent Local Governor
| 14/10/2020 | Proprietor of Yarnold Heating & Plumbing | 01/09/19-31/08/23 | Maths Pupil Premium and PE and Sports Premium
Writing | 5/6 |
| Tanya Houghton | Foundation Governor | 14/10/2020 | TWHF Employee | 01.10.2019 - 30.09.2023
| EYFS Provision & Learning | 5/6 |
| Rev Jo Williams | Vicar /Ex Officio | 14/10/2020 | All Saints Infants School Governor
The Parish of St Mark and All Saints, Reading Incumbent | 01.12.2016 - 30.11.2020
| Safeguarding - Children | 3/6 |
| Liam McWade | Staff Governor | 14/10/2020 | Employee at St Mary's & All Saints | 26/09/19-25/09/23 | RE/Collective Worship | 6/6 |
| Robin Sharples | Foundation Governor
| 14/10/2020 | Oxford Diocesan Board of Education
Employee
| 08/10/2020 07/10/2024
| Quality of Teaching and Learning
Curriculum Development
Church School Distinctiveness
| 6/6 |
| Gordon MacDonald | Co-opted Local Governor | 07/07/2021 | Nil | 07/07/2021 - 06/07/2025 | Nil | NA |
Previous Governors Resigned within the last 12 months
Daniel Smith - left 13/08/2021 (attended 6 of 6 meetings)
Alexandra Butler - left 01/09/2021
Anna Tsakalaki - left 01/12/2020
Carla Szadowski - left 01/12/2020
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 0118 901 5545 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
