Governance

Governance in Wessex Learning Trust plays a crucial role in ensuring that the Trust operates effectively and efficiently while maintaining high educational standards.

Our governance structure encompasses the following:

  1. Members – Our Trust Members have a limited but crucial role in ensuring the Trust’s effectiveness. Members appoint trustees and have the power to amend the Trust’s Articles of Association. They hold trustees to account for the Trust’s performance.
  2. Trustees – Our trustees are non-executive directors and are responsible for the overall strategic direction and oversight of the Trust. They ensure that the Trust complies with its charitable objectives, adheres to legal and financial regulations, and delivers high-quality inclusive education. Our trustees are volunteers and bring diverse skills and experiences to the Trust Board.
  3. Executive Leadership – Our Executive Leadership Team, led by the Chief Executive, is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Trust. Our executive leaders implement the strategic vision set by the trustees and manage the Trust’s operations, including educational performance and finance.
  4. Local Partnership Boards – Local Partnership Boards (LPBs) operate at school-level. They focus on improving the outcomes for children and young people in their schools, providing support and challenge to school leaders. Chairs of Local Partnership Boards meet regularly with the Chair of Trustees, ensuring a link between local and central governance.

 

Wessex Learning Trust Members and Trustees for the academic year 2024-25

Wessex Learning Trust Members
Name Role Date of Appointment
Neil Day Member 01/10/2019
Brian Kirkup Member 01/09/2016
Jeff Savage Member 01/10/2019
Gill Stobart Foundation Member 20/05/2024
Wessex Learning Trust Board of Trustees 
Name Role Date of Appointment Term of Office Date of Re-Election (If Applicable)
Gavin Ball Trustee  01/09/2017 CEO n/a
Emily Bott Trustee  28/03/2022 4 years n/a
Ed Bowen-Roberts Trustee  11/07/2023 4 years n/a
Melanie Casey Trustee  18/03/2020 4 years 18/03/2024
Maggie Cooper Trustee  11/07/2023 4 years n/a
Mike Dibble Trustee  14/03/2022 4 years n/a
Antony Durbacz Trustee  14/09/2023 4 years n/a
Paul Jacobs Foundation Trustee / Chair of the Trust Board 30/11/2017 4 years 30/11/2021
Paul Jenkins Trustee / Vice-Chair of the Trust Board 18/03/2020 4 years 18/03/2024
Kirsten McCann Trustee  12/10/2022 4 years n/a
Simon Osborne Trustee  12/10/2022 4 years n/a
Ruth Smith Foundation Trustee / Vice-Chair of the Trust Board 18/05/2023 4 years n/a
Becci Stickley Trustee  28/11/2023 4 years n/a
Sylvia Such Foundation Trustee 13/11/2023 4 years n/a
  • Trustee Business and Financial Interests and Attendance (2024-25)
  • Trustee Business and Financial Interests and Attendance (2023-24)
  • The Trust Board delegates aspects of its responsibilities to committees that focus on specific areas, facilitated by trustees with expertise in those areas. The committees allow for more detailed scrutiny and specialized oversight, enabling the Trust Board to function more efficiently.

    Wessex Learning Trust Board has the following committees:

    Standards and School Improvement (SSI), responsible for monitoring and evaluating the quality of education and student outcomes.

    Standards and School Improvement (SSI) Committee Membership
    Gavin Ball Trustee (ex-officio) and Accounting Officer
    Emily Bott Trustee
    Ed Bowen-Roberts Trustee
    Maggie Cooper Trustee / SSI Committee Chair
    Paul Jacobs Foundation Trustee / Chair of the Trust Board
    Ruth Smith Foundation Trustee / Vice-Chair of the Trust Board
    Sylvia Such Foundation Trustee

    Finance and Business Services (FBS), responsible for ensuring prudent financial management and accountability across the Trust, as well as Human Resources.

    Finance and Business Services (FBS) Committee Membership
    Gavin Ball Trustee (ex-officio) and Accounting Officer
    Melanie Casey Trustee / FBS Committee Chair
    Mike Dibble Trustee
    Antony Durbacz Trustee
    Jane Hutton Director of Operations
    Paul Jacobs Foundation Trustee / Chair of the Trust Board
    Paul Jenkins Trustee / Vice-Chair of the Trust Board
    Kirsten McCann Trustee
    Simon Osborne Trustee
    Ruth Smith Foundation Trustee / Vice-Chair of the Trust Board
    Becci Stickley Trustee

    Risk and Audit (R&A), responsible for identifying and mitigating risks that could impact the Trust’s operations and reputation.

    Risk and Audit (R&A) Committee Membership
    Gavin Ball Trustee (ex-officio) and Accounting Officer
    Melanie Casey Trustee 
    Maggie Cooper Trustee 
    Richard Holmes Co-opted committee member
    Paul Jacobs Foundation Trustee / Chair of the Trust Board
    Paul Jenkins Trustee / Vice-Chair of the Trust Board / R&A Committee Chair
    Ruth Smith Foundation Trustee / Vice-Chair of the Trust Board

    Values and Ethos (VE), advises the Trust Board on matters relating to the Trust’s overall position in respect of upholding and supporting its vision and values throughout the Trust.

    Values and Ethos (VE) Committee Membership
    Gavin Ball Trustee (ex-officio) and Accounting Officer
    Maggie Cooper Trustee 
    Paul Jacobs Foundation Trustee / Chair of the Trust Board
    Paul Jenkins Trustee / Vice-Chair of the Trust Board
    Ruth Smith Foundation Trustee / Vice-Chair of the Trust Board / VE Committee Chair
    Sylvia Such Foundation Trustee 

    In addition, the Chairs of Local Partnership Boards meet regularly with the Chair of Trustees, ensuring a link between local and central governance. The details of our current Chairs are as follows:

    School Name Chair of Local Partnership Board
    Axbridge Church of England First School Toni Hael
    Brent Knoll Church of England Primary School Sue Owen
    Cheddar First School Alison Alen
    Crispin School Lisa Clark
    Croscombe Church of England Primary School Simon Butcher
    Stoke St. Michael Primary School Simon Butcher
    Draycott and Rodney Stoke Church of England First School Adrian Warman
    Shipham Church of England First School Adrian Warman
    East Brent Church of England First School Roland Smith
    Lympsham Church of England First School Roland Smith
    Sandford Primary School Belinda Hancock/Ian Chadwick
    Winscombe Primary School Belinda Hancock/Ian Chadwick
    Elmhurst Junior School Hazel Callaghan
    Fairlands Middle School Phil Maddock
    Mark Church of England First School Lorraine Clarke
    Kings Academy Chris Thurling
    Hugh Sexey Church of England Middle School Sue Moreman
    Nailsea School Sue Renny
    St Cuthbert’s Church of England Infants School Christine Raphael
    St Cuthbert’s Church of England Junior School Phil Michael
    Weare Church of England First School William Fox
    Wedmore First School Keith Boulnois

    The calendars of attendance and business interests for all our Local Partnership Boards can be found by accessing the schools’ websites, links to which can be found here.

     

    Structure of Wessex Learning Trust Governance