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

Mr Chris Downham - Chair of Governors, Co-Opted Governor 

Mrs Emma Hembury - Principal, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)

Mrs Ffreuer Masheder - Parent Governor 

Mr Christof Masheder - Parent Governor 

Charlotte Watson - Parent Governor

Miss Holly Chivers - Staff Governor, Assistant Principal and Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

Mrs Pamela Akerman - Foundation Governor

Register of Interests 2023-24 and Attendance 2022-23

Governors have been appointed by the board of trustees

Name

Role

Term of Office

Register of Interest

Date interest Registered

Date Interest ceased

Attendance 2022-23

Emma Hembury

Principal

DDSL

01/01/2024 - 31/08/2029

TWHF Employee

01/01/2024

N/A

N/A

Chris Downham

Chair of Governors, Co-Opted Governor – 

Staff Wellbeing and Safeguarding Champion

02/12/2021 - 01/12/2025

Nil

N/A

N/A

6 of 6

Holly Chivers

Staff Governor

Assistant Principal

DSL

01/09/2012-31/08/2023

TWHF Employee

01/09/2019

N/A

N/A

Ffreuer Masheder

Parent Governor, Christian Distinctiveness & Ethos, Literacy Champion

28/03/2022 - 27/03/2026

Married to Mr Christof Masheder

28/03/2022

N/A

5 of 6

Christof Masheder

Parent Governor 

28/03/2022 - 27/03/2026

Married to Mrs Ffreuer Masheder

28/03/2022

N/A

3 of 6

Pamela Akerman

Foundation Governor 

 

14/07/2023 -
13/07/2027

Nil

N/A

N/A

N/A
Charlotte Watson Parent Governor   Nil N/A N/A N/A

Previous Governor(s) 2023 - 2024

Mrs Fiona Johnson – Left 12/11/2023

Mrs Candida Hutchinson – Left 31/12/2023

Previous Governor(s) 2022 - 2023

Rev Adrian Burholt - Left 13/10/2022 

Rev Alison Bridewell - Left 02/02/2023

Mr Jamie Stokes – Left 12/07/2023

Miss Tiffany Butcher – Left 31/08/2023

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 or in writing by leaving a letter for the attention of the chair of the local governance committee.

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 LGC 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 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 Board of Trustees as communicated to the LGC.

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

TWHF GOVERNANCE INFORMATION