Governance
Pontefract Academies Trust is an exempt charity, this means we operate like any other charity but are not regulated by the Charity Commission but instead overseen by an alternative regulator, in this case the Secretary of State for Education.
The main documents that set out how we operate are our Articles of Association, which set our internal structure, and the Master Funding Agreement, which is the legal contract with the Secretary of State under which we run our schools. In addition, there are separate Supplemental Funding Agreements for each individual school.
We are also governed by the Department for Education's Academies Financial Handbook and various pieces of legislation relating to both schools and charities.
Our Governance Structure
Our formal structures are designed to give robust oversight and management of our schools, without unnecessarily restricting innovation.
Trustees provide strategic oversight and ensure that the Trust meets it legal obligations, both directly and through the Audit and Risk Committee.
Formulation of strategy and day to day operations are delegated to the Chief Executive Officer, Julian Appleyard OBE. He is supported by an Executive Leadership Team, our Headteachers and professional experts within our central services team.
Our Headteachers are challenged and supported by School Performance Review Boards (SPRBs). These are individual to each school. Our SPRB members are appointed by the Trust Board, ensuring we have the balance of skills required to oversee a modern school.
Ulric Murray OBE, John Gough, Julie Craig and Neil Bowmer
Duties
- To appoint / remove trustees
- To sign off financial statements and annual report
- To change the Articles
Governed by
Articles of Association
Meetings
One per year
Duties
- To ensure quality of education provision
- To challenge and monitor performance
- To oversee management of finances and property
- To ensure compliance with charity and company law
- To ensure operation in accordance with Funding Agreement
- To receive and approve finance procedures and regulations
- To determine and approve corporate policy
- To receive reports from committees
Reporting
Reports to Members at the Annual General Meeting on progress for the year
Produces financial statements and Annual Report
Governed By
Terms of Reference
Meetings
Four meetings per year
Trust Board Membership & Attendance Summary 2019/20
| From | To | Appointed by | Meetings attended |
Out of a possible |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P Jones OBE (Chair) | 14/08/15 | 31/08/22 | Members | 10 | 10 |
| D Wilkin | 09/04/14 | 31/08/22 | Members | 9 | 10 |
| J Gough | 14/03/13 | 13/03/25 | Original (signatory) member | 10 | 10 |
| J Appleyard OBE (CEO) | 05/03/18 | N/A | Members | 10 | 10 |
| A Clarke | 17/05/17 | 16/05/25 | Members | 10 | 10 |
| E Shepherd | 02/05/18 | 01/05/22 | Members | 9 | 10 |
Duties
- To provide oversight on internal controls
- To receive annual internal audit reports
- To receive and monitor strategic risk registers
- To manage responsible office function
- To appoint external auditors
Reporting
Reports to the board of Trustees through approved minutes.
Governed by
Terms of Reference
Meetings
Four per year
Audit & Risk Committee Membership & Attendance Summary 2019/20
| From | To | Appointed by | Meetings attended |
Out of a possible |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Clarke (Chair) | 04/05/18 | 03/05/22 | Trust Board | 3 | 3 |
| J Gough | 02/07/14 | 14/03/21 | Trust Board | 3 | 3 |
| M K Brooke (Independent from 10/04/18) |
02/07/14 | 01/07/22 | Trust Board | 3 | 3 |
Duties
- To consider policies and procedures to ensure that the Trust maintains proper accounts and related records
- To consider and monitor the Trust’s financial plans to ensure they reflect the strategic plan of the Trust.
Reporting
Reports to the board of Trustees through approved minutes.
Governed by
Terms of Reference
Meetings
Four per year
Finance Committee Membership & Attendance Summary 2019/20
| From | To | Appointed by | Meetings attended |
Out of a possible |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M K Brooke (Chair) | 02/07/14 | 01/07/22 | Trust Board | 3 | 3 |
| D Wilkin | 04/02/15 | 08/04/22 | Trust Board | 3 | 3 |
| J Appleyard OBE (CEO) | 05/03/18 | N/A | Trust Board | 3 | 3 |
Duties
- Provide independent challenge to the
school leadership, primarily in respect of
pupil performance, the quality of the
school experience and execution of the
school improvement plan. - Work in partnership with the Trust and
school leadership to ensure an active,
high quality effective programme of
stakeholders and community engagement
is delivered.
| Role | Name of business or organisation/educational organisation | Nature of business or organisation | Nature of interest | Date of appointment of acquisition | Date of cessation of interest | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J Gough | Original signatory Member | New Collaborative Learning Trust | Sixth Form Academy Trust | Member | Apr-17 | |
| Kings Foundation | Charitable Trust | Chairman | ||||
| U Murray | Original signatory Member | None declared | ||||
| J Craig | Member | None declared | ||||
| N Bowmer | Member | None declared | ||||
| Role | Name of business or organisation/educational organisation | Nature of business or organisation | Nature of interest | Date of appointment of acquisition | Date of cessation of interest | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P Jones OBE | Chair of Trustees | None declared | ||||
| D Wilkin | Trustee | None declared | ||||
| J Gough | Trustee | New Collaborative Learning Trust | Sixth Form Academy Trust | Member | Apr-17 | |
| Kings Foundation | Charitable Trust | Chairman | ||||
| J Appleyard OBE | Trustee, CEO | None declared | ||||
| A Clarke | Trustee | None declared | ||||
| E Shepherd | Trustee | None declared | ||||