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 Academy Trust 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.

Members

Linda Maxwell-Smart (Chair), John Gough and Martin Brooke

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

Board of Trustees

Phil Jones OBE (Chair), David Wilkin, John Gough, Julian Appleyard OBE, Andy Clarke, Elaine Shepherd and Reuben Moore

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

Five meetings per year

Trust Board Membership & Attendance Summary 2022/23

FromToAppointed byMeetings attendedOut of a possible
P Jones OBE (Chair)14/08/1531/08/26Members55
D Wilkin09/04/1431/08/26Members45
J Gough14/03/1313/03/25Original (signatory) member55
J Appleyard OBE (CEO)05/03/18N/AMembers55
A Clarke17/05/1716/05/25Members55
E Shepherd02/05/1801/05/26Members45
R Moore11/02/2110/02/25Members45

Audit & Risk Committee

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

Five per year

Audit & Risk Committee Membership & Attendance Summary 2022/23

FromToAppointed byMeetings attendedOut of a possible
A Clarke (Chair)04/05/1816/05/26Trust Board55
J Gough02/07/1413/03/25Trust Board45
M K Brooke (Independent from 10/04/18)02/07/1401/07/25Trust Board55

Education & Standards Committee

Duties

  • To support the Trust’s Chief Executive Officer and the Trust Board in their responsibilities for academic standards, school improvement and teaching and learning.
  • To monitor, challenge, support and, where appropriate and advise on all aspects of school improvement and outcomes.
  • To maintain oversight of Trust-wide educational standards through monitoring, evaluating, advising, and reporting.
  • To provide scrutiny, challenge and approve any appropriate policies in line with the Trust scheme of delegation.
  • To identify any risks, such as those relating to reputation, Ofsted, educational performance, and refer these to the Audit & Risk Committee.
  • To receive feedback from Ofsted following inspections.

Reporting

Reports to the board of Trustees through approved minutes.

Governed by

Terms of Reference

Meetings

Five per year

Education & Standards Committee Membership & Attendance Summary 2022/23

FromToAppointed byMeetings attendedOut of a possible
R Moore (Chair)28/01/22Trust Board55
E Shepherd (Vice-Chair)28/01/22Trust Board55
J Appleyard OBE28/01/22Trust Board45

Finance & Resources Committee

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

Five per year

Finance & Resources Committee Membership & Attendance Summary 2021/22

FromToAppointed byMeetings attendedOut of a possible
M K Brooke (co-opted Vice Chair)02/07/1401/07/25Trust Board55
D Wilkin (Chair)04/02/1508/04/25Trust Board55
J Appleyard OBE (CEO)05/03/18N/ATrust Board55

School Performance Review Boards

  • 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.

Current Register of Business Interests – Members

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
L Maxwell-Smart Member None declared
M Brooke Member None declared

Current Register of Business Interests – Trust Board

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 Vice Chair Real Life Option Charity NfP social care Chair Trustee 2006
NCMME Charity Museum Trustee 2018
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
R Moore Trustee Teach First Teacher and leadership training provider Executive Director Jun-10

Statutory documents.

Articles of Association
Master Funding Agreement
Memorandum of Association and Certificate of Incorporation
Scheme of Delegation
Governance Code of Conduct