The purpose of governance is to provide confident and strong strategic leadership which leads to robust accountability, oversight and assurance for educational and financial performance. Governance has three core functions:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
- Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff.
- Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.
Within a multi-academy trust such as Lionheart, governance is led by the Trust Board, with some responsibilities delegated to both the Local Governing Body of the school and Hub Governing bodies across a cluster of schools.
Highcliffe Primary School has a Local Governing Body. Contact the governing body via the Chair of Governors, Bernard Saunders.
Further Trust and Governance Information
Highcliffe Primary School Governors
Bernard Saunders, Chair
Paul Ince, (Vice Chair)
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Parent Governors
(Elected by parent vote)
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Community Governors
(Appointed by the Governing Body)
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Staff Governors
(Elected by staff vote)
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Neil Gilliver
Rural Housing
April 2016 – March 2020
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Charlotte Foy
Business Director
September 2019 – August 2023
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Hannah Drury
Head of School September 2019
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Rakesh Vaitha
September 2019 – August 2023
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Michelle Walton
Executive Head
September 2019
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Paul Ince
IT/Social Media
Oct 2015 – September 2019
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Bernard Saunders
Health & Safety at Leicester Council
April 2014 – March 2022
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Karen O’Neill
June 2019 – May 2023
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Parent Governors
(Elected by parent vote)
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Community Governors
(Appointed by the Governing Body)
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Staff Governors
(Elected by staff vote)
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Alex Page
April 2016-March 2020
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Amisha Chauhan
Strategic Commissioning April 2014 –July 2019
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Katherine Renshaw
Head Teacher January 2016 - July 2019
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Smita Lad
Deputy Teacher at a Leicester City Primary July 2015 –July 2019
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Vicky Townsend
Associate Staff
January 2018 – July 2019
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Key Responsibilities
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Role
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Governor |
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Chair
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Bernard Saunders
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Co Vice-Chair
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Paul Ince
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Finance
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Rakesh Vaitha & Karen O’Neill
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Health, Safety & Premises
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Bernard Saunders
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Safeguarding
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Bernard Saunders
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Pupil Premium
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TBC
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SEND / Looked After Children
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Karen O’Neill
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SMSC & British Values
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TBC
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Parent Voice
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Neil Gilliver
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Education & Data
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Paul Ince
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Pupil Voice
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Charlotte Foy
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Business
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Charlotte Foy & Paul Ince
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Community
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Charlotte Foy
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Staff Voice
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Bernard Saunders
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Wellbeing – pupils & staff
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Rakesh Vaitha
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EYFS
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Neil Gilliver
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HUMANITIES (History, Geography & RE)
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Neil Gilliver
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STEM (Science, ICT, DT & Maths)
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Paul Ince
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CREATIVE (Art, Music, PSHE, MFL & Global Lead)
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TBC
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CORE SUBJECTS (Maths and English)
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Bernard Saunders
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WELLBEING TEAM (PSHE & PE)
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Rakesh Vaitha
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How Can You Contact Us?
If you have a concern about an aspect of life at the school, the best first point of contact is always the class teacher, or the headteacher if it’s a concern about the structures and systems of the school (or if it’s a child protection issue). Staff are very keen to know when things aren’t going smoothly for your child and calling in for a chat or to book an appointment to meet is always the best first step.
Governors look at the big picture, and at procedures and policies that affect large numbers of children. So if you’re concerned about something that just affects your child, speak to the class teacher. If it’s about how we do things in school on a bigger scale, talking it over with a Governor can be helpful.
- You can contact the Chair of Governors by email at chairofgovernors@highcliffeacademy.org.uk
- Some Governors are usually in school on parents’ evenings and we attend the Parent Forum meetings.
- Parent Governors are often at school dropping off and collecting their own children.
- Feel free to chat with one of them if there’s something you’d like them to know.
- Or send a note into school with your child labelled ‘Governors’.
A Note About Complaints
If, at any time, a member of the school community has a concern about an aspect of life at the school, the concern will be dealt with by the school as quickly, sympathetically and effectively as possible. It is hoped that most concerns will be settled amicably at this stage.
However, if there is a continuing concern, this can be directed through the formal stages as outlined in the school’s complaints procedure.
I’m interested In Becoming A Governor
All Governors are elected for 4 years. When Parent Governor or Staff Governor vacancies become available they are advertised within the parent or staff body and nominations can be made.
Community Governors are appointed by the Governing Body when vacancies arise. If you know of someone with skills which you feel may be valuable to the school, and who you think may be willing to offer the time and commitment required, please contact us.
Scheme of Delegation
The Trust operates under a Scheme of Delegation agreed by the Trust Board.
Trust Governance Across All Layers
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Trust Board Vision & Ethos | Strategic Direction | Risks & Opportunities | Overall Responsibility |
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Hub Governing Bodies (HGB) Finance | HR | Estates | IT | Education | Marketing & Business |
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| North Hub | South & Central Hub |
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Cedars Academy: 11-19 Hallam Fields Primary: 4-11 Highcliffe Primary: 4-11 Humphrey Perkins: 11-16 Martin High: 11-16 Riverside Primary: 4-11 |
Beauchamp College: 11-19 Judgemeadow College: 11-16 Sir Jonathan North College 11-16 Beauchamp City Sixth Form 16-19 (2020-21) |
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Local Governing Bodies (LGB) Teaching & Learning | Pupil & Parent & Staff Experience | Safeguarding | Business & Community links |
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Trust Board
The Trust Board has overall responsibility for all governance in the trust and carries the final accountability for this. The focus of the Board is on the big picture, working with the Trust Executive Team to set the overall vision for the Trust, lead strategically and identify and respond to risks and opportunities.
Hub Governing Bodies
The schools are grouped into geographical governance hubs, which hold the schools to account and take a strategic lead on the back room services, which support the schools within their cluster. They also consider the marketing strategies of the group of schools and plan for developing effective partnerships with local businesses.
Local Governing Bodies
Each school has a Local Governing Body, which holds the school to account for the quality of teaching and learning, the experience of pupils, parents and staff, the processes to ensure safeguarding, and informal links with the local community and businesses. LGBs ensure that school leaders are mindful of the school’s context and work within the overall vision of Lionheart Academies Trust.
Members
The Members of a trust are not involved in the practical running of the organisation and do not take part in Governing Body or Board meetings, except as occasional observers.
Their role is to ensure that the Board keeps its core priorities at the centre of its work – providing education for children and young people – and retains its stated ethos and values.
Members appoint some of the Trustees and, in exceptional circumstances, can remove Trustees who they have appointed.
Local Governing Body: Roles and Responsibilities of LGB Governors
| Membership | Meetings | Key roles | Attending |
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LGB meetings
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| Performance Management & Pay | |||
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| Holding the school to account for standards: | Pupil, Parent & Community | Compliance | Ambassadors & Vision |
Receive reports on:
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Stakeholder voice:
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Risk:
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Ambassadors:
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