Local Committee 

As part of Elevate Multi Academy Trust, our Local Committee (formerly Local Governing Body) acts as the local layer of governance, ensuring alignment with the trust’s overall governance framework while focusing on the needs of our academy and community. This structure promotes consistency, accountability, and collaboration across all Elevate academies. 

We follow the purpose of governance as set out in the Academy Trust Governance Guide 2024, which is to provide: 

  • Strategic Leadership 
    Setting the vision, ethos, and strategic direction for the academy in line with trust priorities. 

  • Accountability and Assurance 
    Holding leaders to account for educational performance, safeguarding, and having an overview of financial probity. 

  • Strategic Engagement 
    Acting as a link between the academy, parents, and the wider community to ensure stakeholder voices are heard. 

Why Our Local Committee Matters 

Although the Board of Trustees is ultimately accountable for the trust, our Local Committee provides an essential local layer of governance for Elevate. This ensures alignment with trust-wide governance while focusing on the unique needs of our academy and community. 

Our Local Committee plays a vital role by: 

  • Connecting the Board of Trustees, the academy, and the community 
    Acting as a bridge to ensure decisions reflect local context. 

  • Providing strong links to the Board of Trustees 
    Sharing local insights so trust-level decisions are well informed. 

  • Engaging meaningfully with parents and the wider community 
    Keeping the academy at the heart of its community and working with local organisations where possible. 

  • Serving as ambassadors for the Trust 
    Bringing deep knowledge of the community and its specific needs, which is invaluable to the Board of Trustees. 

  • Supporting parental and community involvement 
    Ensuring decision-making by the board of trustees is shaped by meaningful engagement. 

  • Playing an important role in safeguarding and safety 
    Offering local oversight and understanding of the academy environment. 

  • Assuring the academy’s performance and quality of education 
    Using local stakeholder voices to monitor and support improvement. 

  • Escalating issues when necessary 
    Acting promptly to raise concerns with the Board of trustees. 

  • Acting as a critical friend to the Headteacher 
    Providing constructive challenge at a strategic level. 

  • Triangulating information 
    Reviewing policies, visiting the academy, and speaking with staff and children to gain a full picture. 

The different responsibilities overseen by trustees and local committees are set out in the Scheme of Delegation, which is reviewed on an annual basis. 

Link to Scheme of Delegation 

Link to Articles of Association 

 

The Local Committee comprises of:

The Head Teacher

Staff local committee member- elected by the staff at the academy 

2 parent local committee members - elected by parents at the academy

2 community local committee members - Invited by the other Local Committee members for their skill set from the local community

2 foundation local committee members – appointed by trust and agreed by the Diocese

Associate members - Appointed by local committee members to provide short term support in areas identified by the Local Committee. They have no voting rights and their term of office will be limited to 1 year. 

 

Chair of Local Committee:  Tracey Shepherdson

Email: t.shepherdson@hwprimaryschools.org

Address: Hackness CE Primary School, North Yorkshire, Scarborough, YO13 0JN

 

Our Local Committee memers:  

Mrs Rowena Thorp - Interim Headteacher

 

Amanda Herrington - Staff Local Committee Member 

 I am a General Teaching Assistant working in the Early Years and Key Stage 1 class at Wykeham School and I have seen first hand how a happy and positive school environment helps the pupils thrive. I am very privileged to become the staff governor for the federation. I hope I can be a voice to represent the federation staff at our two schools.  Although I have only been working in a school setting for a couple of years, I hope my knowledge and experience of our schools will put me in good stead to work alongside fellow governors and our Excecutive Headteacher.

 

Rev Joe Kinsella - Foundation Local Committee Member

 

Chris De Silva – Parent Local Committee Member 

As a parent at Hackness School I am pleased to be a representative on the Governing Board.  

As a father with children at the school I hope my skills can support an agenda for continuous improvement across the federation so that all the children can reach their full potential and have a positive school experience.

I feel privileged to be a Parent Governor and look forward to working with all stakeholders to provide a parent perspective and advocate on behalf of the wider parent body. 

 

Toby Flood – Community Local Committee Member

As a proud dad of three kids, two of which go to Wykeham, I believe that school plays an important part in shaping our children’s future. I was pleased to be invited to join the board of governors and help support the school as best I can.

 

Helen Scott – Parent Local Committee Member

When my daughter started school, I wanted to help maintain the high standards of the school and be involved in shaping its future. I was fortunate to be appointed as a Parent Governor in 2019.

I have worked in secondary education for fifteen years and I am passionate about education and hope that my knowledge and experience within the sector will add to the governing body.

 

Tracy Shepherdson – Chair & Community Local Committee Member

I look forward to having an insight and influence into the beginnings of a child’s learning in my local community and gain more understanding of the inner workings of the education system.

I work in the Higher Education sector and am passionate about encouraging children to reach their potential and raise their aspirations. Educating children about something they never thought possible is so rewarding. I hope that my knowledge and experience in widening participation and outreach will enhance my governor’s role.

I live in Ruston, I am the wife of a very busy farmer and have two amazing step children. I can usually be seen walking my little dog around the local area.

 

Jackie Spowage  –  Community Local Committee Member

Retired primary headteacher with particular interest and expertise in SEND, Early Years and the teaching of reading.

 

Alan Brown   –  Foundation Local Committee Member

 

LOCAL COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
Name Role Date of Appointment Term of Office Date Stepped Down Appointed by Relevant Business Interests Personal Relationships with school staff or governors Links to other Educational Establishments Committee Membership Link Role
Wendy Banner   22.09.22 4 years  

Ex officio

Diocese of York

 None declared None declared  

Church Committee

 Collective Worship
Chris De Silva   01.10.21 4 years  

Parents

 None declared Parent (Hackness) No Resources ICT
Toby Flood   07.03.19 4 years   Governing Body None declared

None declared

 No School Improvement (Chair) PE & Outdoor Education
Alan Brown   01.09.23 4 yers  

Ex officio

Diocese of York

 None declared None declared  

School Improvement

Church Committee

 RE, Music, Art & Drama
Amanda Herrington   22.09.22 4 years   Ex officio Staff Governor None declared None declared No Church Committee  
Karen Price Chair of Governors 17.11.19 4 years 21.03.24 Local authority None declared None declared Membership of Diocese Schools Committee,

Church Committe, Performance Managment, Staff Wellbeing

School Improvement, Resources

 

Safeguarding, Governor Development and Governor Induction,

Humanities

 
Helen Scott   16.11.23 4 years   Parents None declared Parent (Wykeham) Employee at Scalby School School Improvement Literacy
Tracy Shepherdson Chair of Governors 01.10.21 4 years   Governing Body None declared None declared No Resources (Chair) Health & Safety, Pupil Premium
Janet Spittal Headteacher 29.15.19 n/a   Ex officio Headteacher None declared None declared Governor at Compass Academy, Hull

School Improvement, Church Committee

 

  
Jackie Spowage   22.09.22 4 years   Governing Body      

School Improvement

HT Wellbeing

 PSHCE Early Years, SEND
Rowena Thorp   04.10.16 8 years 21.03.24 Governing Body None declared None declared No School Improvement   
Rev Joe Kinsella Associate Governor 21/09/2023 1 year   Governing Body None declared None declared   NA