Governance

The Academy Council at St Mary’s currently comprises 10 Governors, including the Headteacher, Foundation, Staff and Parent Governors. The Academy Council meets six times a year and the Admissions Committee meets annually.

The Headteacher provides the Academy Council with regular updates concerning progress towards whole school targets, which are linked to the School Development Plan.

The Academy Councils of The Bishop Wheeler Catholic Academy Trust schools work closely with the Trust Board, through the Directors of the Trust Board, Mr Beardsley, Trust Chief Executive Officer, and Mr Nightingale, Trust Chief Operating Officer, to ensure good communication, maintain high standards of teaching and learning, and ensure implementation of statutory requirements and good financial management.

The Academy Council at St Mary’s comprises of 10 Governors:

• 6 Foundation Governors
• 2 Parent Governors
• 1 Staff Governor
• Headteacher

Contact Information

Any queries to the Governors, including the chair of governors, Chris Billington, should come through the Clerk to Academy Council, Miss J Hughes at St Mary’s, Menston, Bradford Road, Menston, LS29 6AE or via email ja.hughes@stmarysmenston.org.

St Mary’s Academy Council Members

Foundation Governors

• Mr Dominic Adams (Vice Chair)
• Mr Chris Billington (Chair)
• Mrs Francesca Childs
• Mr John Thorne
• Fr Timothy Swinglehurst
• Vacancy

Parent Governors

• Mrs Katie Beaumont
• Mrs Selina Ingram

Staff Governor

• Mr Nick Foster

Headteacher

• Miss Margaret Hattersley

Clerk to Academy Council

• Miss Jo-Anne Hughes

Academy Council Link Roles

• Quality of Education
• Catholic Life and Enrichment
• Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
• Resources (incl. Finance, Estates, Health and Safety, ICT, Pupil Premium Strategy)
• Safeguarding and Pastoral Inclusion
• Careers

Academy Council Meeting Roles and Responsibilities

Admissions Committee (incl. Headteacher)
• Chris Billington
• John Thorne

Disciplinary Board:
• All Academy Council Members

Interviews:
• All Academy Council Members

Headteacher Performance Management:
• Academy Council Chair
• Academy Council Vice Chair
• Academy Council Resources Link

How are governors appointed?

Foundation Governors are appointed by the Diocese of Leeds, following recommendation from their Parish Priest
Staff Governors are appointed through a process of election by the whole staff at the academy
Parent Governors are appointed through a process of election by the parents of pupils at the academy
The Headteacher maintains their post for as long as they are in role

Code of Conduct for the Academy Council

All members of the Academy Council sign the Code of Conduct at the first meeting of each school year.

Academy Council Members Term of Office

Mr Dominic Adams	Date of current term: 21.09.22 - 20.09.26 Declared business interests: Network Design and Marketing Ltd, Director
Mrs Katie Beaumont	Date of current term: 28.06.22 - 28.06.26 Declared business interests: none
Mr Chris Billington	Date of current term: 02.10.23 - 01.10.27 Declared business interests: Wrigleys Solicitors - Partner, High Royds Sports and Social Club, High Royds Sports and Social Club, High Royds Residents Association
Mrs Francesca Childs	Date of current term: 25.03.21 - 24.03.25 Declared business interests: none
Mr Nick Foster	Date of current term: 15.04.24 - 14.04.28 Declared business interests: none
Mrs Selina Ingram	Date of current term: 07.06.23 - 06.06.27 Declared business interests: none
Miss Margaret Hattersley	Date of current term: 01.09.21 Declared business interests: Trustee Bambisanani Partnership, Related to a member of the school Support Staff
Fr Timothy Swinglehurst	Date of current term: 01.09.23 - 31.08.27 Declared business interests: none
Mr John Thorne	Date of current term: 20.05.21 - 19.05.25 Declared business interests: City of Leeds Schools Forum (Co-Chair), Southroyd Primary School and Children’s Centre

Attendance at Academy Council Meetings and Committees

St Mary’s is indebted to all Governors, who dedicate considerable time and energy to supporting the running of the school on an entirely voluntary basis. Even when they are unable to attend meetings, their contributions are noted. We are very privileged to have such a dedicated Academy Council.

Relationship between St Mary's Menston Academy Council and The Bishop Wheeler Catholic Academy Trust

The Directors of the Bishop Wheeler Catholic Academy Trust are drawn from a wide range of backgrounds, appointed by the Bishop

One of the founding principles of our Trust is subsidiarity; that all decisions are made at the most appropriate level, rather than being imposed from above. In practice, therefore key to the work of the Trust is our Headteachers Group.

The Headteachers of all 13 Trust schools meet on a regular basis. As well as sharing good practice, they offer mutual support and development, peer review and develop and oversee the implementation of Trust wide policies. Each school has an Academy Council with Governors appointed by the Diocese or elected by parents and staff. They oversee the strategic direction of each school and scrutinise standards, finance and admissions. Governors work with staff to continually monitor and develop the school’s achievements and direction as outlined in the School’s Development Plans.

The Trust Directors meet as a Board supported by the Resources Committee and the Audit and Risk Committee. They receive regular updates on progress within all the schools and have overall legal responsibility for standards, finance and admissions.

Everyone who works in our schools are employees of the Bishop Wheeler Trust and the Directors are responsible for developing and ensuring implementation of policies across all our schools to support this.

The work of the whole Trust is underpinned by and focused ensuring outstanding Catholic education for all pupils. As a family of schools, the Trust enables our young people to develop spiritually, morally, intellectually and personally, putting their faith into action, through serving Christ in others, in the church and in the world around them.