Governors

Our Governors

Edward Heneage is governed by an Academy Scrutiny Committee.

Our governors are:

• Rachel Briggs
  Acting Head of School
  Rachel Briggs

• Wendy Baxter
  Trust Senior Link (Chair)
  Wendy Baxter

  Wendy was appointed a Trust Senior Link on to ASC on 3 September 2018. She has served on other ASCs across the DRET Academies for the past 10 years. Wendy is a Regional Director for DRET and its part of her role to ensure that all aspects of school leadership are exemplary, including governance. She wishes to support ASCs by bringing her knowledge and skill-set to the meetings and there is always something new to learn from other governors. She has previously been a Teacher and also had a 20 year career in NHS management as well as running her own business supporting GP practices. When not at work, she loves to spend time outdoors and is an avid fan of parkrun.

• Patrick Salmon
  DRET Appointed Governor
  Patrick Salmon

• Alan Tregunno
  DRET Appointed Governor
  Alan Tregunno

  Alan joined the ASC as a DRET Appointed Governor on 24 December 2020. He is interested in the future of young peoples� education and wishes to support them to get ready for the real world of the working life. Alan has the link assigned role for SEND, and has also recently joined the ASC at Fairfield Academy. He has a full-time career in Manufacturing, including teaching / Assessing and training of people from diverse backgrounds within the manufacturing Industries. Alan joined the ASC with an open mind and gives unbiased opinions. Alan�s interests include DIY, Outdoor pursuits, walking, Cycling and camping. He is also Treasurer of an Allotment association.

• Wuzhe Lihan
  DRET Appointed Governor
  Wuzhe Lihan

  Wuzhe was appointed a DRET Appointed Governor on 16 January 2021. He wanted to become a governor to�support a local school leadership team to meet the challenge of providing a high quality education and ensure that students in this area receive an excellent education - thus making a contribution to ending educational inequality. Wuzhe has worked with pharmaceutical companies in China for over 8 years leading sales and marketing. He now works as a business analyst providing advice to companies on strategy, turnaround and finance. His skills and experience in the commercial world are put to good use in a school context. His experience in the Chinese school system can be used to support schools in maintaining high expectations of behaviour and provide challenge to leaders to ensure that a culture of high expectations is embedded. Wuzhes interests and passions include travel and the Gym.

• Kerry Duffield
  DRET Appointed Governor
  Kerry Duffield

  Kerry joined the ASC as a DRET Appointed Governor on 2 June 2021. She has worked within the David Ross Education Trust since 2011 at Havelock Academy as a teacher and on the Senior Leadership Team. Having been involved in Governor meetings at her own school, she was keen to be able to offer her own experience in education and as a parent to that of a neighbouring school within the Trust. Kerry is currently a teacher of maths, and Assistant Principal SENCO at Havelock Academy. She has previously been a Head of Department and a Progress Leader for KS3. Prior to teaching, Kerry was a Retail Manager and has a degree in Business Management. Kerry has strong leadership skills, is organised, committed and works well in a team. She is also creative and good at problem solving. Kerry is very passionate about ensuring that all children receive a good education and have access to a wide range of opportunities regardless of background. She is also an avid reader and interested in arts and crafts, in particular sewing.

• Gemma McKierana
  Parent Governor
  Gemma McKierana

  Gemma was elected by parents to join the ASC as a Parent Governor on 26 May 2021. She wanted to become a governor to become more involved in how and what her children were learning. Gemma is a Senior Health Care Assistant at the hospital and has received a high level of Safeguarding and Mental Capacity training. Gemma is eager to learn and use her initiative. She is very patient and a good time-keeper. She is passionate about her job and being able to protect her family and help other people. Gemma enjoys socialising with her friends and family and taking her children out to places where they can have fun.

• Bethany Thompson
  Staff Governor
  Bethany Thompson

  Bethany was elected on to the ASC as a Staff Governor on 3 March 2021. As a teacher at the academy, she always strives for the absolute best for the pupils and being part of the governing body allows her to have a say in the bigger picture of the education of the children in the community. �Bethany joined Edward Heneage in 2019. She started as an NQT in Y6 and is now the whole-school Curriculum Lead and Upper Key Stage 2 Phase Lead. As Curriculum Lead, she has a strong understanding of the structure and purpose of the trust curriculum and has been working with staff in 2021 to foster cross-curricular links and connections, supporting the children to become knowledgeable all-rounders. Bethany is also based in Y5/6 and is therefore proficient in data analysis and the subsequent target setting and improvement planning which stems from this. She is passionate about curriculum design and the significance of those subjects classed as non-core. As both a historian and a linguist by trade, she loves the sparks of curiosity which stem from the skills and knowledge these fascinating subjects have to offer. Bethany is currently working on a project revolving around explicit vocabulary teaching which aims to encompass all of these areas.

• Anna Chester
  Clerk
  Anna Chester

  Anna has been clerking academies within the Trust since September 2020. Prior to that she spent 33 years working for HM Revenue and Customs, specialising in complaints investigation, including Adjudicator and MP cases. Anna is also Vice Chair and DRET Appointed Governor at Humberston Academy. Anna enjoys gardening, walking her dog and visiting museums and other cities around the world.

Governor Assigned Responsibilities

Safeguarding - Wendy Baxter
SEND - Alan Tregunno

Pupil Premium - Lihan Wuzhe

Contacting a Governor

To contact a governor, please contact the Trust Governance Team by emailing governorservices@dret.co.uk 

Scheme of Delegation

Information about the David Ross Education Trust’s scheme of delegation is available here.

Minutes of the Academy Scrutiny Committee

Should you wish to view a copy of the minutes of the ASC at this academy, please contact the Trust Governance Team, who will be able to provide you with an electronic or paper copy of the minutes.

Are you interested in becoming an academy governor?

We are looking for new governors to support our academies. Our governors work closely with their academies to support the Trust’s goal of broadening the horizons of young people through a world-class education, equipping our students with the skills and experiences to become their confident, academic best, no matter what.

If you have an interest in, and commitment to, improving education and would like to make a difference within your community, please register your interest in becoming a governor by completing our governor application form. If you have any questions about a governor’s role or responsibilities please contact us at governorservices@dret.co.uk.

What skills, experience and commitment are required?

Governors attend six Academy Scrutiny Committee meetings a year (this may vary slightly depending on the academy) and are asked to support and enrich the academy in a range of other ways including:

• Undertaking school visits outside Academy Scrutiny Committee meetings.
• Taking on a ‘link’ governor role, liaising with academy staff and other governors on areas such as safeguarding, special educational needs and other academy priority areas.
• Sitting on panels related to the school, eg, appeals, complaints, exclusions.
• Participating in the Trust’s governor training and development programme.

We are looking for local people who would be committed to supporting the Trust’s goals. You need time, enthusiasm and a deep commitment to support these academies to be the best they can for their communities.  A programme of induction, training and support is provided and expenses are covered.  The Academy Scrutiny Committee role outline can be found here.

How does governance work at DRET?

At DRET, the Academy Scrutiny Committee provides support and challenge to the Principal in ensuring every child makes good or better progress and that the Academy is achieving targets and continually improving. To maximise the ability of the local governors to focus on this key area the Academy Scrutiny Committee is not required to set strategy or policy, manage financial resources, staff performance and pay, Health and Safety or many of the other areas traditionally associated with a maintained school governing body as these issues are dealt with at Trust level. This means that governors are able to concentrate on the things that really matter – pupil progress, school outcomes and aspiration.

The Academy Scrutiny Committee consists of a group of people who could be parents, community nominees, academy staff, Trust staff and Diocesan members.  Each Academy Scrutiny Committee normally consists of 11-15 governors creating a balanced group of experience, skills and connections to support the academy in achieving exceptional performance.

In summary, the key responsibilities of the Academy Scrutiny Committee are:

• Understanding and promoting the Trust’s and the Academy’s vision and ethos.
• Scrutiny and challenge of achievement of targets, school improvement and pupil outcomes. Escalation of any concerns to the Trustees via the Executive.
• Supporting and facilitating parental and community engagement.

The difference between a DRET Academy Scrutiny Committees and a traditional school Governing Body

By comparison to a traditional school Governing Body:

• The Academy Scrutiny Committee’s role is not to “manage” the Academy. This is done through the Trust’s executive management structure (ie Principal, Regional Directors, Executive Management Team) and the Trust Board. Therefore, the Academy Scrutiny Committee is not required to take decisions on staff or financial matters affecting the Academy. As an Academy Scrutiny Committee Member you should have an understanding of strategic issues that impact on the Academy, and be updated on them regularly by the Principal, but you are not required to have direct responsibility for them. Instead the Academy Scrutiny Committee should be in a position to assess the impact of the Academy locally; how it is contributing to the local community, how it is relating to local families and how it understands local issues.
• As the Executive Management and Trust Board takes responsibility for setting educational standards, legal compliance and financial viability, the Academy Scrutiny Committee then has the time to scrutinise and challenge achievement of targets and school improvement, investigate the standards on the ground, to see how they are working, and explore how the Trust ethos is being understood and expressed in the way the Academy operates. As an Academy Scrutiny Committee member, your view as a parent, member of staff or as part of the community is vital in this discussion.

• Declarations Edward Heneage Primary 2020 21
• Declarations Edward Heneage Primary 2021 22
• Meetings Edward Heneage Primary 2020 21
• Meetings Edward Heneage Primary 2021 22