Governance

The Role of the Local Governing Board
Our Local Governing Board (LGB) plays an important part in the leadership of the school within The Ascendancy Partnership Trust. The LGB supports and challenges school leaders to ensure the highest standards of education, wellbeing and safeguarding for all pupils.

Key responsibilities include:

Monitoring the quality of teaching, learning and pupil progress.
Ensuring the school provides a safe and supportive environment for every child.
Upholding the school’s values and ethos within the local community.
Acting as a link between the school, parents, and the wider community.
Holding leaders to account for the effective use of resources, within the framework set by the Trust.

The LGB works in partnership with the Trust Board, which has overall responsibility for governance, finance and strategic direction across all schools in the Trust.

There are no specific qualifications or requirements for the role - every governing board needs a balance and diversity of knowledge, skill and experiences. The board is made up of members of the local community, school staff and parents.

In addition to the Local Governing Board, there is a Finance Committee. The Local Governing Board meets 6 times a year and the Finance Committee meets 3-4 times per year.

If you would be interested in joining the governing board or would like more information about the governing board, please contact the Clerk to the Governors: cwilshire@brookfields.w-berks.sch.uk

The Local Governing Board (LGB) is made up of the following members:

Voting Governors

Christine McLean – Parent Governor

Responsibilities: Chair of Governors / Local Governing Board / Finance Committee
Term of office: October 2024 – October 2027
Pecuniary or Business interests: None
Attendance 2024/25: FGB/LGB: 5 out of 6 Finance Committee: 2 out of 3

Stuart Matthews – Parent Governor

Responsibilities: Local Governing Board / Finance Committee
Term of office: October 2024 - October 2027
Pecuniary or Business interests: None
Attendance 2024/25: FGB/LGB: 3 out of 4 Finance Committee: 2 out of 2

Anne Murdoch – Co-opted Governor

Responsibilities: Local Governing Board
Term of office: October 2017 – October 2026
Pecuniary or Business interests: None
Attendance 2024/25: FGB/LGB: 5 out of 6

Tom Canham – Staff Governor

Responsibilities: Local Governing Board
Term of office: October 2024 – October 2027
Pecuniary or Business interests: None
Attendance 2024/25: FGB/LGB: 5 out of 5

Lesley Reed – Co-opted governor

Responsibilities: Vice Chair of Governors / Local Governing Board / Chair of Finance Standards Committee
Term of office: January 2024 - January 2027
Pecuniary or Business interests: None
Attendance 2024/25: FGB/LGB: 6 out of 6 Finance Committee: 3 out of 3

Vacant – Co-opted governor

Responsibilities:
Term of office:
Pecuniary or Business interests:
Attendance 2024/25:

Vacant – Co-opted governor

Responsibilities:
Term of office:
Pecuniary or Business interests:
Attendance 2024/25: N/A

Maurice George – Co-opted Governor

Responsibilities: Local Governing Board / Safeguarding Governor
Term of office: December 2024 - December 2027
Pecuniary or Business interests: CEO of Ways into Work
Attendance 2024/25: FGB/LGB: 4 out of 4

Catherine Bernie – Headteacher – Ex officio

Responsibilities: Local Governing Board / Finance Committee
Term of office: September 2022 - ongoing
Pecuniary or Business interests: None
Attendance 2024/25: FGB/LGB: 6 out of 6 Finance Committee: 2 out of 3