Leadership & Governance

Trust Leadership Team

Zoé Evans, Rosewood Headteacher, Trust CEO and Accounting Officer	Andy Evans, Great Oaks Executive Headteacher	Geraldine Lindsay, Great Oaks Headteacher	Sarah Neusinger, Rosewood Deputy Head	Tony Parkes, Great Oaks Deputy Head

The role of the School Headteachers

The Headteachers are responsible for the day to day management of the schools, and report to the Trustees and LGB according to the local scheme of delegation.  Headteachers within the Trust may also have Trust responsibilities identified as part of their job description for example – Accounting Officer / Expansion and growth of the MAT.

The Business Leadership Team

The Trust is managed by a Business Leadership Team, covering Human Resources, Finance, IT and Estates & Premises including Health & Safety.

Jen Frost, Business Leadership Team (Finance) and Trust Chief Financial Officer	Katharine Jordan, Business Leadership Team (Human Resources)	Man Wong, Business Leadership Team (IT)	Roger Sim, Business Leadership Team (Premises and Estates)

Trust Members

The role of the Members

Members' duties are outlined in the Academies Handbook.  

Members are the subscribers to the memorandum of association.

• They may amend the articles of association subject to any restrictions created by the funding agreement or charity law
• They may, by special resolution, appoint new members or remove existing members other than, where there is one, the foundation/sponsor body and any members it has appointed
• Members have powers to appoint trustees as set out in the trust’s articles of association and powers under the Companies Act 2006 to remove trustees
• They may, by special resolution, issue direction to the trustees to take a specific action
• Members appoint the trust’s external auditors and receive (but do not sign) the audited annual report and accounts (subject to the Companies Act) have power to change the company’s name and, ultimately, wind it up

While members are permitted to be appointed as trustees, in order to retain a degree of separation of powers between the members and the trust board, and in line with DfE expectations, the majority of members should be trustees.  Members are not permitted to be employees of the academy trust.

Chair of Trustees

Tony Boyle - Appointed by academy members – 16/09/2020

Trustees 

The role of the Trustees

The Trustees are the Charity Trustees (within the terms of section 177(1) of the Charities Act 2011) and are responsible for the general control and management of the administration of the trust in accordance with the provisions set out in the memorandum and articles of association.  The board of Trustees is the accountable body for the performance of all schools within the trust. Its duties are set out in the Academy Trust Handbook and include

• strategic leadership that sets and champions vision, ethos and strategy

• accountability that drives up educational standards and financial performance

• people with the right skills, experience, qualities and capacity

• structures that reinforce clearly defined roles and responsibilities

• compliance with statutory and contractual requirements

• evaluation of governance to monitor and improve its quality and impact.

The Trust has the right to review and adapt its governance structure at any time which includes removing delegation.

The role of Committees

The Trustees may establish committees either with delegated authority to make decisions or for the purpose of providing advice and support, informing the overall work of the Trust Board.   However these committees are not legally responsible or accountable for statutory functions – the Trust Board retains overall accountability and responsibility. The responsibilities of board committees are set out in their terms of reference; the responsibilities for cluster or school governing committees are set out in the scheme of delegation.   The trust board may appoint committee members and committee chairs.

Finance & Audit Committee

Zoé Evans (Chair) – Trustee & CEO

Malcolm Smith (Vice Chair) – Trustee

Tony Boyle - Trustee

Pradeep Athwal – Trustee

Neville Button – Governor Great Oaks

Bill Shanker - Governor Rosewood

Advisors – Andy Evans, Executive Headteacher Great Oaks & Jen Frost CFO

Health & Safety Committee

Roger Sim (Chair) – Business Lead Premises & Estates

Liz McCaughey – Trustee

Sue Williams – Trustee & Chair of Governors Great Oaks

Geraldine Lyndsay – Head of School Great Oaks Vermont Site

Man Wong – Business Lead IT

Sarah Lotriet – Health & Safety Coordinator Rosewood

Vicky Dudden – Health & Safety Coordinator Rosewood

David Johnson – Site Manager Great Oaks

Personnel Committee

Katharine Jordan (Chair) – Business Lead HR & Admin

Zoe Evans – Headteacher Rosewood, CEO

Rosemary Gregory – Trustee

Corrina Burner – Governor Rosewood

Neil Margereson – Governor Great Oaks

Gemma Good - Governor Great Oaks

Meeting Dates

Meeting Date Schedule 2025-2026

The role of the local governing bodies (LGBs)

The Trust Board will establish LGBs, appoint the chair, ensure at least two parents are elected and will determine what will be delegated.   Typically, responsibilities may include:

• Building an understanding of how the school is led and managed
• Monitoring whether the school is:Working within agreed policies
• Meeting the agreed targets
• Managing its finances well
• Engaging with stakeholders
• Reporting to the Trustees board

As a committee of the board, delegation can be removed at any time.

Members of each LGB are detailed on the school websites: Great Oaks Governors and Rosewood Governors

SST Attendance Record 24-25

Register of interests