All of the academies in the Cidari Trust are accountable to their individual Local Governing Committees, which in turn is accountable to the Board of Directors of the Trust. In all our Academies the Local Governing Committee can appoint its own community Governors, and it is traditionally these posts which the Committee uses to cover skills gaps, hence these posts often being offered to Governors from the local business community. Parent and Staff representatives are are also elected on to the Committee and play a vital role in Governance. Finally, the For faith Academies, the church, via Cidari, appoint a number of foundation Governors to each Local Governing Committee.
Local Governing Committees make decisions which are in the best interests of the children and young people. Keeping the decision making as close as possible to those that are affected by the decisions makes for sound and efficient leadership and governance.
Fulfilling the role of an Academy Governor is, therefore, both a serious undertaking and an enormously rewarding one. Not only do Governors bring their own knowledge and skills to the role, but, in learning how academies are run, they often develop their understanding of leadership. In addition, contributing to the growth and development of an academy and seeing tangible improvements in the attainment and wellbeing of the children is a satisfying and important contribution to the local community.
Our School Worship Team wrote a governing prayer that is said to open each meeting.
Local Governing Committee
The local governing committees, set up for each of the Academies within the MAT, maintain their existing representation (unless serious Governance concerns have been evidenced) and are tasked with protecting the individual ethos of the Academy. Parents are elected to these local governing committees and so maintain an input into the governance of their Academy. However, as mentioned above it is also responsibility of the MAT Board of Trustees to ensure it protects the individual ethos of each Academy within the MAT (whether church or community) in accordance with the company documents. More information regarding local Governing Committees and how to become a Governor in one of our Academies can be found by clicking here.
Governors
Mrs Tara Maynard
Chair of Governors, Foundation Governor. Safeguarding Governor. Registered interest when position became available. Expiry 02/11/2027
Miss Laura Peckson
Ex-Officio Staff Governor
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Miss Chantelle Cooney
Parent Governor. Attendance Governor. Registered interest when position became available, Expiry 31/08/2025
Revd. Kevin Colyer
Church Governor
Church School Link Governor. Pupil Premium Governor. Expiry date 30/4/2026.
Mr Daniel Riley
Foundation Governor
Trust Appointed, Expiry Date 31/12/2026
Peter Ashworth
SEND Link Governor
Michaela Underwood
SIAMS Link Governor
Amy Sears
Staff Governor. Registered interest when position became available. Expiry 16/04/2028
Philippa Kershaw
Foundation Governor. Registered interest when position became available. Expiry 16/04/2028
Melissa Matthews
Observer
Parent Governor Vacancy
Cidari has a highly skilled Board of Trustees, approved by the Department for Education. The Board of Trustees delegate decision making for certain functions to a Local Governing Committee for each Academy. In Cidari each Academy has a Local Governing Committee (LGC). The LGC will continue to ensure that the needs of the Academy are monitored closely.
The structure of Cidari allows for more formalised, collaborative working whilst allowing the individual characteristics, distinctiveness and ethos of each academy to continue.
Cidari has a very small group of Members who are named for legal purposes. Members hold the trust board to account for the effective governance of the trust, the members themselves have a minimal role in the actual running of the trust. It is the trust board, not the members, who are the organisation’s key strategic decision makers. The MAT Board of Trustees has overall responsibility and accountability in law for the performance, site and overall running of the Trust and each of the Academies.
What do the Members do?
The standard company structure for Multi Academy Trusts is five members who are similar to shareholders in a company (but in this volunteers without any financial benefit rather than investors), there is then also a Board of Trustees who are responsible for the strategic running of the trust. The Members sign the company documents for the company (which set out its core purpose, i.e. provision of education etc.), they also have the power to appoint the Trustees and amend the company documents. The Members attend one annual general meeting each year.
Role and Basis for Appointment to the Board of Trustees
The core governance functions of the Multi Academy Trust, (i.e. setting the direction of the Trust, holding the CEO and Headteachers to account and ensuring sound use of finances) are carried out by the multi academy trust Board of Trustees.
Within Cidari, Trustees have been appointed on the basis of the skills they can bring to the trust board. It is essential that this is made up of skilled individuals to ensure the success, both academically and financially, of the trust and the best outcomes for the learners within our Academies. Some of the Trustees are representatives of the Diocese of Blackburn Board of Education and Board of Finance.
Members
Rt. Rev. Philip North
Bishop of Blackburn
David Barlow
Chair of the Diocesan Board of Finance
Rt. Rev. Dr Jill Duff
Bishop of Lancaster
Ven. Mark Ireland
Archdeacon of Blackburn
Ven. David Picken
Archdeacon of Lancaster
Awaiting Appointment
Bishop of Burnley
Trustees
John McClelland
Chair of Trustees (Trustee Member Appointed)
Term of office: 21/03/21 - 20/03/25
Jo Venn
Trustee (Member Appointed) & Vice Chair
Term of office: 01/09/22 - 31/08/26
Peter Ashworth
Trustee/ Chief Executive Ex Officio
Leader of Learning & Academy Improvement
Cornelius Asghar
Trustee (Member Appointed)
Term of office: 13/07/22 - 12/07/26
Rev Claire Cooke
Trustee (Member Appointed)
Term of office: 22/04/24 - 221/04/28
Canon Daphne Jordan
Trustee (Member Appointed)
Term of office: 26/03/24 - 25/03/28
Sophie Murphin
Trustee (Member Appointed)
Term of office: 01/09/23 - 31/08/27
Sally Schofield
Trustee (Member Appointed) & Deputy Director of Education - Blackburn Diocese Board Education
Term of office: 19/04/23 - 18/04/27
Michaela Underwood
Trustee (Member Appointed)
Term of office: 03/06/20 - 02/06/24
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