Local Committee

As part of Elevate Multi Academy Trust, our Local Committee (formerly Local Governing Body) acts as the local layer of governance, ensuring alignment with the trust’s overall governance framework while focusing on the needs of our academy and community. This structure promotes consistency, accountability, and collaboration across all Elevate academies.

We follow the purpose of governance as set out in the Academy Trust Governance Guide 2024, which is to provide:

·       Strategic Leadership
Setting the vision, ethos, and strategic direction for the academy in line with trust priorities.

·       Accountability and Assurance
Holding leaders to account for educational performance, safeguarding, and having an overview of financial probity.

·       Strategic Engagement
Acting as a link between the academy, parents, and the wider community to ensure stakeholder voices are heard.

 

Why Our Local Committee Matters

Although the Board of Trustees is ultimately accountable for the trust, our Local Committee provides an essential local layer of governance for Elevate. This ensures alignment with trust-wide governance while focusing on the unique needs of our academy and community.

Our Local Committee plays a vital role by:

• Connecting the Board of Trustees, the academy, and the community
  Acting as a bridge to ensure decisions reflect local context.
• Providing strong links to the Board of Trustees
  Sharing local insights so trust-level decisions are well informed.
• Engaging meaningfully with parents and the wider community
  Keeping the academy at the heart of its community and working with local organisations where possible.
• Serving as ambassadors for the Trust
  Bringing deep knowledge of the community and its specific needs, which is invaluable to the Board of Trustees.
• Supporting parental and community involvement
  Ensuring decision-making by the board of trusteees is shaped by meaningful engagement.
• ·Playing an important role in safeguarding and safety
  Offering local oversight and understanding of the academy environment.
• Assuring the academy’s performance and quality of education
  Using local stakeholder voices to monitor and support improvement.
• Escalating issues when necessary
  Acting promptly to raise concerns with the Board of Trustees.
• Acting as a critical friend to the Headteacher
  Providing constructive challenge at a strategic level.
• Triangulating information
  Reviewing policies, visiting the academy, and speaking with staff and pupils to gain a full picture.

The different responsibilities overseen by trustees and local committees are set out in the Scheme of Delegation, which is reviewed on an annual basis.

 

Link to Scheme of Delegation

Link to Articles of Association

The Local Committee comprises of:

The Head Teacher

Staff local committee member- elected by the staff at the academy 

2 parent local committee members - elected by parents at the academy

2 community local committee members - Invited by the other Local Committee members for their skill set from the local community

2 foundation local committee members – appointed by trust and agreed by the Diocese

Associate members - Appointed by local committee members to provide short term support in areas identified by the Local Committee. They have no voting rights and their term of office will be limited to 1 year. 

 

Chair of Governors: Stephen Brough

Email:  sbrough@sessayprimaryschool.org

Address: Sessay CE Primary School, Sessay, Thirsk, YO7 3NA

 

Our Local Committee Members:

Fiona Bennett - Executive Head Teacher

Richard Chapman - Staff Local Committee Member

Rev David Biggs - Foundation Local Committee Member

Gill Shaw - Community Local Committee Member

Stephen Brough - Community Local Committee Member

Peter White - Community Local Committee Member