The Role of the Governors

As a Single Academy Trust, West Town Lane Academy has 2 levels of governance. A group of 3-5 Members and a Governing Board, also known as a Board of Trustees. In an academy, Trustees are both the charity trustees and company directors of the academy trust.

The Governing Board exists to provide strategic direction for the school, and to ensure, through monitoring, that the school is providing the appropriate high standards of education for all its pupils. Governors have 3 core functions:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and planning the strategic direction of the school.
• Overseeing financial performance of the school, ensuring money is well spent.
• Holding the Headteacher and school leadership to account for the educational performance of the school, its pupils, and the performance management of staff.

Governors are not involved in the day to day running of the school. They strategically support the school as it works towards its aims and priorities.

Governors are unpaid volunteers who act in what they believe to be the best interests of the school and its students - they do not ‘represent’ a particular group. The Full Governing Board (FGB) meets six times a year and there are two committees that also meet. 

The Governing Board can comprise:

• Parent Governors - elected by Parents
• Community Governors -  appointed by the Governing Board on the basis of their expertise within the community
• Staff Governors - elected by teaching and non-teaching staff
• The Headteacher

What do Governors do?

• Monitor the performance of the school
• Oversee the budget
• Oversee the school curriculum
• Sit on staff recruitment panels
• Advise on school policies and procedures
• Sit on complaint and grievance panels in accordance with school policies
• Provide a vital means for parents and the community to get their views heard by the governing board as a whole

If you would like any further information about the Governing Board, or have any matters you would like to raise with Governors, please contact the Chair of Governors, Louisa Dixon, at chairofgovernors@wtlacademy.bristol.sch.uk  or the Clerk, Leanne Simpson at clerk@wtlacademy.bristol.sch.uk

Governing Body

Trustees 

• Louisa Dixon (Chair of Trustees)
• Neil Prosser  (Vice Chair) 
• Adrian Robbins (Headteacher)
• Ellie Whiddington
• Angela Driscoll
• Katy Nehammer
• Fatima Hemming
• Judith Buckley
• Colin Clements
• Leanne Simpson (Clerk to Trustees)

Sub-committees:

Finance & Audit

• Joe Coyne
• Neil Prosser (Chair)
• Louisa Dixon
• Fatima Hemming
• Judith Buckley

Curriculum & Achievement 

• Katy Nehammer(Chair)
• Ellie Whiddington
• Angela Driscoll
• Colin Clements
• Health & Safety Governor - Neil Prosser
• Safeguarding Governor - Colin Clements
• SEND Governor-  Louisa Dixon
• Children in Care Governor - Judith Buckley
• Pupil Premium - Louisa Dixon
• EYFS-Fatima Hemming

West Town Lane Academy

Membership

MEMBERS 

• Alan Veal (Chair) - No Business Interests 
• Sarah McGahern - No Business Interests 
• Marianne Croft - No Business Interests