STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
The governance of the Trust is defined in the Memorandum and Articles of Association, together with the Master and Supplemental Funding Agreements from the Department of Education. All Trustees are members of the full Board.
THE STRUCTURE CONSISTS OF:
- Members of The Russett Learning Trust
- The Board of the Company (Trustees)
- Committees of the Trust Board
- Senior Management Team of the Academy
The aim of this structure is to devolve responsibility to those best able to make the decisions. The Trustees encourage staff contributions at all levels in the Trust.
The Trustees are there to oversee and support the work of the Senior Management Team in the running of the Academy and the Trust. The Trustees are not involved in the running of the Academy on a day to day basis. There is clarity with regard to decision making at Board, Committee and Academy level through the Scheme of Delegation.
The Executive Head Teacher of the Russett School is the Accounting Officer of the Russett Learning Trust and the Trustees have delegated the day to day management of the Trust and the Academy to the Executive Head Teacher.
The Trust Board statutory duty is to meet a minimum of three times per year, the Trust believe to ensure financial oversight and effective financial performance they have agreed that the board will met five times per year, with the committees meeting four times a year.
The committees of the Trust Board follow an agreed Scheme of Delegation and operate under a Terms of Reference for each committee. The committees of the Board are as follows: Finance Audit and Risk Committee, School Improvement Committee and the Pay Committee.
DOCUMENTS
The following documents are available on request from the clerk:
- Meeting Agendas from the Trust Board & Committee.
- Signed Minutes (part 1).
- Any papers, documents, reports considered in part
- The Russett Learning Trust Scheme of Delegation Approved October 2022 Final
Academy Governance
Members of the russett learning trust
DAVE TRANTER
MEMBER
Joined: 1st June 2015
As an Engineering graduate I worked in the implementation and development of business software for over 40 years, until my retirement in 2019.
Sue and I moved from Wolverhampton to Northwich in 1989 and our 4 boys were all schooled here. Our youngest son Joe has Down’s Syndrome and joined The Russett after primary education in a mainstream school. He certainly flourished at the school as well as thoroughly enjoying his time there until moving on the higher education at the age of 18.
Having originally joined the school as a Parent Governor in September 2013, I am now a Trust Member and Trustee.
Currently I have no financial business-related involvement with the Trust.
MOIRA CHAPMAN
MEMBER
Joined: 1st June 2015
I worked in the NHS as a Public Health Specialist, finishing my career as a senior manager in a Primary Care Trust. My responsibilities included: partnership working with the goal of improving health; managing a number of teams with responsibility for promoting health (smoking cessation, weight reduction, Healthy Schools programme, sexual health and HIV prevention, Healthy Living Centre); provision of professional advice on commissioning of health improvement services; management of Health Improvement budget and performance management of health improvement initiatives.
I have extensive experience of governance in the public sector. I have been Chairman of a number of bodies (Cheshire Police Authority, Cheshire Social Services, Cheshire Children’s Fund). I was Vice Chairman of Cheshire and Warrington Connexions Partnership. My responsibilities in all bodies included: budget setting and financial oversight; performance management of service delivery; public engagement and appointment of senior staff.
I was awarded an MBE in 2001 for services to the community.
I am a Deputy Lieutenant of Cheshire.
Currently I have no financial business-related involvement with the Trust. Family Member (Son) Mr R Chapman, Trustee and Member of The Russett Learning Trust
ROBBIE CHAPMAN
MEMBER
Joined: 1st July 2020
I began my career with KPMG, qualifying as a chartered accountant in 2009. After periods working in higher education and social housing I became Deputy Chief Finance Officer at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in 2020. After 15 years of living in Manchester I moved back to Weaverham with my wife and 3 young children in 2021 and I am very proud to serve such an important institution in my home village.
Currently I have no financial business-related involvement with the Trust. Family Member (Mother) Mrs M Chapman, Member of The Russett Learning Trust
FRANCES BECK
MEMBER
Joined: 1st June 2015 resigned 31st December 2022
I began my teaching career at Hartford Hill School a large Special School and the forerunner to the Russett School.I became Deputy Head and followed that to become a Headteacher in a Liverpool Infant and Nursery School. An interesting school as we acted as an assessment unit for Alder Hey Hospital placing children with learning difficulties at special and mainstream schools. After staying at home with my son I worked for Chester Social Services on the Children’s Team, registering and inspecting Nurseries and Childminders throughout the District. I then set-up the Infant and Nursery at Cransley School before moving to the south-west with my family. The later part of my career saw me lecturing in Education at colleges of Further Education, training and assessing on the NNEB course and NVQs for mature teaching assistants. I became Deputy Divisional Manager and an Advanced Practitioner inspecting standards of teaching at various colleges throughout the North-west.
I am passionate about Special School provision and obtaining the best possible provision for our children.
Currently I have no financial business-related involvement with the Trust.
TRUSTEES OF THE RUSSETT LEARNING TRUST
CAROLINE ROWLEY
CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF THE RUSSETT LEARNING TRUST.
Pupil premium & pupil outcomes trustee .
Joined: 6th October 2022
Appointed by the Members of The Russett Learning Trust.
Link Trustee for Careers.
After completing my PhD in mechanical engineering I have spent 15 years working in the nuclear industry performing hazard assessments on nuclear facilities, ensuring the safety of the workforce and the public.
My daughter, Nia, joined the school in February 2015 and I became a Parent Governor in April 2015. My motivation is to help the school with the amazing work they do to maximise the potential of every pupil. I will be working hard to ensure that all the pupils get the best possible opportunities to succeed and really enjoy being at school.
Currently I have no financial business related involvement with the Trust.
MICHAEL SELLORS
VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF THE RUSSETT LEARNING TRUST.
careers trustee.
Joined: 24th August 2021
Appointed by the Members of The Russett Learning Trust.
Currently I have no financial business-related involvement with the Trust.
Governance position in another School/Academy: Chair of Governors of Christ Church C of E Primary School.
MR PETER GOUGH
curriculum Trustee
Joined: 11th February 2019
Appointed by the Members of The Russett Learning Trust.
After over 40 years of business experience working across Europe on famous brands like Cadbury’s, Andrex and Vileda I retired in 2016. Using the many experiences gained, I worked for a further 2 years as a consultant to companies looking to enter the UK market and as an independent trainer delivering training on Leadership, Communication, Negotiation, Managing Employee Performance and Anti Trust Law.
Calling on my work experiences and having seen the benefits that come to people who enjoy a full and excellent education I want to help the Trust Board achieve its Strategic aims. I believe my skill set complements that of the other Board members so that, together, we can help provide the best for our young people.
Member of Independent Monitoring Board, HMP, Altcourse, Liverpool. Honorary Secretary, The Knutsford Golf Club.
Currently I have no financial business-related involvement with the Trust.
CHERYL BOOTH
Safeguarding TRUSTEE
Joined: 6th October 2022
Appointed by the Members of The Russett Learning Trust.
Link Trustee for Safeguarding.
My professional qualifications include: Bachelor of Education with Honours, Master of Education and the National Award for Special Educational Needs Co-ordination. I have worked in education for 31 years – as a mainstream teacher, college lecturer for early years, a Special Educational Needs and Disability Co-ordinator (SENDCo) and more recently I began my own business, offering music and movement classes for 0-4 years called Rucks of Fun – Musical Merriment!
I moved to Weaverham when I married my husband Mike in 1993 and we have a daughter Rebekah and a son Joshua. We are members at St Mary’s Church Weaverham and I enjoy supporting the morning worship, playing my flute. My other interests include: crafting, bringing music to Care Homes with a group called ‘In Harmony’ and going to the theatre.
As an educator, my philosophy is to provide a safe, caring, stimulating and happy environment in which children will develop educationally, socially, emotionally and spiritually. I endeavour to ensure that every child will have equal opportunities to achieve their full potential, experience success and develop confidence and a positive self-image. I am dedicated to the development of the ‘whole child’ into a fulfilled and responsible member of society.
My aim is to find a way for every child to ‘sparkle.’
Currently I have no financial business related involvement with the Trust.
DR JAYNE BRYAN
TRUSTEE, MEMBER OF THE REMUNERATION COMMITTEE
Joined: 26th April 2019 - Resigned: 5th January 2022
MRS LISA O'BRIEN
TRUSTEE, MEMBER OF THE AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE
Joined: 10th September 2020 - Resigned: 5th September 2022
MRS JANNETTE CAMERON
TRUSTEE, FINANCE AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE & MEMBER OF THE PAY COMMITTEE.
Joined: 6th October 2022 - Resigned: 15th March 2023
ROBBIE CHAPMAN
Finance TRUSTEE
Joined: 7th October 2021 - Resigned 26th March 2024
RICH DENNY
Health and Safety TRUSTEE
Joined: 24th August 2021 - Resigned: 8th March 2024
Vacancies
Parent Trustee VacancIES
If you are interested in standing for election for the position of Parent Trustee at the Russett School we would love to hear from you.
The Trustee role is strategic rather than operational. Trustees don’t get involved with the day to day running of a school/academy, instead supporting and challenging the school’s leadership team to drive school improvement through the 3 core functions overseen by Trustees of The Russett Learning Trust:
· Planning the strategic direction of the academy
· Overseeing financial performance of the academy and ensuring money is well spent
· Holding the Executive Head Teacher or academy leadership to account
Trustees usually attend around 6 meetings a year. Being a school Trustee is a commitment and responsibility but offers you the chance to see first-hand the impact you can make in improving education for children in your community.
All enquiries/interest to: admin@russett.cheshire.sch.uk