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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)
  • The Local Governing Committee of each Academy
  • Senior Management Team of each 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 and collaboration between the Academies in the Trust.

The Trustees are there to oversee and support the work of the Local Governing Committee and Senior Management Team in the running of the Trust. The Trustees are not involved in the running of the Academies on a day to day basis. There is clarity with regard to decision making at Board and LGC level.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) also undertakes the role of the Executive Head Teacher at the Russett School. The CEO is the Accounting Officer of the Russett Learning Trust and the Trustees have delegated the day to day management of the Trust to the CEO.

There is a separation of the Board and Academy Governance, to enable a Local Governing Committee to undertake the delegated governance duties at a local level.

The Trust Board statutory duty is to meet a minimum of three times per year, but the The Trust believe to ensure financial oversight and effective financial performance they have agreed to meet six times per year.

Local Governing Committee (LGC) continue to meet at The Russett School six times a year to ensure effective leadership and management of the Academy.

The LGC follow an agreed Scheme of Delegation and operate under a Terms of Reference. The focus of the LGC is on teaching, learning and ensuring high standards of care and education to ensure that all pupils and young people achieve outstanding educational outcomes.

DOCUMENTS

The following documents are available on request from the clerk:

Here at The Russett Learning Trust, we take governance very seriously and always look to discharge our duties in a highly professional manner. The Trust Board will be accountable for the business operation of the trust and the overarching strategic direction for all academies in the trust.

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

Frances Beck

Member

Joined: 1st June 2015

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.

Robbie Chapman

Member

Joined: 1st July 2020

Currently I have no financial business-related involvement with the Trust.  Family Member (Mother) Mrs M Chapman, Member of The Russett Learning Trust

Trustees of The Russett Learning Trust

Mr Peter Gough

Chair of the Board of The Russett Learning Trust

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.

Mrs Lisa O'Brien

Trustee, Member of the Audit and Risk Committee

Joined: 10th September 2020

Appointed by the Members of The Russett Learning Trust

“I qualified as a solicitor in 2007 after a spell working in housing for a local government triggered an interest in law. I practiced in employment law before entering the world of HR for a few years where I provided advice to large, global financial services and media platforms. I was a HR and governance panel member for the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner, hearing civilian staff employment appeals, applications for the police benevolent fund and pension forfeit hearings. I returned to the legal profession several years ago at a national regulator where I now manage a team of solicitors providing commercial contracts and procurement law advice.

My experiences working in private and public sector have given me a broad range of experiences that I hope to be able to provide added value to the Trust.

I have two children who attend a local school in Cheshire and understand completely the importance of good, effective governance in schools and the impact this can have on children’s experiences. “

Currently I have no financial business-related involvement with the Trust.

Michael Sellors

Trustee, Member of the Remuneration Committee

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.

Rich Denny

Trustee, Member of the Audit and Risk Committee

Joined: 24th August 2021

Appointed by the Members of The Russett Learning Trust.

Currently I have no financial business-related involvement with the Trust.

Robbie Chapman

Trustee, Vice Chair of the Trust Board, Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee

Joined: 7th October 2021

Co-Opted by the Trustees of The Russett Learning Trust.

Currently I no financial business-related involvement with the Trust.

Member of The Russett Learning Trust.

Mrs Moira Chapman

Trustee, Member of the Remuneration Committee

Joined: 12th November 2014 - Resigned: 28th April 2021

Mr Dave Tranter

Trustee, Member of the Remuneration Committee, Member of Audit & Risk Committee

Joined: 1st June 2015 - Term of Office Completed 29th September 2021

Mrs Jennifer Bone

Trustee, Member of the Remuneration Committee, Member of Audit & Risk Committee

Joined: 25th July 2018 - Resigned: 5th May 2021

Mrs Catherine Lewis

Trustee and Governor on the Local Governing Committee of The Russett School

Joined: 1st June 2015 - Resigned: 31st August 2021

Dr Jayne Bryan

Trustee, Member of The Remuneration Committee

Joined: 26th April 2019 - Resigned: 5th January 2022

Downloads

Trust Meeting Attendance and Register of Interest 2019-2020 Trust Meeting Attendance and Register of Interest 2020-2021