Governance

In September 2022, a Partnership was formed between three academies within The Cam Academy Trust - Offord Primary School, Gamlingay Village Primary and Everton Heath Primary School. The vision of this partnership is: working together to influence and inspire outstanding education through an agreed educational philosophy, enabling progression for all.

The board of trustees of The Cam Academy Trust delegate responsibilities for our schools to a Local Governing Body in line with the Trust's Scheme of Delegation.

Our Governing Body is responsible for Offord Primary School, Gamlingay Village Primary and Everton Heath and is made up of people who want to make a positive contribution to children’s education.

Each individual governor is a member of the Governing Body and as such, may not act independently of the rest of the Governing Body; decisions are a joint responsibility of the Governing Body. Each individual school has a number of local governors, who complete regular school visits to ensure they can provide the appropriate support and challenge required, due to their in-depth knowledge. There is a Chair of the Partnership Governors, and a local lead for each individual academy.  

There are three types of governor: Trust appointed, staff elected and parent elected, each for four-year terms. Additionally, the Trust and LGB can appoint individuals as 'Associate Members' who may have specialist skills or knowledge for a minimum term of one year, up to the maximum of four. They are not governors, and cannot vote, but they can attend governor meetings and can chair committees set up for a specific purpose. The Trust appoint the Chair and Vice Chair. The LGB must have a good balance of experience and the skills required to monitor and support the schools' performance and to make evidence-based strategic decisions, while also supporting other schools within the Trust as required.

The role of the Governing Body is a strategic one and its key functions are to:

• set the aims and objectives for each school
• set the policies for achieving those aims and objectives
• approve Trust targets for academic achievement
• monitor and evaluate the progress each school is making
• be a source of challenge and support to the headteacher (a critical friend)

The Governing Body both challenges and supports the Headteachers to improve pupils' progress and to ensure the ethos and values of each school continues to align with those of the Trust.

The total membership of the Governing Body shall be not fewer than nine members. These comprise

• Two ex-officio members (CEO or Primary Executive Leader of The Trust and the Executive Headteacher)
• A Trust-appointed Chair of the Partnership
• One elected member of staff from each school
• Up to four governors from each school. These may be parents and/or appointed by the Trust
• Headteachers of each school may also be in attendance

The full governing body meets at least twice a term and sub committees meet as required to ensure the successful operation of the schools.

Governors can be contacted via the school office office@offordprimaryschool.org or by emailing Jeni Houghton, Clerk to the Governing Body, directly: jhoughton@catrust.co.uk

Previous Offord Governors' meetings minutes are available upon request.

Pecuniary Interests 

The governors sign an annual register disclosing any pecuniary interests they may have. Each meeting agenda requires all attendees to disclose any pecuniary interests related to agenda items to be discussed.

The full register is available to view on request at the school office.

Trust Governance

Further information on the Board of Trustees and the way the Trust is governed is available on the Trust website www.catrust.co.uk

 

Working together to achieve