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Folkestone Academy Governance

Home / About Us / Governance

Governance

Governance has a vital role to play in making sure every child gets the best possible education

At Turner Schools, school governors contribute to the work of the Trustees through a strong focus on three core strategic functions:

  • Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
  • Holding the Principals to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, the performance management of staff; and
  • Overseeing the financial performance of the school making sure its money is well spent.

The Trust is guided by the Nolan Principles for public service and operates according to its Articles, Master Funding Agreement (MFA), Governance Handbook and the Academies Financial Handbook.  The Memorandum of Association is published on the Trust website.

School-level governance:

Challenge and Community Committee

At local level the Trust is supported by the Challenge and Community Committee (CC).

The CC is made-up from local people who bring relevant expertise in, as well as enthusiasm to support the Trust’s schools. The CC includes two parents of current pupils.

The CC meets six times per year.

Diana Choulerton

Chair of Challenge and Community Committee

To contact Diana Choulerton, please email: [email protected]

Date of appointment: September 2019

  • Term of office: until 31.07.2021 (extension at discretion of the Trust Board)
  • Appointed by: Board
  • Relevant business and pecuniary interests as recorded in the register of interests: Education Consultant (sole trader), commissioned governance
  • Governance roles in other educational institutions: N/A
  • Relationships between other governors or school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives): None
  • Attendance at Challenge and Community Committee meetings 2019/2020: 6/6
John Bushby BA (Hons); FCA (Parent Governor)

John graduated from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne joining an international firm of Chartered Accountants. After qualifying, he gained several years experience in the firm’s audit and management consulting business before moving into the financial services industy. Here he held a number of management roles which included a period of time working in the United States. John most recently spent 15 years with MasterCard International working in both London and Brussels in a number of leadership roles. The father of a pupil at the Primary Academy, John also has two older children who have now successfully embarked on their own careers. John and his family have lived in Folkestone since 2011.

Date of appointment: March 2019

  • Term of office: 4 years
  • Appointed by: Parents
  • Relevant business and pecuniary interests as recorded in the register of interests: Appointed Treasurer of Shepway Neighbourhood Watch, Appointed Treasurer of Folkestone Primary Academy PTFA
  • Governance roles in other educational institutions: Governor of Stowting Church of England Primary School
  • Relationships between other governors or school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives): Parent
  • Attendance at Challenge and Community Committee meetings 2019/2020: 6/6
Tracy Luke BA (Hons)

Tracy has 35 years experience as a  teacher and leader within schools. She has served at all levels within a range of comprehensive, selective and boarding schools. She has been a Head of Department, Head of Year, Assistant Head, Deputy Head, Principal and Executive Principal.

In addition Tracy has been a National Leader of Education and an Ofsted Inspector. Tracy has experience as a Governor at an independent school, a Pupil Referral Unit and at a number of secondary schools. Tracy is a Director of Turner Schools.

Date of appointment: December 2017

  • Term of office: 4 years
  • Appointed by: Board
  • Relevant business and pecuniary interests as recorded in the register of interests: Trustee of Turner Schools
  • Governance roles in other educational institutions: Co-opted governor of Turner Free School
  • Relationships between other governors or school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives): None
  • Attendance at Challenge and Community Committee meetings 2019/2020: 5/6
Michael Pearce Dip Val Surv MRICS

Michael Pearce has been a school governor since 2004 and was the Chair of Governors of Park Farm Primary School at the time it was merged with the Folkestone Academy to create the All Age Academy, whereupon he joined the then Board of Trustees. He is now a member of the Local Governing Body and has a particular interest in the primary phase and safeguarding issues.

Michael is a Chartered Surveyor and works as Head of Litigation & Technical Policy for the Valuation Office Agency.

Date of appointment: December 2017

  • Term of office: 4 years
  • Appointed by: Board
  • Relevant business and pecuniary interests as recorded in the register of interests: Trustee of Friends of Folkestone Academy
  • Governance roles in other educational institutions: None
  • Relationships between other governors or school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives): None
  • Attendance at Challenge and Community Committee meetings 2019/2020: 3/6
Rosemarie Savva (Parent Governor)

Parent Governor Nesrin Rosemarie Savva is a qualified Personal Assistant and a dedicated Multilinguistic Interpreter.   She has served as a Parents Association representative at her child’s previous school and is passionate about supporting every child to reach their full potential.

Date of appointment: March 2019

  • Term of office: 4 years
  • Appointed by: Parents
  • Relevant business and pecuniary interests as recorded in the register of interests: None
  • Governance roles in other educational institutions: None
  • Relationships between other governors or school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives): Parent
  • Attendance at Challenge and Community Committee meetings 2019/2020: 5/6
Governors who have left in the past 12 months

Callum Firth

Term of Office: 08.03.2019 – 07.03.2020

Appointed by: Foundation/Trust

  • Relevant business and pecuniary interests as recorded in the register of interests: Dean of Social & Applied Sciences, Canterbury Christ Church University
  • Governance roles in other educational institutions: None
  • Relationships between other governors or school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives): None

Alexia Williamson

Term of Office: 01.12.2017 – 30.11.2019

Appointed by: Foundation/Trust

  • Relevant business and pecuniary interests as recorded in the register of interests: None
  • Governance roles in other educational institutions: None
  • Relationships between other governors or school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives): None

Cerys Walker

Term of Office: 13.07.2018 – 12.07.2019

Appointed by: Foundation/Trust

  • Relevant business and pecuniary interests as recorded in the register of interests: Member of the Association for Science Education, member of National Education Union
  • Governance roles in other educational institutions: None
  • Relationships between other governors or school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives): None

Michael Buchanan

Term of Office: 07.03.2019 – 09.07.2019

Appointed by: Foundation/Trust

  • Relevant business and pecuniary interests as recorded in the register of interests: Executive Director of HMC, Independent Schools Council
  • Governance roles in other educational institutions: None
  • Relationships between other governors or school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives): None

Trust-level governance:

The Trust answers to the Department for Education and is governed in two ways, first by its Members and secondly, by its board of Trustees.

Please click to see our Scheme of Delegation.

Please click to see the details and Business Interests of our Trustees and Members.

Our Chief Executive, Seamus Murphy, is charged with delivering high standards for the pupils in our schools through day-to-day operations.

Turner Schools is based in Kent and its registered address is 4 Westbrook House, 58-60 Shorncliffe Road, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 2NQ. For more information about the Trust, our Members, Trustees and key documents, visit: www.turnerschools.com

Governance Documents