Our Local Governing Body - Academy Transformation Trust Further Education

The Role of the Local Governing Body

In order to understand the role and responsibilities of the local governing body within ATTFE College it is important to recognise that the governing body of a school that is part of a multi-academy trust, such as this one is, is very different from that of a single academy school or a community school.

The main difference is that the trust is the accountable body and ultimate decision-making body and not the local governors, or local governance tier as they are known, and it is the trustees who decide how governance works at individual academy level and what responsibilities are delegated to the local tier. The trust board can, at any time choose to remove those delegated responsibilities or change the committee structure. So, in a nutshell the local governing body is a committee of, and dependent on, the trust board for any decision-making powers.

So, what is the role of the local governing body at ATTFE College?

The local governing body is an informed local community resource with a unique local perspective and a delegated responsibility to provide challenge and support to the academy and the Trust. Local governors are the “eyes and ears” of the trustees in the local community.

In line with the trust’s Scheme of Delegation, local governors are responsible for supporting academy improvement and engaging with academy leaders and the community in order to ensure that all students reach their full potential, regardless of background or level of ability.

Fully supported by the Trust’s Governance Team and the Chair, local governors of ATTFE College are responsible for:

Knowing, understanding and challenging pupils’ overall progress and attainment. This means being clear about where the attainment gaps are, what provisions are in place to close those gaps and the impact of those provisions.
Monitoring child protection and welfare in the academy including attendance, behaviour, suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Receiving and noting summary management accounts and risk registers provided by the academy.
Hearing any appeals as part of the complaints process and sitting on discipline panels in relation to suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Evaluating their own effectiveness through the local governing body action plan, skills audit and clerk-led self-evaluation.

School visits help governors to understand more about their academy and the reality of school life. We encourage governors to take on specific roles, dependent upon their interests and visit their academy.

Being a governor is a very rewarding experience. You will be part of a team who is working to improve the life chances of children, some of whom come from very challenging backgrounds. You will learn new skills whilst giving something back to the community you live and work in. Our local Governors are committed to Transforming Lives, they give their time and energy to oversee the academy and take on a lot of responsibility. Governance is enhanced by a team from a diverse range of professional, social and cultural backgrounds, if you are interested in becoming a local community governor please get in touch with Jo Bickley our Governance Clerk.

Useful Links

LGB Meeting Attendance Register 2022-23

LGB Meeting Attendance Register 2021-22

ATT FE Register of Business Interests 2023-24

ATT FE Register of Business Interests 2022-23

Governance Scheme Of Delegation 2023-24

Academy Transformation Trust Governance

Academy Transformation Trust Company Information – click here and then scroll down for detailed links

Governors Virtual Office – GVO (Governors access only)

Contact the Governors

Jo Bickley, Governance Clerk

Any communication for the Governors can be made via the following:

Email: governance@attrust.org.uk

Telephone: Leave a message via 01623 441310

Address: FAO Clerk to the Governors, Academy Transformation Trust Further Education, Sutton Community Academy, High Pavement, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, NG17 1EE

Meet the Governors

Martin Rigley OBE, Chair, Local Community Governor

Term of Office: 18/09/2019 – 17/09/2027 (2nd Term) appointed by the ATT Trustees

Leadership and Management Link Governor

Martin is the Managing Director of Lindhurst Engineering. Lindhurst was founded in 1985 to provide engineering services to the UK coal mining industry. They now actively look for challenges where they can utilise their expertise in providing innovative solutions using their core skills & knowledge of fabrication, mechanical & electrical engineering. They work across a broad range of sectors; utilities, energy, transport, construction, original equipment manufacturers, food & drink and bio science. As both a resident and owner of a business in Ashfield, Martin is passionate about promoting Ashfield as a great place to run a business, live, visit, raise a family and be educated.

Since 2010 Lindhurst have been developing a fast rate anaerobic digestion system based on the concept of the microbial fuel cell. The system looks to exploit IP developed by the University of Nottingham. Martin is a Chartered Engineer, holds Eur. Ing. status (FEANI European Engineer), is a Member of the Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Materials and is a Member of the European Mentoring & Coaching Council. He is the currently a board member of both East Midlands Chamber of Commerce and Vision West Nottinghamshire College. He was awarded an MBE in the 2016 New Years Honours list for services to Business & Innovation.

Shaun Pollard, Vice Chair, Local Community Governor

Term of Office: 21/09/2022 – 20/09/2026 appointed by the LGB

Safeguarding Link Governor

Shaun has lived in Ashfield all his life. Shaun has been a Governor at the Local School since 2008 and has previously served as a Governor at 2 local Primary Schools from 1997 until recently. He is a registered Social Worker with over 30 years’ experience in frontline and Management Children’s Safeguarding. He has also been a Foster Carer since 1999.

Concerned about the education of children in care Shaun began tutoring his foster children after work and after several years decided to become formally qualified as a Teacher PGCE, QTLS. In 2013 he started a provision for children in care which has grown to become Pollyteach (now part of the Portland Charity Group). He is currently Assistant Principal at Portland College, Director and Designated Safeguarding Officer for Pollyteach and continues to teach STEM subjects (especially physics and astronomy). Shaun is currently studying a Masters in Education Management and SEN.

Alison Whitton, Local Staff Governor

Term of Office: 12/07/2022 – 11/07/2026 appointed by ATT FE staff

Staff and Learner Voice Link Governor

Anita Jackson, Local Community Governor

Term of Office: 15/01/2024 – 14/01/2028 appointed by the LGB

Community Events and Engagement Link Governor

Anita has lived locally for more than 30 years. She is a lifelong learner herself most recently completing a PG Cert in Human Factors. Her passion is releasing the hitherto untapped human talent through coaching and mentoring. Anita is an Army Reserve and has served three tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as multiple overseas exercises. She is passionate about training her military colleagues, currently as a CBRN Clinical Instructor, but has also supported the Defence Medical Services, training colleagues in Practical Problem Solving and The Theory of Change Management. She has also taught her 2-day Introduction to Lean and Yellow Belt Six Sigma course to her Army colleagues and also to 300 colleagues at her former NHS Trust.

For the past 2.5 years she has worked for NHS E on the National Vaccine Deployment Programme, getting the right vaccine, to the right place, at the right time. A Registered General Nurse for more than 30 years, regardless of her roles in the NHS, her patients always remain at her centre.

An avid photographer, with a passion for F1, she is also qualified as a professional dancer and enjoys regular trips to the theatre.

Ian Bostock, Local Community Governor

Term of Office: 16/02/2024 – 15/02/2028 appointed by the LGB

Attendance, Behaviour and Engagement Link Governor

Back in 1961 I was born in Huthwaite and I grew up there until my early teens and then moved to Sutton In Ashfield. This is when I became a student at Sutton Center.

My main careers were publishing & textiles, the latter spending 33 years in that industry. I joined Romo back in 1988 and spent 16 years there working my way up from a sales representative to their sales manager. After leaving Romo I joined Mobus fabrics as Sales Director eventually becoming Managing Director then heading up a MBO. During my 17 years we took the small business to be a large market leader here in the uk and various countries around the world.

One of my highlights was meeting the Queen & Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace when we had been awarded the Queens Award for Enterprise.

Kaye Burnett, Local Community Governor

Term of Office: 03/03/2022 – 02/03/2026 appointed by the LGB

PoS Link Governor

My name is Kaye Burnett and I am keen to play an active role within the Ashfield community. Within my role as a Head Teacher at Leamington Primary School, I have seen the impact contributions from Governors can have and I am keen to share my knowledge and passion for the local community to support ATT FE in realizing their ambition for the people they serve. It’s important to promote learning beyond our young people and continue to offer opportunities to develop and improve self… a learning journey is never complete.

I have two children of my own and it reassures that learning is always a possibility beyond school days. It’s important to me that people can make changes to their lives to achieve their potential in a supportive and purposeful learning environment.

Malcolm Healey MBE, Local Community Governor

Term of Office: 16/02/2024 – 15/02/2028 appointed by the LGB

English and Maths Link Governor

With over 40 years’ experience of working in a variety of skills-related and programme management roles, both in the public and private sector, Malcolm currently works as member of the Senior Leadership Team for a small ISO standards consultancy and training provider. A qualified Skills Broker, who holds a high-level qualification in Business Support, he also runs his own consultancy business, supporting companies with skills development, training management and wider business support services.

Nottingham born and bred and a former primary school governor, Malcolm is very community focused. Inspired by ATTFE College’s work with the local community, he joins the Governing Body with a strong desire to help the college to further improve the lives of local residents and the surrounding area.

During the Covid 19 pandemic, Malcolm co-ordinated the highly acclaimed #ppe4nhs campaign, which encouraged companies to donate their stocks of spare PPE and secured over 100,000 items of PPE for NHS and care workers, at their time of greatest need. In October 2020, he was awarded an MBE for services to the NHS.

Paula Hancock, Local Community Governor

Term of Office: 15/01/2024 – 14/01/2028 appointed by the LGB

Careers Link Governor

My name is Paula, I’m from Ollerton and have lived in Boughton for the last 18 years with my husband and children. I attended the Dukeries Community College as it was then, and have family and friends in the area.

I’ve worked in lots of areas including customer service, sales and marketing, learning and development, and been self-employed running our own catering business with my husband.

More recently I’ve been involved in organising community projects working part-time with the Sherwood Forest Education Partnership CIC. The projects support local young people to have opportunities to try new things such as new activities or skills and make friends.

My passion is helping people to achieve their potential, in 2020 I retrained as a Solution Focused Hypnotherapist and have been supporting people to overcome anxiety, depression and anger issues as well as overcoming fears of spiders and driving tests!

I hope to bring my enthusiasm and skills for people development to the role of governor and support the team and learners at ATTFE to thrive.

Tim Brown, Local Community Governor

Term of Office: 04/02/2022 – 03/02/2026 appointed by the LGB

SEND Link Governor

Tim is a Senior Stakeholder Manager, Department for Education with a demonstrated history of working in central & local government. Skilled in Social Enterprise, Business Planning, Partnerships, Coaching, and Government policy work. He is a strong community and public services professional with extended study through the Chartered Management Institute & the Institute for Leadership & Management.