About Our Members & Trustees

Members of St Mary’s CE Academy Trust

The current Members of the Trust are:

• The Venerable Janet Mackenzie: Archdeacon of Hertford, appointed to office 1/9/16.
• The Reverend Eugene Hanshaw: the Incumbent. appointed to office 22/07/19.
• Mr David Morton: Representative from the Diocese Board of Education, appointed to office 1/1/16.
• Mr Paul Daniel:  Chair of Governors of St Mary’s CE High School, appointed to office 8/9/16, resigned on 21/6/19.

All governors serve for a term of four years. The Chair and Vice Chair are elected annually and serve a term of one year at a time.

The current governors (trustees) are:

• tbc: (Chair of Governors): Foundation Governor  appointed by St Mary’s PCC.  (resigned 21/6/19)
• Debbie Chilton (Acting Chair of Governors, Chair of Finance): Local Authority Governor appointed into office by the Local Authority. Current period of office 11/2/2016 to 10/2/2020
• Maureen Bruce: Foundation Governor (Diocese) appointed into office by the Diocese of St Albans. Current period of office 1/7/15 to 30/11/2019 (extended)
• Revd Eugene Hanshaw: Foundation Governor (Ex Officio Governor).  Appointed 22/7/19
• Sarah Chaloner: Foundation Governor (Christchurch Parish). Current period of office 1/7/15 to 30/6/2023 (extended)
• Pat Higgins: Foundation Governor (St Mary the Virgin Church).  Current period of office 24/6/19 to 23/6/2023
• Nicky Pace: Foundation Governor (St Mary the Virgin Church). Current period of office 24/6/19 to 23/6/2023
• Peter Chorley: Foundation Governor (Dewhurst Trust).  Current period of office 17/1/19 to 16/1/2023
• tbc: Foundation Governor (Christchurch or St Mary’s Parish)
• tbc: Foundation Governor (Diocese)
• Natasha Graham: Parent / Carer Governor elected into office by parents/carers of the Academy. Current period of office 5/1/2018 to 4/1/2022
• Nikki Smith: Parent / Carer Governor (Safeguarding) elected into office by parents/carers of the Academy. Current period of office 5/1/2018 to 4/1/2022
• Nick Pigott: Staff Governor elected into office by the staff of the Academy. Current period of office 23/4/19 to 22/4/2023
• Louise Douglas: Staff Governor elected into office by the staff of the Academy. Current period of office 1/7/19 to 30/6/2023
• Stephanie Benbow: Staff Governor (Head Teacher as ex officio governor). Appointed 19/April 2004 to 31/8/19. Nicholas Simms (Head Teacher) from 1/9/2019
• Judith Bundock: Clerk to the Governing Body

Governors have declared business interests as follows:

• Sarah Chaloner – Head Teacher of local Church primary school
• Nikki Smith – spouse of a governor in a local Church primary school and employed by a local pre-school
• Stephanie Benbow – governor of a local Church primary school

Note: Governors not named have declared no interests

The Governing Body meetings comprise the following during the Academic Year:

• 1 x Annual General meeting (primarily to sign off the Academy financial accounts)
• 5 x Full Governing Body meetings (note: Personnel & Pay issues are raised as Part 2 items of the FGB)
• 5 x Finance Committee meetings (note: Premises and Resources issues are raised as items at Finance committee meetings)
• 1 x Admissions Committee meeting (to review the Academy’s Admission Arrangements)

Governor attendance of Full Governing Body Meetings for Academic Year 2017/2018

• Paul Daniel (Chair)  – 5 out of 5
• Debbie Chilton (Vice Chair)  – 5 out of 5
• Maureen Bruce  – 5 out of 5
• Stephanie Benbow  – 5 out of 5
• Nikki Smith  – 5 out of 5
• Steve Warner  – 5 out of 5
• Rebecca Shah  –  1 out of 3
• Sarah Chaloner  – 1 out of 5
• Natasha Graham – 2 out of 3

Governors no longer current but on the governing body last year:

• Abimbola Afolabi (resigned 1.1.18) – 0 out of 2
• Sue Potter (resigned 1.1.18) – 1 out of 2
• Lorena Diomidous (end of term of office 5.1.18) – 1 out of 2
• Nathan White (resigned 30.4.18) – 2 out of 3

The Finance and Resources Committee is a sub-committee of the main governing body.  Its purpose is to be responsible for reviewing the effectiveness of the system of internal financial control operating within the School, as well as audit and risk management.

Governor attendance of Finance and Resources meetings in Academic Year 2017/18

• Debbie Chilton (Chair)  –  5 out of 5
• Maureen Bruce  –  5 out of 5
• Stephanie Benbow  – 5 out of 5

Governors no longer current but on the Finance and Resources Committee last year:

• Sue Potter (resigned 1.1.18) – 1 out of 1