Governance

At University of Brighton Academies Trust, inspiring governance and leadership is key to all we do; for our staff, our pupils, their parents and carers and the communities we serve.

The University of Brighton Academies Trust is a multi-academy trust and a not-for-profit charitable company limited by guarantee. The Trust’s sponsor is the University of Brighton.

A multi-academy trust is a group of academies governed by a single set of members and trustees who are accountable to the Department for Education for the educational and financial performance of the academies in the trust.

Governance Structure Diagram

Members

As we are a charitable company limited by guarantee, the members have a role similar to shareholders in a limited company. The members are responsible for ensuring the purpose of the Trust is met and for monitoring the effectiveness of its governance arrangements

Members

Members

Lorraine Harrison

Lorraine has been involved with the Trust from its inception due to her former role of Head of the School of Education at The University of Brighton. Between March 2016 and August 2023, Lorraine served as a Trustee and was a member of the Risk and Audit Committee as well as the Chair of the Education and Standards Committee.

Trustees

Board of Trustees

Board of Trustees

Alice Allen

Coming from a family of educators, I have a lifelong passion for learning and a deep respect for the teaching profession. I appreciate the challenges in Education and am committed to leveraging my skillset to elevate the aspirations and outcomes of our staff and students.

Committees

Education and Standards

The education and standards committee is responsible for monitoring the Trust’s school improvement strategy and the educational performance and standards achieved by each academy in the Trust. It also oversees attendance, behaviour, safeguarding and special educational needs and disabilities provision across the Trust.

Chair: Siobhan Denning

Education and Standards Committee Terms of Reference

Last updated: 2022

Finance and Resources

The finance and resources committee is responsible for monitoring the Trust’s financial strategy and the financial performance of the Trust and its academies. It recommends approval of annual budgets and monitors them, along with major capital and asset planning and expenditure. The committee is also responsible for monitoring the Trust’s estates and ICT strategies.

Chair: Jeremy Nurse

Finance and Resources Committee Terms of Reference

Last updated: 2022

Risk and Audit

The risk and audit committee is responsible for ensuring that the operation of the Trust is underpinned by sound financial controls and risk management procedures. It appoints and oversees the work of the Trust’s external auditors and internal audit function. It also monitors health and safety across the Trust.

Chair: Miles Smith

Risk and Audit Committee Terms of Reference

Last Updated: 2022

Remuneration and HR

Local Governing Bodies

Local Governing Bodies are responsible for ensuring that our academies maintain strong community links and effective communication with all stakeholders, including parents and carers. They are also responsible for monitoring how our academies retain their unique identity while implementing the Trust vision, mission and values, as well as having responsibilities relating to outcomes, admissions and complaints and concerns.

Chairs of our local governing bodies

Click to view the academy's governance information.

Blackthorns Community Primary Academy: Bob Baker

Churchwood Primary Academy: David Gill

Desmond Anderson Primary Academy: Jody Clewett

Dudley Infant Academy: David Marks

Holmbush Primary Academy: Mark Beadle

Lindfield Primary Academy: Daniel Curtis

Pound Hill Infant Academy: Andrew Gent/Lisa Downes

Robsack Wood Primary Academy: Louise Evans/Darren Byrne

Silverdale Primary Academy: Richard Ingram

The Baird Primary Academy: Kathryn Smith (Interim)

The Burgess Hill Academy: Jane Davey

The Hastings Academy Joint Local Board: Rose Durban

The St Leonards Academy Joint Local Board: Rose Durban

West St Leonards Primary Academy: Jan Adams

Terms of Reference for our Local Boards are available on our academies' websites

Our Academies

Chairs' Forum

The Chairs’ Forum is comprised of the chairs of Local Governing Bodies and representatives of the Trustees. It is responsible for ensuring clear and effective communication between the Local Governing Bodies and the Board of Trustees; and for ensuring that key local and community issues are brought to the attention of the Trustees. The Chairs’ Forum also provides opportunities to share best practice across the Trust’s Local Governing Bodies.

Chairs' Forum Terms of Reference

Last Updated: 2022

Join One of our Local Governing Bodies

Here at the University of Brighton Academies Trust, we believe everyone’s life is influenced by their experience at school. By volunteering as a Governor, you will use your skills and experience to help strengthen school connections with the local community and support and celebrate the success of students and staff. Our Governors are valued and inspiring members of our school community.

Their positive contribution to the education of local children is given in the form of time, skills and experience - this usually involves four formal meetings a year, alongside school visits and background reading. For example, you might attend celebration evenings, student or parent forums.

Applying to become a governor is easy. The University of Brighton Academies Trust is a family of 15 infant, primary and secondary schools in Sussex all supporting each other, and our pupils, to learn, achieve and succeed in beyond school. Our Academies support each other to improve and have a positive impact on their local communities. Local board members play an important part in this.

Some of the skills gained include:

Developing valuable professional skills and experience such as community engagement, chairing, wellbeing and team working.

Building relationships and networks in your locality.

Supporting children and young people in your community.

Anyone over the age of 18 can be a Governor, and you don’t need to be a parent!

"I'm passionate about improving children's learning and life chances. I want our pupils to have the opportunity to shape the future they want. Schools help them do exactly that"

Rose Durban, Local Board Chair

Governance Arrangements
Articles of Association

Last updated: September 2017

Board of Trustees Terms of Reference

Last updated: 2021

Code of Conduct

Last Updated: 2022

Master Funding Agreement

Last updated: September 2017

Memorandum of Association

Last Updated: March 2010

Scheme of Delegation

Last Updated: October 2023

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In This Section

Governance

Members

Members

Trustees

Board of Trustees

Committees

Education and Standards

Finance and Resources

Risk and Audit

Remuneration and HR

Local Governing Bodies

Chairs' Forum

Join One of our Local Governing Bodies

Rose Durban, Local Board Chair

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Links & Resources