How we are governed
We invite you to take a moment to see what the role of a Trustee is at Berwick Academy.
We work very closely, together, with the Head Teacher and staff to provide the highest quality learning experience and care for each individual child.
In carrying out our role as trustees we focus on those things that we know will make a difference.
Our Trustees focus on three core strategic functions:
- ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the academy and its pupils, and the performance management of staff;
- overseeing the financial performance of the academy and making sure its money is well spent.
We do this by:
- understanding our strategic role – building a productive and supportive relationship with the Headteacher and the senior management team while holding them to account for the academy performance and taking hard strategic decisions in the light of objective data and information
- ensuring our Trustees have the necessary skills and commitment, including to challenge the academy to bring about improvement and hold leaders to account for performance
- appointing effective chairs to lead and manage the work of the Trustee board including delegating functions and decisions to committees or individual Trustees.
- designing an effective work plan to ensure duties and functions are carried out efficiently and effectively
- identifying an annual programme of continuous professional development for all trustees evaluating our performance and impact annually and making changes as necessary to improve.
| Name | |
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| Scheme of Delegation.pdf | Download |
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| TRUSTEE NAME | TRUSTEE ROLE | COMMITTEE APPOINTED | PEN PORTRAIT | BUSINESS INTERESTS |
|---|
| Michael Burton | Vice Chair of Trustees | Trustee Board Pastoral & Inclusion Committee |
Michael is an experienced Teacher and Education Manager within the Post 16 landscape, currently holding the post of Head of Northumberland Skills [working as part of Northumberland County Council] since November 2021. He is accountable for the delivery of NCC’s North of Tyne devolved Adult Education Budget and also an allocation from the ESFA to enable delivery and engagement with 16-18 learners. Michael is responsible for the strategic planning of Northumberland Skills’ Post 16 curriculum and implementation of the day to day running of 8 Campuses across the County. Prior to November 2021, he held the position of Senior Manager Innovative Curriculum Development for NCC from July 2020. Michael previously held the position of Head of Engineering, Construction and IT for 16 years at a local FE College, responsible for Curriculum Design, Curriculum Planning, Budget setting and monitoring, Business Development, Self-Assessment, Quality monitoring and the oversight and line management of 4 Strategic managers who implemented the curriculum delivery. Michael has a proven ability to carry out duties in a timely manner, absorbing changes on going in the Post 16 sector, whilst being reliable, disciplined, and conscientious. Michael remains an active voice within the Engineering and Construction Sectors of Post 16 FE, representing both young people and adults across various audiences. Previous to entering Post 16 Education Michael was a Senior Member of the Electrical EngineeSpittal@2020 ring Staff for UK Coal Mining Ltd, responsible for supervising a team of 32 electricians carrying out project planning, installation, examination, testing, maintenance & repair of electrical equipment in underground Heavy Duty production units. Conducting Risk Assessment & Safety Auditing in accordance with Company Policy. Working as part of a team within the Management Process, involving Delay Analysis, weekly and monthly planning. |
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| John Gilchrist | Parent Trustee | Trustee Board Leadership & General Purposes Committee (Chair) |
John is a parent Trustee. He joined Berwick Academy Board of Trustees in 2017, where he also sits on the Audit Committee. John works with Audit Scotland where he qualified as a chartered public finance accountant. He commutes daily to Edinburgh where he oversees audit quality appraisal for all public sector auditors in Scotland. | 1. Parent of children at Berwick Academy. 2. Wife is invigilator at Berwick Academy. |
| Donna Goddard | Parent Trustee |
Trustee Board Leadership & General Purposes Committee Pastoral & Inclusion Committee |
Donna has a background of both finance, technology and risk management through a working career in Financial Services and years of running large corporate teams and strategic projects. | |
| Tracy Hush | Headteacher | Trustee Board Leadership & General Purposes Committee Standards Committee Pastoral & Inclusion Committee |
Tracy has worked in education for 26 years, 15 of those at leadership level, 10 of those at senior leadership level. Before coming to Berwick Tracy spent two years working in the private sector developing traineeships and apprenticeships for a number of organisations and as a consequence has first-hand knowledge of and the skills employers are looking for in young people particularly in renewables and the energy sector. During her career Tracy is an English specialist but has significant experience in supporting literacy and the development of reading, curriculum design and how to support student learning. Tracy has worked as a curriculum design expert for the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust. In addition to school governance Tracy has experience of governance in the FE sector. Academic qualifications: BA Hons English and History Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) National professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) |
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| Gary Douglas | Community Trustee | Trustee Board Standards Committee |
Gary is Head of Operations for a professional sports Academy. Prior to taking on this role, Gary worked for over twenty years within Further Education, Secondary and High, and Special Needs Schools in the North East of England. Starting his teaching career as a PE teacher, Gary also held roles at Head of Department, Director of Sport, Assistant and Deputy Headteacher levels, and was Principal of a Secondary school in Northumberland for three years. During his time in schools, Gary also worked on a number of teacher training programmes and in the Special Needs sector as Deputy Headteacher of a SEMH School within a SEND focussed Multi Academy Trust. Gary is passionate about education and wellbeing for students of all abilities and interests; he believes that schools should provide positive and wide-ranging experiences for their students, preparing young people with the skills and qualifications to lead happy and successful lives. Qualifications: BSc (Hons) Sports and Exercise Science, Post Graduate Certificate of Education, National Professional Qualification for Headship |
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| Clive Robinson |
Chair of Trustees Community Trustee |
Trustee Board Standards Committee Leadership and General Purposes Committee |
Clive joined the Board of Trustees in September 2021. Clive is a former pupil at the Academy when it was known as Springhill County Secondary School, he served as an engineering apprentice in Berwick before serving in the Army, the Police, and the National Crime Agency as a senior investigator and intelligence manager; he retired in 2020, as the Head of Administration at the UK National Ballistics Intelligence Service. Clive is passionate about his work at the Academy and is keen to see students given the opportunities to pursue their dreams inside and outside the area. He recognises the value of University, but is keen to promote adult learning and apprenticeships as alternative pathways to employment. Clive brings a wealth of experience in Administration, Finance and Change & Project Management, as well as experience in Safeguarding, Forensics and Crisis Management. Clive joined the Academy at a time of change, and is keen to work with parents and school leaders to ensure that the Academy delivers the safest and best educational experience for students. |
| Name | |
|---|---|
| 2018-19 Trustee Board Attendance Register.pdf | Download |
| 2019-20 Trustee Board Attendance Register.pdf | Download |
| 2020-21 Trustee Board Attendance Register.pdf | Download |
| 2020-21 Trustee Board Register of Business Interests.pdf | Download |
| 2021-22 Trustee Board Attendance Register.pdf | Download |
| 2021-22 Trustee Board Register of Business Interests.pdf | Download |
| Register of Business Interests 2022 - 2023 Summary.pdf | Download |
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