The Yox Valley Partnership of schools (Yoxford & Peasenhall, Middleton, and Southwold) are seeking to recruit a number of people to join their Locality Committee, the successor to its Governing Body, and we are contacting selected businesses and bodies within the area to see if they have anyone within their organisation that might be interested in joining us. Committee Members make a valuable contribution to children’s education, opportunities and futures, and this is an opportunity for someone to make a real difference to the outcomes for local children by undertaking a key role in their community.
The role is challenging but rewarding, and gives the opportunity to make use of, and develop, life experience and skills in securing the best from our schools. The Yox Valley Partnership is part of academy trusts – Consortium Multi Academy Trust – whose schools are all Primaries and located in the east of Suffolk. The Trust is highly supportive and was initially formed with the intention of preserving small rural primary schools.
The Locality Committee provides strategic oversight and accountability in schools. This includes:
•Monitoring and challenging the educational performance, curriculum, and learning environment of the school and its pupils.
•Overseeing provision of a safe, happy and content establishment for pupils and staff, including Safeguarding, Wellbeing and Attendance.
•Overseeing the implementation of budgets, Health and Safety matters, and Policies.
•Promoting community engagement.
Members set the direction for the group of schools and set or agree the policies and targets for achieving improvement. They monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making and act as a source of challenge and support to the Academy Head.
A Member’s background need not be in education, indeed, Locality Committees need a balance of skills, knowledge, and experience in fields such as education, finance, human resources, legal, marketing and public relations, property and estates management, and organisational change. Someone can be a Member if they are 18 or over, and they do not have to be a parent of the school, but they should be prepared to give some time to the role in visiting the schools, attending meetings, and in keeping themselves up to date. A Member might be asked to take on a specific role such as overseeing safeguarding, or attainment.
Potential Members will need to complete a declaration of interests to declare any conflicts of interest they would have including conflicts of loyalty and financial interests – this information must be published by the school on its website. They must undergo an enhanced DBS check, and their appointment, which be ratified by the Consortium Multi Academy Trust Board of Trustees, will be subject to this.
Our schools are doing a great job of educating pupils and need people from the local community who have the right qualities to make a difference to the future lives of our young people.
We would be grateful if you would make this request known within your organisation – it is a real opportunity for community engagement, as well as one for enhancing the governance of our schools, and improving the outcomes and life chances for children in the area.
If anybody in your organisation is interested in finding out more we would be delighted to hear from them. In the first instance they could contact the Academy Head at Yoxford & Peasenhall School, or write to the school telling us a bit more about themselves – we shall get back to them.
Academy Head - Gail Jerman head@yoxvalley.org
Yoxford and Peasenhall Primary School, High Street, Yoxford, Suffolk, IP17 3EU
Tel: 01728 668291
Email: officeyoxford@yoxvalley.org
Middleton Primary School, Rectory Road, Middleton, Suffolk, IP17 3NW
Tel: 01728 648251
Email: officemiddleton@yoxvalley.org
Southwold Primary School, 8 Cumberland Road, Southwold, Suffolk IP18 6JP
Tel: 01502 723137