Governance

The Governing Body

Ebor Gardens Primary Academy is part of the Wellspring Academy Trust and is a federated governing body with our sister school Victoria Primary Academy, within Leeds.

A single governing body is responsible for both schools with three key roles:

• in consultation with the Trust, we decide the vision, ethos and strategic direction of our schools;
• we hold the Principals and senior staff to account for the educational performance of the schools and their pupils;
• we oversee the financial performance of the schools and make sure that money is well spent.

We formed a new Local Governing Body in October 2020 and have a compliment of governors who come from all walks of life within and beyond the local community in Leeds. These governors bring a wide skillset to the LGB which helps support the school from the quality of education to the business and financial aspects of school management. The details of the current members of the LGB are below.

Our Governors have a wide range of backgrounds, skills and experience which they bring to this important role, and meet at least every half term to look at all aspects of the life and work of the schools.  Many of the Governors are linked with specific aspects of the life of the schools and make regular reports to the governing body.

Meet the Team:

	Michael Sanderson – Trust Appointed Governor – Chair of Governors Term: 26.06.23 – 26.06.27 Links: Leadership and Management Declarations of Interest: Director Forge Community Partnership; community partnership; since (1999), Director and Trustee Hoyland Common Action Group; community organisation; (2004), Director Anvil Community CIC; community organisation; (2013), Director  Forge Parkside Centre (previously Rockingham Centre Limited); community organisation; (2017), Director Trust Schools Trust (2019), Director Spring Ahead CIC (2017), Trustee Various levels of the Methodist Church (1980), Chair of Governors at Barnsley Primary Partnership (academies within Wellspring MAT), Wife – Rev Eileen Sanderson: Director of Forge Community Partnership (2023), Director of Forge Community Child Care CIC (2013), Governor at Springwell Learning Community and Greenacre School (both academies within Wellspring MAT) Bio: Michael has served on various governing bodies in Barnsley, and helped form the Barnsley Governors Association. He was a National Leader of Governance. Having trained as a statistician, Michael worked for nearly 40 years in local government, in a wide range of roles.m.sanderson@wellspringacademies.org.uk
	Natalie Wathen – Ex Officio – Principal (Ebor Gardens Primary Academy) Term of Office: n/a Links: n/a Declarations of Interest: None Bio: Natalie Wathen is the principal of Ebor Gardens Primary Academy.
	Jessica Jenkins – Ex Officio – Executive Principal (Victoria Primary Academy) Term of Office: n/a Links: n/a Declarations of Interest: None Bio: Jessica Jenkins is the Executive Principal of Oakwell Rise and Victoria Primary Academies.
	Mark Wood – Ex Officio Term of Office: n/a Links: n/a Declarations of Interest: None Bio: Mark Wood is the Chief Finance Officer for Wellspring Academy Trust.

Annie Dobbie – Staff Governor Term: 14th October 2020 – 14th October 2024 Links: Community and Stakeholder Engagement Declarations of Interest: Teacher at Ebor Gardens Primary Academy Bio: Annie has been a teacher at Ebor Gardens Academy for the past three years and has loved being part of the Ebor team. She decided to become a staff governor as she wanted to gain an insight into the wider running of the school and to understand how an effective governing body is structured and run. Annie would like to contribute to the decision making process to help make the children’s learning experiences the best it can be.

Key Information: 

• Link to Wellspring Academy Trust website – https://wellspringacademytrust.co.uk
• Governance Structures in Wellspring and key information a- https://wellspringacademytrust.co.uk/about-us/governance/
• Scheme of Delegation – Scheme of Delegation
• Attendance records 20/21 – Victoria and Ebor LGB Attendance Summary 2020-21
• Attendance records 21/22 – VPA_EG LGB attendance 2021_22
• Attendance records 22/23 – LGB V&E Attendance Summary 2022-23
• Attendance records 23/24 – LGB V&E Attendance Summary 2023-24.docx
• Meeting Dates:
  16th October 2023
  11th December 2023
  4th March 2024
  13th May 2024
  24th June 2024
• LGB Leavers – Victoria and Ebor Gardens Term of Office and Leavers
• LGB Constitution and Standing Orders – https://wellspringacademytrust.co.uk/about-us/policies-documents/
  • Formal Meetings: This is where the business of the Governing Body is conducted and follows the typical pattern of the agenda.
  • Informal Meetings: These are opportunities for governors to meet and talk about wider school related elements including training and understanding specific areas in more detail. This might include Leaders within the school detailing their areas etc or be an opportunity to discuss wider issues relating to the school which can then be approved within the formal meetings.

Key Contacts

Please address all correspondence to the Chair of Governors: Mr Michael Sanderson, Wellspring Academy Trust, Digital Media Centre, County Way, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S70 2JW

Interested in Becoming A Governor?

If you are looking for information regarding joining the Governing Body or for Local Governing Body minutes, please contact the Clerk to the Governing Body on 01226 720741 or emailing m.cotney@wellspringacademies.org.uk

Trustee Information

For information on trustees for Wellspring Academy Trust, please visit the website below:

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