Minchinhampton Primary Academy Governance:
Academies are schools funded by the government with the freedom to govern independently – but all are accountable to the Secretary of State for Education. To share resources and best practice, many are part of multi-academy trusts – a network of schools under one legal body.
On 1st November 2014, our school became an Academy within the Diocese of Gloucester Academies Trust (DGAT). DGAT currently has 21 primary schools in its family, located in a mix of rural and urban settings across Gloucestershire.
DGAT’s relationship with the Secretary of State is set out in a master funding agreement. There are also supplemental funding agreements for each individual school in the network, including Minchinhampton Primary Academy.
Click on the link to the Governance pages of the DGAT website to find DGAT’s Funding Agreements and Articles of Association.
Every school in the DGAT family is the legal responsibility of the DGAT Trust Board. This board focuses on statutory duties and delegates most day-to-day responsibilities to each school’s individual Local Governing Body. This means that Minchinhampton Academy’s governors are able to concentrate on the things that really matter – educational strategy, school outcomes, curriculum, safeguarding, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and admissions.
The decision-making framework between DGAT and Minchinhampton Academy – the Scheme of Delegation – can be found here:
DGAT Scheme of Delegation 2023-24
Our Local Governing Body:
Minchinhampton Academy’s Local Governing Body is made up as follows:-
| Type of governor | Number required | Appointed or elected |
| Foundation Governor | 2 | Appointed by the Diocese Board of Education |
| Foundation Ex-officio Governor | 1 | Automatic appointment of the local incumbent or their substitute for duration of time in role. |
| Parent Governor | 3 | Elected by eligible members of the school parent body |
| Staff Governor | 1 | Elected by eligible members of the school staff body |
| Co-opted Governor | 4 | Appointed by the Local Governing Body |
| Headteacher ex-officio Governor | 1 | Automatic appointment for duration of time in role. |
| Trust Appointed Governor | 0 | Appointed by DGAT |
| Total number of local governors | 12 | |
Each governor serves for a four year term of office which can then be renewed. The Chair and Vice-Chair are elected annually at the first full Governing Body meeting of the academic year. Each governor brings different strengths and skills to the governing body. We aim to create a balanced group that will have the right skills, connections and dynamic for the Local Governing Body to work well and support the school.
You can find out about the role and responsibilities of our governors by reading “What does a governor do?” produced by the National Governors’ Association: Click here
Meetings and Committees:
The full Local Governing Body meets at least once a term. Much of the governors’ work is carried out in two committees: Finance & Resources and Ethos & Standards. Governors are members of one or more of these committees depending on their particular skills and interests. The committees report back to other governors at the full Local Governing Body meetings. Appeals, Pay, Complaints and Admissions panels meet when the need arises. All governors visit school regularly and play an active role in school life.
Detail of the Local Governing Body committees and associated Terms of Reference can be found here:
Local Governing Board Sub-Comittees & Terms of Reference 2023-24
Current Governors & Roles and Responsibilities:
A summary of the Local Governing Body structure for this academic year, including terms of office, committee membership and link governor roles can be found here:
Summary of Local Governing Board Structure 2023-24Please click this link to meet the current Governors.
The register of pecuniary and business interests and meeting attendance information for governors can be found here:
Summary of relevant Business and Pecuniary Interests of Governors 2023-2024
Governors’ Attendance Academic Year 2023-2024
Governors’ Attendance Academic Year 2022-23
Minch Governors LGB Attendance 21-22 Record
Contacting the Governors:
The Chair of Governors may be contacted by emailing chair@minchgovs.net.
If you are interested in becoming a governor or if you have any governance-related queries, please contact the Clerk to the Governors: clerk@minchgovs.net.