Governance

Avonreach Academy Trust

Board of Trustees

The Members have appointed a Board of Trustees with responsibility for managing the business of the Trust.

The Board and its sub-committees meet regularly to review the progress of all the schools in the Trust to ensure that they are receiving the support they need and to set direction for the future.

Please click on the link below to find out more about the Board's membership and remit, including our Trustees/ Directors and Accounts and Annual Reports.

Avonreach Academy Trust - http://www.avonreach.org/

The Role of the Governing Body

The Governing Body is responsible for working with the school to ensure that it delivers good quality education. 

Our governors aim to support the whole community of Orchard Primary School by using their varying skills, strengths and expertise from all walks of life to contribute to improving the governance of the school.  They work together with the Head Teacher, who is responsible for day-to-day management, to set the school's aims and objectives.

Their key role is to:

• Ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
• Hold the Head Teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff.
• Oversee the financial performance of the school and make sure its money is well spent.

Other roles of a governor include making regular visits to the school in line with the Governing Body's policy on visits and supporting the Head Teacher and staff in providing meaningful and effective learning experiences for all the children.

All governors are volunteers who willingly give their time to attend meetings, visit the school and meet with staff and children.

List of Governors at Cherry Orchard First School 2021/22

Richard Paterson (Chair of the Governing Body)

Date Appointed: 11 November 2021

Term of Office: 4 years

Appointed by: Parent Governor appointed by parents

Relevant Business, Personal and Pecuniary Interests: Wife is employed by Abbey Park Federation

Governance roles in other educational institutions: None

Meetings attended in previous academic year: 5/7

Judy McManus (Vice-Chair of the Governing Body)

Date Appointed: 27 February 2020

Term of Office: 4 years

Appointed by: Governing Body 

Relevant Business, Personal and Pecuniary Interests: None

Governance roles in other educational institutions: None

Meetings attended in previous academic year: 6/7

Sarah Bitcon (Head Teacher)

Date Appointed: 1 September 2006

Term of Office: Ex-officio as Head Teacher

Appointed by: Ex-officio as Head Teacher

Relevant Business, Personal and Pecuniary Interests: None

Governance roles in other educational institutions: None

Meetings attended in previous academic year: 10/10

Philip Carney 

Date Appointed: 15 November 2018

Term of Office: 4 years

Appointed by: Co-opted Governor appointed by the Governing Body 

Relevant Business, Personal and Pecuniary Interests: None

Governance roles in other educational institutions: Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Primary School and Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College

Meetings attended in previous academic year: 2/4

Suzanne Clarke (Member of Learning and Achievement)

Date Appointed: 3 October 2019 

Term of Office: 4 years

Appointed by: Co-opted Governor appointed by the Governing Body 

Relevant Business, Personal and Pecuniary Interests: None

Governance roles in other educational institutions: None

Meetings attended in previous academic year: 7/7

Greg Jones

Date Appointed: 12 November 2020

Term of Office: 4 years

Appointed by: Parent Governor elected by the parents

Relevant Business, Personal and Pecuniary Interests: None

Meetings attended in previous academic year: 7/7

Beth Seale (Governor responsible for SEN and Safeguarding) 

Date Appointed: 16 November 2018

Term of Office: 4 years

Appointed by: Co-opted Governor appointed by the Governing Body 

Relevant Business, Personal and Pecuniary Interests: None

Governance roles in other educational institutions: None

Meetings attended in previous academic year: 7/7

Tracy Seewoosaha

Date Appointed: 1 August 2021

Term of Office: 4 years

Appointed by: Governing Body

Relevant Business, Personal and Pecuniary Interests: None

Governance roles in other educational institutions: None

Meetings attended in previous academic year: n/a