Governance Structure
Members
Canon Matthew Ambler
Jonathan Wood
Baroness Canon Margaret Eaton
Rt Revd Nick Baines
LDLT Directors
Peter Foskett
Angela Cox OBE
Sofia McGreavy
Andy Lancashire
Kate Owen
Richard Graham
Geoff Park
Rev. Stephen Hanscombe
Finance and
Resources Committee
Kate Owen
Angela Cox (Vice-Chair)
Geoff Park (Chair)
Audit and Risk Committee
Kate Owen
Geoff Park (Vice-Chair)
Angela Cox (Chair)
Curriculum and
Standards Committee
Sofia McGreavy
Richard Graham
Rev. Stephen Hanscombe
Andy Lancashire (Chair)
Local Academy Councils
The Federation of Fountains, Grewelthorpe and North Stainley CE Primary Schools
Chair: Rachel Bain & Nathaniel Potts
Sutton-in-Craven CE Primary School
Chair: Lynette Brammah
St Peter's CE Primary School
Chair: Ali Johnson
St Matthew's CE Primary School
Chair: Nick Burrows
Christ Church CE Primary School
Chair: Kate Ward
Barwick-in-Elmet CE Primary School
Chair: Nick White
Roundhay St John's CE Primary School
Chair: Rev. George Bailey
Carleton Endowed CE Primary School
Chair: Jo Brookes
Roecliffe CE Primary School
Chair: Nick Baird
Dacre Braithwaite CE Primary School
Chair: Ian Gray
The Federation of Holy Trinity CE Schools and Nursery
Chair: Adam Kitching
Governance Structure
What are Members in an Academy Trust?
The Members effectively establish the company and appoint the Board of Directors. They have few obligations and largely exercise an ‘eyes on / hands off’ role. They have no involvement in the day-to-day business of the Trust. Their duty is to exercise their powers in such a way as to further the charitable objects of the Trust. They are to remain independent of the Board of Directors. The majority Members (3), representing the corporate nature of the Church of England Diocese of Leeds, appoint two further independent Members. The majority Members also appoint the majority of the directors to the Board of Directors and can remove any of those directors. Members will intervene if things are going wrong in the Trust and can appoint additional directors if they need to. Members have reserved powers to amend the articles and to appoint and remove auditors.
Members
Matthew is a lawyer advising corporate, third sector and trustee clients on pensions law and trusts law since 2004. He also advises on PPP/PFI projects and on property issues. He has been a Member of the Leeds Diocesan Board of Education since 2017 and was a trustee director of the Wakefield Diocesan Board of Education between 2012 and 2014. He was a Trustee of a pre-school playgroup between 2004 and 2009, responsible for finance and HR matters. He has been involved with church governance since 2005, as a member of his PCC, on Deanery Synod, on Diocesan Synod, and on several Diocesan Boards and Committees. He is currently the Chair of the House of Laity of the Leeds Diocesan Synod and a member of the Leeds Board. He is also involved with various non-Church third-sector groups, including Amnesty International, the European Movement, and groups in the pensions industry.
Matthew is a lawyer advising corporate, third sector and trustee clients on pensions law and trusts law since 2004. He also advises on PPP/PFI projects and on property issues. He has been a Member of the Leeds Diocesan Board of Education since 2017 and was a trustee director of the Wakefield Diocesan Board of Education between 2012 and 2014. He was a Trustee of a pre-school playgroup between 2004 and 2009, responsible for finance and HR matters. He has been involved with church governance since 2005, as a member of his PCC, on Deanery Synod, on Diocesan Synod, and on several Diocesan Boards and Committees. He is currently the Chair of the House of Laity of the Leeds Diocesan Synod and a member of the Leeds Board. He is also involved with various non-Church third-sector groups, including Amnesty International, the European Movement, and groups in the pensions industry.
Canon Matthew Ambler
Jonathan is the CEO and Diocesan Secretary for the Diocese of Leeds. He has responsibility for the governance and administration of the Diocesan Board of Finance. This includes the management of £200m of assets, overseeing all aspects of Diocesan operations and leading the delivery of the Diocesan strategy. Prior to this role, Jonathan was a senior civil servant in the Ministry of Justice, most recently undertaking the role of National Services Director of Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service. Jonathan brings an established track record of improving processes and efficiency as well as leading the process to introduce new digital ways of working for users across the country. He provides expertise in good governance, risk management and programme management as well as general leadership experience.
Jonathan is the CEO and Diocesan Secretary for the Diocese of Leeds. He has responsibility for the governance and administration of the Diocesan Board of Finance. This includes the management of £200m of assets, overseeing all aspects of Diocesan operations and leading the delivery of the Diocesan strategy. Prior to this role, Jonathan was a senior civil servant in the Ministry of Justice, most recently undertaking the role of National Services Director of Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service. Jonathan brings an established track record of improving processes and efficiency as well as leading the process to introduce new digital ways of working for users across the country. He provides expertise in good governance, risk management and programme management as well as general leadership experience.
Jonathan Wood
Baroness Eaton DBE DL has been a Life Peer since 2010 sitting on the Conservative benches. In 1984 she was co-opted onto the Education Committee of Bradford MDC. In 1986 she was elected to Bradford MDC and continued to serve on the council until 2016. From 2000 until 2006 she was the first woman Leader of the Council. Baroness Eaton has a wide range of interests in her work in the House of Lords including culture, education, communities, housing, families and social services.
Baroness Eaton DBE DL has been a Life Peer since 2010 sitting on the Conservative benches. In 1984 she was co-opted onto the Education Committee of Bradford MDC. In 1986 she was elected to Bradford MDC and continued to serve on the council until 2016. From 2000 until 2006 she was the first woman Leader of the Council. Baroness Eaton has a wide range of interests in her work in the House of Lords including culture, education, communities, housing, families and social services.
Baroness Canon Margaret Eaton
Bishop Nick is the first Bishop of Leeds, an area covering North, West and South Yorkshire established in 2014. Bishop Nick was previously Bishop of Bradford (2013-14) and before that was Bishop of Croydon (in the Diocese of Southwark). He worked as a linguist at GCHQ prior to training for ordination at Trinity College, Bristol. He has a particular expertise and passion for communication and is known for his engagement with the media including national broadcasting (e.g. BBC radio). He also represents the Archbishop of Canterbury at international conferences and is the English Co-chair of the Meissen Commission which develops relationships between the Church of England and the Evangelical Church in Germany.
Bishop Nick is the first Bishop of Leeds, an area covering North, West and South Yorkshire established in 2014. Bishop Nick was previously Bishop of Bradford (2013-14) and before that was Bishop of Croydon (in the Diocese of Southwark). He worked as a linguist at GCHQ prior to training for ordination at Trinity College, Bristol. He has a particular expertise and passion for communication and is known for his engagement with the media including national broadcasting (e.g. BBC radio). He also represents the Archbishop of Canterbury at international conferences and is the English Co-chair of the Meissen Commission which develops relationships between the Church of England and the Evangelical Church in Germany.
Rt Revd Nick Baines
Local Academy Councils
What is a Local Academy Council?
Each school or group of schools, where schools work under one Executive Head, will have a Local Academy Council (LAC) that will, through a scheme of delegation, have local responsibility for the governance and oversight of the Academy.
For former Voluntary Aided and Voluntary Controlled schools the composition of the LAC will be almost identical to the former school Governing Body including Foundation Governor roles and a position for the local parish priest. School staff and parents have places on the LAC. The LAC has responsibility for setting: the school vision and ethos, the strategic plan for the academy, the curriculum and staffing structure and for management of the budget at a local level working with the Trust’s Chief Finance Officer.
What is the role of the Directors?
The directors have ultimate responsibility for the running of the Trust and the academies in the Trust. They exercise strategic oversight but not operational or day-to-day management of the Trust or its academies. The Board has three core priorities: clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction for the Trust; holding leaders to account for the educational performance of the academies and the effective performance of Trust staff; and overseeing the financial performance of the Trust and its academies.
The directors have to ensure that the Trust is run in accordance with the law, including charity law, with the articles of association, the Academies Handbook and the directions given by the Department of Education and the Education Skills Funding Agency. Directors also appoint the CEO of the Trust and, in collaboration with the Local Academy Councils, the head teachers of each school. Directors must also have regard to advise and implement any directions given by the Diocese further to the Boards of Education Measure. Leeds Diocesan Learning Trust must have a Board of Directors of at least 3 directors appointed by the Members. Member-appointed directors must always be in the majority by at least 2. The articles prescribe that LDLT Members should appoint up to 7 directors. The directors themselves can appoint more directors. Directors can delegate significant powers to the local level through a scheme of delegation. For LDLT the local level is called the Local Academy Council and resembles in many ways the school’s previous Governing Body.
Board of Directors
Matthew is a lawyer advising corporate, third sector and trustee clients on pensions law and trusts law since 2004. He also advises on PPP/PFI projects and on property issues. He has been a Member of the Leeds Diocesan Board of Education since 2017 and was a trustee director of the Wakefield Diocesan Board of Education between 2012 and 2014. He was a Trustee of a pre-school playgroup between 2004 and 2009, responsible for finance and HR matters. He has been involved with church governance since 2005, as a member of his PCC, on Deanery Synod, on Diocesan Synod, and on several Diocesan Boards and Committees. He is currently the Chair of the House of Laity of the Leeds Diocesan Synod and a member of the Leeds Board. He is also involved with various non-Church third-sector groups, including Amnesty International, the European Movement, and groups in the pensions industry.
Peter Foskett
Matthew is a lawyer advising corporate, third sector and trustee clients on pensions law and trusts law since 2004. He also advises on PPP/PFI projects and on property issues. He has been a Member of the Leeds Diocesan Board of Education since 2017 and was a trustee director of the Wakefield Diocesan Board of Education between 2012 and 2014. He was a Trustee of a pre-school playgroup between 2004 and 2009, responsible for finance and HR matters. He has been involved with church governance since 2005, as a member of his PCC, on Deanery Synod, on Diocesan Synod, and on several Diocesan Boards and Committees. He is currently the Chair of the House of Laity of the Leeds Diocesan Synod and a member of the Leeds Board. He is also involved with various non-Church third-sector groups, including Amnesty International, the European Movement, and groups in the pensions industry.
Angela Cox OBE
Matthew is a lawyer advising corporate, third sector and trustee clients on pensions law and trusts law since 2004. He also advises on PPP/PFI projects and on property issues. He has been a Member of the Leeds Diocesan Board of Education since 2017 and was a trustee director of the Wakefield Diocesan Board of Education between 2012 and 2014. He was a Trustee of a pre-school playgroup between 2004 and 2009, responsible for finance and HR matters. He has been involved with church governance since 2005, as a member of his PCC, on Deanery Synod, on Diocesan Synod, and on several Diocesan Boards and Committees. He is currently the Chair of the House of Laity of the Leeds Diocesan Synod and a member of the Leeds Board. He is also involved with various non-Church third-sector groups, including Amnesty International, the European Movement, and groups in the pensions industry.
Sofia McGreavy
Matthew is a lawyer advising corporate, third sector and trustee clients on pensions law and trusts law since 2004. He also advises on PPP/PFI projects and on property issues. He has been a Member of the Leeds Diocesan Board of Education since 2017 and was a trustee director of the Wakefield Diocesan Board of Education between 2012 and 2014. He was a Trustee of a pre-school playgroup between 2004 and 2009, responsible for finance and HR matters. He has been involved with church governance since 2005, as a member of his PCC, on Deanery Synod, on Diocesan Synod, and on several Diocesan Boards and Committees. He is currently the Chair of the House of Laity of the Leeds Diocesan Synod and a member of the Leeds Board. He is also involved with various non-Church third-sector groups, including Amnesty International, the European Movement, and groups in the pensions industry.
Andy Lancashire
Matthew is a lawyer advising corporate, third sector and trustee clients on pensions law and trusts law since 2004. He also advises on PPP/PFI projects and on property issues. He has been a Member of the Leeds Diocesan Board of Education since 2017 and was a trustee director of the Wakefield Diocesan Board of Education between 2012 and 2014. He was a Trustee of a pre-school playgroup between 2004 and 2009, responsible for finance and HR matters. He has been involved with church governance since 2005, as a member of his PCC, on Deanery Synod, on Diocesan Synod, and on several Diocesan Boards and Committees. He is currently the Chair of the House of Laity of the Leeds Diocesan Synod and a member of the Leeds Board. He is also involved with various non-Church third-sector groups, including Amnesty International, the European Movement, and groups in the pensions industry.
Kate Owen
Matthew is a lawyer advising corporate, third sector and trustee clients on pensions law and trusts law since 2004. He also advises on PPP/PFI projects and on property issues. He has been a Member of the Leeds Diocesan Board of Education since 2017 and was a trustee director of the Wakefield Diocesan Board of Education between 2012 and 2014. He was a Trustee of a pre-school playgroup between 2004 and 2009, responsible for finance and HR matters. He has been involved with church governance since 2005, as a member of his PCC, on Deanery Synod, on Diocesan Synod, and on several Diocesan Boards and Committees. He is currently the Chair of the House of Laity of the Leeds Diocesan Synod and a member of the Leeds Board. He is also involved with various non-Church third-sector groups, including Amnesty International, the European Movement, and groups in the pensions industry.
Richard Graham
Matthew is a lawyer advising corporate, third sector and trustee clients on pensions law and trusts law since 2004. He also advises on PPP/PFI projects and on property issues. He has been a Member of the Leeds Diocesan Board of Education since 2017 and was a trustee director of the Wakefield Diocesan Board of Education between 2012 and 2014. He was a Trustee of a pre-school playgroup between 2004 and 2009, responsible for finance and HR matters. He has been involved with church governance since 2005, as a member of his PCC, on Deanery Synod, on Diocesan Synod, and on several Diocesan Boards and Committees. He is currently the Chair of the House of Laity of the Leeds Diocesan Synod and a member of the Leeds Board. He is also involved with various non-Church third-sector groups, including Amnesty International, the European Movement, and groups in the pensions industry.
Geoff Park
Matthew is a lawyer advising corporate, third sector and trustee clients on pensions law and trusts law since 2004. He also advises on PPP/PFI projects and on property issues. He has been a Member of the Leeds Diocesan Board of Education since 2017 and was a trustee director of the Wakefield Diocesan Board of Education between 2012 and 2014. He was a Trustee of a pre-school playgroup between 2004 and 2009, responsible for finance and HR matters. He has been involved with church governance since 2005, as a member of his PCC, on Deanery Synod, on Diocesan Synod, and on several Diocesan Boards and Committees. He is currently the Chair of the House of Laity of the Leeds Diocesan Synod and a member of the Leeds Board. He is also involved with various non-Church third-sector groups, including Amnesty International, the European Movement, and groups in the pensions industry.
