School Students sitting and standing

Pele Trust Schools Academy Governance

In order to become an academy, the school must establish an Academy Trust.

The Directors of Pele Trust set the strategic vision and ethos of the academy or academies, and oversees the work of the local governing bodies, known within Pele Trust as Academy Committees within. Members of Pele Trust must have an annual meeting and agree an annual report.

Legally, the academy trust is the employer of staff, the admissions authority and the owner or the lessee of the land and buildings.

Pele Trust Pupils Jumping

Governance Structure

Pele Trust has 5 Members; 9 Directors and an Academy Committee for each school. Each Academy Committee is constituted in line with provisions as laid out in our Scheme of Delegation, i.e. 8-12 members including at least 2 parents, Headteacher and 1 staff member.

 

Pele Trust Directors are responsible for:

  • ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
  • holding executive leaders accountable for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils
  • the performance management of staff
  • overseeing the financial performance of the Trust ensuring that public money is well spent

The Directors will work collaboratively with the 6 schools, each bringing their own unique experiences to support the schools and to ensure that the pupils are getting the best possible education.

 

The members of the Academy Committees will support the work of the Directors by taking on a more substantial role in each school to closely support and challenge Headteachers and senior leaders to ensure that the school is offering an excellent education to all pupils. They have a prominent role to play in:

  • Identifying and agreeing key objectives 
  • Development planning for improvement 
  • Monitoring and evaluating the progress that the Academy is making towards its set objectives

 

Members

Gerry Miller - Chair of Directors

Gerry studied Spanish and Latin American Studies at Newcastle University and completed his PGCE in 1972. He taught modern languages in five different school in North Tyneside and his leadership roles …



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Professor Gary Holmes - Member

Recently retired Pro Vice-Chancellor, University of Sunderland. Previously: Head of Dept., Leeds Beckett University Principal Lecturer Oxford Brookes Lecturer Anglia Ruskin Teacher of French. …



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Liane Atkin - Member

Liane is the Assistant Director of Education at the Joint Education Team, Dioceses of Durham and Newcastle. She is an employment law specialist having qualified in 2003. Liane has experience of workin…



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Maureen Bates - Member

Maureen is a highly experienced and successful secondary school Headteacher. Following a period as Deputy Headteacher at St. Thomas More RC School, North Tyneside, Maureen was appointed as Headteacher…



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The Right Reverend Mark Wroe, Bishop of Berwick - Member

In January 2021, Mark Wroe was consecrated as the Suffragan Bishop of Berwick, succeeding Bishop Mark Tanner who moved to become Bishop of Chester. Mark was educated at St Mary’s University, London a…



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Directors

Gerry Miller - Chair of Trust Board

Gerry studied Spanish and Latin American Studies at Newcastle University and completed his PGCE in 1972. He taught modern languages in five different schools in North Tyneside and his leadership roles…



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Marian Stromsoy - Director

I have lived in Northumberland since 1980 and am married with 2 children, both of whom attended Heddon First School, Richard Coates Middle School and Ponteland High School. I am a retired headteacher…



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Ross Golightly - Director

Ross Golightly is an experienced Growth Strategist, Consultant, Coach, Mentor and Non-Executive Director. His firm (Sphera Consulting Ltd) typically works with CEO's, Entrepreneurs and Owner-Managers …



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Rishi Kohli - Director

Rishi studied Law at Northumbria University, graduating with a Masters in 2014. Rishi is currently the Legal Services Manager of the Norton Rose Fulbright LLP Newcastle Office.   Rishi has previously…



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Laura Joicey - Director

Laura is a qualified charted accountant, completing her audit training contract with Ernst and Young before specialising in mergers and acquisitions - working for Tait Walker and PwC in Newcastle with…



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Angi Gibson - Director -

I am a dynamic, passionate and committed Head Teacher of a thriving Primary School in North Tyneside – Hadrian Park Primary. I have vast experience in working within areas of super deprivation to thos…



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Peter de Wesselow - Director -

Peter has an MA Hons in Geography from Oxford University. He is currently MD of his own logistics business in Gateshead that he set up in 2014. The first part of Peter’s business career was spent in …



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Rob Kitching - Director -

Rob studied Physical Education at Carnegie PE College, (Leeds Polytechnic), graduating with a Bachelor of Education in PE and History. Rob currently works for Sunderland University in the Internationa…



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Katherine Gianfreda - Director -

Katherine studied Economics and Accounting at the University of Edinburgh before returning to Newcastle where she works at Deloitte as a Senior Manager in External Audit. Katherine's career at Deloitt…



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Julia Mitchinson -

Julia is highly experienced in operational and strategic safeguarding, with a background in both Education and Children’s Services. She previously worked as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead at Midd…



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Our Roles

The various roles at different levels of governance within Pele Trust are described below:

The Members act as guardians of the governance of the Trust; in essence their role is ‘eyes on – hands off’.  They receive the accounts and are responsible for approving any amendments made to the trust`s articles of association. The Members are not permitted to be employees of Pele Trust.

The Directors are the charity trustees and are responsible for the general control and management of the administration of the Trust in accordance with the provisions set out in the memorandum and articles of association.

The Board of Directors is the accountable body for the performance of all schools within the trust and as such must: 

  • Ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
  • Hold the CEO to account for the educational performance of the schools and their pupils, and the appraisal of staff
  • Oversee the financial performance of the trust and make sure its money is well spent

The Directors have established two sub-Boards with delegated authority to make decisions or to provide advice and support, informing the overall work of the Trust Board. The two sub-Boards are the Resources sub-Board and the Achievement and Standards sub-Board.

We recognise that local Academy Committees (ACs) play a critical role to ensure each school delivers high quality performance and upholds the values our partnership represents. 

ACs know their school best and are an integral partner to our Trust’s continued improvement. The AC will delegate to the Headteacher responsibility for the day to day operations of the Academy.

ACs monitoring whether the school is working within agreed policies,is meeting the agreed targets, managing its finances well, engaging with stakeholders, delivering on its curriculum objectives to provide a broad and balanced curriculum which meets the needs of its pupils and ensuring highly effective communication with parents, the wider community and key stakeholders.

The Chief Executive holds responsibility for the day to day operations of the Trust, as delegated by the Board of Directors. The CEO is supported by a leadership team which includes the Deputy CEO, School Improvement Lead, and the Head Teachers from each school in the MAT.

Key Documents & Reports

Articles of Association

The legal framework underpinning the running of Pele Trust

Master Funding Agreement

The Funding Agreement between Pele Trust and the Department for Education

Scheme of Delegation

The decision making processes within Pele Trust

Scheme of Delegation

The Scheme of Delegation sets out delegated powers and roles and responsibilities for the MAT

Master Funding Agreement

The conditions and requirements set out by the Secretary of State that Pele Trust must adhere to

Articles of Association

The rules in place which govern the running the Trust as a company

Pele Trust Policies

Legal Documents for Pele Trust

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Directors Meetings

Directors Meeting notes and information

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Annual Accounts and Reports

Pele trust annual accounts and reports

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The Pele Trust is a family of schools in Northumberland working together to provide the best possible learning experiences for our pupils through partnerships and collaborations.

A charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales
(company number: 11395017).

Designed by Hedley McEwan and built by Retox Digital
info@peletrust.org.uk
01661 824711
Registered address:
The Crescent,
Callerton Lane,
Ponteland,
NE20 9EG


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