Governance at Braywick Court School
Since September 2018, the Local Governing Board was be replaced with a Local Advisory Board following a review of the Governance structure across all schools in the Bellevue Place Education Trust (BPET).
Braywick Court School’s local governance is overseen by the Local Advisory Board (LAB) which has a strong focus on three strategic functions:
- Setting the vision, ethos and strategic direction for the school, within the overall vision of the Trust.
- Holding the Headteacher and senior leadership team to account for the educational performance of the school, its pupils and the performance management of staff; and
- Ensuring investment in educational improvement is value for money and having an impact.
These functions have been delegated to the LAB by the BPET Board, which is the maintaining authority for the school. Visit the BPET website for information on BPET’s governance structure and how this oversees the strategic governance of Braywick Court School.
Free Schools 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, Braywick Court benefits from the Trust – a network of schools under one legal body.
BPET responsibilities are set out in the two key following documents that are contracts between BPET and Secretary of State for Education:
- Master Funding Agreement – a contract with BPET, as a multi academy sponsor
- Supplementary Funding Agreement– a sub contract of the above for Braywick Court School
The delegation for Braywick Court School is set out in the BPET Scheme of Delegation. To support BPET Local Advisers, all are provided with the BPET Local Advisory Board Handbook that sets out the terms of reference and structure, along with a code of conduct for BPET Local Advisers.
This means that Braywick Court School’s Local Advisers are able to concentrate on the things that really matter – educational strategy, school outcomes and high educational aspirations to meet the needs of the local community.
In keeping with the BPET vision of developing autonomous schools, there is extensive local choice about the structure, size and operation of each LAB. The following decisions set the limits on this local choice:
- The LAB must operate within the BPET structure, and must remain within the overall vision, ethos and strategic direction of the Trust
- The Chair of each LAB is appointed by the BPET Board, serving at the pleasure of the BPET Board
- The Chair and Headteacher together use a skills-based approach to appointing the local advisers, each to serve for a four-year term.
- There must be a minimum of two parent advisers, but there is no maximum
- The suggested size of an LAB is 6-10
The LAB meets four times a year.
All Local Advisers are required to complete a Declaration of pecuniary and personal interest every academic year. For 2023/24 declarations, Click here
Members of the LAB support the school on a voluntary basis. Please enquire via the school office if you are interested in becoming an advisor of Braywick Court School.
Local Advisory Board Members
Chair – Clare Holdway
Clare is a parent advisor having had two children at Braywick Court School, one currently still at school. Clare has been an avid supporter of Braywick Court since her eldest child joined in 2018. She fully embraces the school’s vision and is committed to providing support and challenge to the senior lead team. In a previous life Clare worked on the commercial side of the retail industry and more latterly in sales & marketing in the FMCG sector. She now runs a digital marketing consultancy with her husband.
Community Advisor – Jonathan Williams
Jonathan has been a community governor at Braywick Court School since 2014. He joined the governing body to help develop an outstanding school that provides children with the best possible start in life and encourages a lifelong interest in learning. His day job is working for a professional services firm in London. During his spare time he enjoys running, reading and spending time with his family.
Parent Advisor – Victoria Morris
As a Parent Governor of the school, Victoria is passionate about the quality of the learning, environment and care our children receive.
Having joined the governing body in October 2015, Victoria has one child who has been through the school and moved on to Secondary and her youngest child who currently attends Braywick Court.
Victoria says “In my day job I work for a large ‘Business Process Outsourcing’ firm where I manage the procurement of learning for major corporates, central government and public sector organisations”.
Vice Chair -Community Advisor – Judith Jeffries
Judith is a retired Headteacher who is an active member of the local community. Judith has been a community advisor since November 2019. She is very active and can often to be seen out and about running with Maidenhead Athletics Club.
Parent Advisor – Laura Brown
Laura joined the LAB in 2020 when her daughter joined our Preschool. Laura held the position of Early Years Advisor from December 2020 until July 2023, overseeing the successful onboarding of the Preschool. She has a passion for sustainability and green schools and is currently the Advisor responsible for Science and Green Schools.
Community Advisor – Gemma Colebeck
Gemma Colebeck worked as part of the teaching team at Braywick Court School for 7 years. During this time she spent 5 years as the Early Years Leader, overseeing the opening of our Preschool. In her final year at BCS she held the position of Acting Assistant Headteacher. Gemma has extensive experience teaching EYFS and KS1 as well as leading computing, phonics and safeguarding. Since leaving Braywick Court, Gemma works at a Primary School in Buckinghamshire as an Assistant Headteacher and EYFS Leader, she brings a wealth of educational expertise and insight to our LAB. Gemma joined the LAB in September 2023.
Trust Representative – Mark Greatrex
Mark has been the CEO of Bellevue Place Education Trust since 2015. Mark began his career as a civil servant in the Department of Education, in the Academies Division. During this time over 200 academies opened. Mark held Senior Leadership positions withing three MATs before joining BPET. Mark holds a number of non-executive roles: governor in a maintained primary school, Millfields Community School (Hackney, London); trustee of Greenhouse Sports, an inspiring charity which aims to give all children from deprived communities access to sport and develop their skills and confidence.
Headteacher – Michelle Robertson
Michelle Robertson has been a member of the LAB at Braywick Court School since 2018 when she was appointed as Deputy Headteacher. In September 2022 Michelle was appointed as Headteacher of Braywick Court School. Michelle has over 19 years experience in the primary sector and has been in a senior leadership role for more than 15 years. Michelle has taught across the whole pimrary range, from EYFS to KS2. She is also a consultant facilitator for Best Practice Network, delivering National Professional Qualifications to educators across the South East.
Clerk to the LAB – Karen Brake
Karen joined Braywick Court school in 2016 as the Office Manager and Clerk to the LAB. She currently holds responsibility as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and works alongside the Senior Leadership Team to drive the strategic direction of the school.
Governor Appointment and Attendance Record
All schools are required to publish each governors appointment date, type of advisor, term of office and attendance record.
Attendance record for academic year 2022/23:
| 2022/23 Attendance | |
| Simon Baker | 2 out of 2 |
| Judi Jeffries | 1 out of 4 |
| Victoria Morris | 3 out of 4 |
| Laura Brown | 2 out of 4 |
| Jonathan Williams | 4 out of 4 |
| Dee Xie | 3 out of 4 |
| Claire Holdway | 4 out of 4 |