- Governance for Braywick Court School
From September 2018, the Local Governing Board will 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 2021/22 declarations, Click here
Please enquire via the school office if you are interested in becoming an advisor of Braywick Court School.
Current Local Advisors
Simon Baker – Chair of Advisors
Simon is in his fifth year as Chair of Governors at Braywick Court School and says “it has been a pleasure to be part of this outstanding school. My day job of Head of a full comprehensive secondary school in Buckinghamshire supports me in my role at BWC and enables me to support and challenge the leadership of the school to ensure great outcomes for all the children. With my wife also the Head of another secondary school and two daughters at BWC, education is a key part of our lives. To keep a balance we love to travel, play sport and socialise”.
Clare Holdway – Vice Chair – since September 2018
Jonathan Williams – Community Advisor
Jonathan has been a community governor at Braywick Court School since 2014. Jonathan chairs the Resources Committee. 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. My day job is working for a professional services firm in London. During my spare time, I enjoy running, reading and spending time with my family.
Victoria Morris – Parent Advisor
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 at the school currently and a toddler who will follow her big sister to Braywick Court in a few years time.
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”.
Dee Xie – Parent Advisor – since September 2017
Judith Jeffries – Community Advisor – since November 2019
Laura Brown – Parent Advisor – Since December 2020
Mark Greatrex – Trust Rep
Gemma Donnelly – Headteacher
Michelle Robertson – Deputy Headteacher
Karen Brake – Clerk to the LAB
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 2020/21:
| 2020/21 Attendance | |
| Simon Baker | 4 out of 4 |
| Ann Jansen East | 3 out of 4 |
| Victoria Morris | 3 out of 4 |
| Laura Brown | 2 out of 4 |
| Jonathan Williams | 4 out of 4 |
| Dee Xie | 4 out of 4 |
| Claire Holdway | 3 out of 4 |
Forthcoming meetings
06.04.22