Leadership & Governance
Please see sections below for more information about the SST's leadership and governance structure.
Trust Leadership Team
Zoé Evans, Rosewood Headteacher, Trust CEO and Accounting Officer |
Andy Evans, Great Oaks Headteacher | Geraldine Lindsay, Great Oaks Deputy Head |
Sarah Neusinger, Rosewood Deputy Head |
The role of the School Headteachers
The Headteachers are responsible for the day to day management of the schools, and report to the Trustees and LGB according to the local scheme of delegation. Headteachers within the Trust may also have Trust responsibilities identified as part of their job description for example – Accounting Officer / Expansion and growth of the MAT.
The Business Leadership Team
The Trust is managed by a Business Leadership Team, covering Human Resources, Finance, IT and Estates & Premises including Health & Safety.
Jen Frost, Business Leadership Team (Finance) and Trust Chief Financial Officer |
Katharine Jordan, Business Leadership Team (Human Resources) |
Man Wong, Business Leadership Team (IT) |
Roger Sim, Business Leadership Team (Premises and Estates) |
Trust Members
Member's Name | Date of Appointment | Date stepped down (if applicable) |
Nick Vaughan (Chair) | 01/09/2017 | |
Liz McCaughey | 13/06/2011 | |
Tony Boyle | 01/09/2017 | |
Sheena Williams | 16/09/2020 | 08/10/2024 |
Scott Ashmore | 18/09/2023 | |
Carol Dixon | 03/12/2019 | 01/11/2022 |
The role of the Members
Members' duties are outlined in the Academies Handbook.
Members are the subscribers to the memorandum of association.
- They may amend the articles of association subject to any restrictions created by the funding agreement or charity law
- They may, by special resolution, appoint new members or remove existing members other than, where there is one, the foundation/sponsor body and any members it has appointed
- Members have powers to appoint trustees as set out in the trust’s articles of association and powers under the Companies Act 2006 to remove trustees
- They may, by special resolution, issue direction to the trustees to take a specific action
- Members appoint the trust’s external auditors and receive (but do not sign) the audited annual report and accounts (subject to the Companies Act) have power to change the company’s name and, ultimately, wind it up
While members are permitted to be appointed as trustees, in order to retain a degree of separation of powers between the members and the trust board, and in line with DfE expectations, the majority of members should be trustees. Members are not permitted to be employees of the academy trust.
Chair of Trustees
Tony Boyle - Appointed by academy members – 16/09/2020
Trustees
Trustee |
Date of appointment | Term of office | Appointed by | Stepped down |
Zoé Evans | 18/09/2023 | 30/09/2024 | Academy Members | |
Liz McGaughey | 01/09/2023 | 30/09/2026 | Academy Members | |
Nicola Caroline Le Prevost | 18/09/2023 | 30/09/2026 | Academy Members | |
Malcolm Smith | 15/09/2021 | 30/09/2026 | Academy Members | |
Sue Williams | 18/09/2023 | 30/09/2026 | Academy Members | |
Rosemary Gregory | 15/09/2019 | Academy Members | ||
Pradeep Athwal | 02/02/2023 | 30/09/2027 | Academy Members | |
Scott Ashmore | 03/10/2018 | Academy Members | 18/09/2023 |
The role of the Trustees
The Trustees are the Charity Trustees (within the terms of section 177(1) of the Charities Act 2011) 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 Trustees is the accountable body for the performance of all schools within the trust. Its duties are set out in the Academy Trust Handbook and include
• strategic leadership that sets and champions vision, ethos and strategy
• accountability that drives up educational standards and financial performance
• people with the right skills, experience, qualities and capacity
• structures that reinforce clearly defined roles and responsibilities
• compliance with statutory and contractual requirements
• evaluation of governance to monitor and improve its quality and impact.
The Trust has the right to review and adapt its governance structure at any time which includes removing delegation.
The role of Committees
The Trustees may establish committees either with delegated authority to make decisions or for the purpose of providing advice and support, informing the overall work of the Trust Board. However these committees are not legally responsible or accountable for statutory functions – the Trust Board retains overall accountability and responsibility. The responsibilities of board committees are set out in their terms of reference; the responsibilities for cluster or school governing committees are set out in the scheme of delegation. The trust board may appoint committee members and committee chairs.
Finance & Audit Committee
Zoé Evans (Chair) – Trustee & CEO
Malcolm Smith (Vice Chair) – Trustee
Tony Boyle - Trustee
Pradeep Athwal – Trustee
Neville Button – Governor Great Oaks
Bill Shanker - Governor Rosewood
Advisors – Andy Evans, Headteacher Great Oaks & Jen Frost CFO
Health & Safety Committee
Roger Sim (Chair) – Business Lead Premises & Estates
Liz McCaughey – Trustee
Sue Williams – Trustee & Chair of Governors Great Oaks
Geraldine Lyndsay – Head of School Great Oaks Vermont Site
Man Wong – Business Lead IT
Sarah Lotriet – Health & Safety Coordinator Rosewood
Vicky Dudden – Health & Safety Coordinator Rosewood
David Johnson – Site Manager Great Oaks
Personnel Committee
Katharine Jordan (Chair) – Business Lead HR & Admin
Zoe Evans – Headteacher Rosewood, CEO
Rosemary Gregory – Trustee
Corrina Burner – Governor Rosewood
Neil Margereson – Governor Great Oaks
Gemma Good - Governor Great Oaks
Safeguarding Committee
Grace Kent (Chair) – Assistant Head Safeguarding
Nick Le Prevost - Trustee
Sarah Clarke – Deputy Head Rosewood
Geraldine Lyndsay – Head of School Great Oaks West
Katharine Jordan – Business Lead HR & Admin
Corrina Burner - Governor Rosewood
Angela Hardy – Governor Great Oaks
Jenny Waddington - Governor Great Oaks
Kate Henty - Assistant Head Great Oaks
Colin Ridout – Teacher Great Oaks
The role of the local governing bodies (LGBs)
The Trust Board will establish LGBs, appoint the chair, ensure at least two parents are elected and will determine what will be delegated. Typically, responsibilities may include:
- Building an understanding of how the school is led and managed
- Monitoring whether the school is:Working within agreed policies
- Meeting the agreed targets
- Managing its finances well
- Engaging with stakeholders
- Reporting to the Trustees board
As a committee of the board, delegation can be removed at any time.
Members of each LGB are detailed on the school websites: Great Oaks Governors and Rosewood Governors
Name | Role | Business or Pecuniary Interest | Nature of Business | Date Appointed | Interest Declared |
Zoe Evans | Headteacher, Rosewood and Trust CEO | Married to head at Great Oaks School | Other school in MAT | 01/09/2015 | 01/09/2015 |
Andy Evans | Headteacher, Great Oaks | Married to head at Rosewood and CEO of the Trust | Other school in MAT | 01/09/2006 | 01/09/2015 |
Andy Evans | Headteacher, Great Oaks | Trustee of The Signalong Group used in both schools | Training & Resources for communication difficulties | September 2018 | September 2018 |
Eugene McManus | Governor, Great Oaks | Chairman of Southampton Doing it For the Kids | 08/06/2023 | 25/09/2023 | |
Eugene McManus | Governor, Great Oaks | Muni Bar and Restaurant | 08/06/2023 | 25/09/2023 | |
Lesley Mantle | Governor, Great Oaks | Employee of Highfield CE Primary School | |||
Gemma Good | Governor, Great Oaks | Employee of the Trust | 25/11/2022 | 16/09/2023 | |
Geraldine Lindsay | Head of School Great Oaks West | Husband provides consultancy work for buildings projects at Great Oaks and Rosewood Free Schools – OCA Consulting – from 1/4/2023 | 01/09/2017 | 31/08/2023 | |
Tony Boyle | Member | NONE | |||
Scott Ashmore | Member | NONE | |||
Nick Le Prevost | Trustee | NONE | |||
Liz McCaughey | Member | NONE | |||
Malcolm Smith | Trustee | NONE | |||
Nick Vaughan | Member | Solicitor Represents HWB (School Auditors) | Paris Smith - Law Firm | 01/09/2017 | 01/09/2017 |
Sue Williams | Trustee | NONE | |||
Pradeep Athwal | Trustee | Provides Transport for Rosewood School | Transmobility - Wheelchair friendly taxi | 02/02/2023 | 02/05/2023 |
Rosemary Gregory | Trustee | Direct Care services for young people | Roseroad Association | 15/09/2019 | 15/09/2019 |
Sheena Williams | Member | NONE |