Governance

GOVERNOR VACANCIES

The Diocese of Chelmsford Vine Schools Trust (DCVST) is looking for Governors to join our dedicated and visionary Schools Governance Boards.

The Vine Schools Trust is a Multi Academy Trust (MAT) set up by the Diocese of Chelmsford. We are a family of Church of England primary schools located throughout Essex and Thurrock. Our vision is to serve our local communities by providing excellent education rooted in our Christian values. Learn more about the Trust, here.

As a Governor on your school Governance Board you will:
• Be an advocate of the Trust Board so that pupils and schools will flourish in a place where the Trust and School vision and values are translated into action
• Provide support and challenge to school leaders
• Know each school well through focused monitoring to gain assurance of school progress and policy in action which will inform decision making

The Vine Schools Trust is a multi-academy trust and is the accountable body for all twenty three of its schools. Therefore, the overarching responsibility for the governance of the Trust and its schools lies with the Vine Board of Directors.  They fulfil the three core functions of governance:

  • Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
  • Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff; and
  • Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.

To enable the Directors to fulfil their responsibility eight regional Local School Boards work on their behalf and undertake delegated local governance of between two and four schools.  Community Boards in each school enable local support and provide information to enable good governance.

The key principle is that all three Boards together with Executive Leaders will provide an aspect of governance the other cannot as set out in this chart.

This model of governance is undertaken under delegated responsibility. For full details see below.

Local School Board Membership and Register of Interests – From 2023/24

NAMEROLERESPONSIBILITYAPPOINTED BYDATE OF APPOINTMENTEND OF TERMBUSINESS DECLARATIONFAMILY DECLARATION
Charlotte LittleChairSafeguarding / Quality of EducationTrust01/09/202326/04/2025The vines trust -Governor – Been governor for south east hub since 2017. Currently Chair
The vines trust Director – Vice Chair Appointed Director February 2021
The Appleton school Governor – Vice Chair

The vines trust Governor Local schools Board Member for Tendring Hub. Currently Chair

ESGA Executive Committee Member

Southminster TIB TIB

None
Gemma SmithVine Head/Deputy
Church School Effectiveness Trust01/09/202328/09/2024NoneNone
Lucy TurnerEducatonalistSENDTrust01/09/202326/04/2025NoneNone
Andi JonesMember and Vice ChairComplianceTrust01/09/2023NoneWife is the Headteacher of another school in the trust.
Yvonne CromeMembern/aTrust01/09/202307/03/2026NoneNone
Claire EpsomMemberSafeguardingTrust25/11/202224/11/2026NoneNone
Phillip HoltonHeadteacher – Mistley Norman and Two Villagen/aEx Officio by Vitrue01/09/2023n/aNoneNone
Mark Carter-TufnellHeadteacher – St Osythn/aEx Officio by Vitrue01/09/2023n/aNoneNone
Diane FawcettHeadteacher – St Andrew’sn/aEx Officio by Vitrue01/09/2023n/ADirector of Mid Tendring Essex Partnership TrustNone
Lisa WebbFinance Partner – Mistley Norman, St Osyth and Two Villagen/an/an/an/aTrustee for Evelyn May TrustNone
Rachel LayFinance Partner – St Andrew’sn/an/an/an/aNoneNone
VacancyEx Officio (Incumbent)//////
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Local School Board Members Attendance 2023/24

Full NameRole26/09/202321/11/202330/01/202412/03/202414/05/202402/07/2024
Charlotte LittleChair
Gemma SmithVine Head/Deputy
Lucy TurnerEducationalist
Andi JonesMember and Vice Chair
Yvonne CromeMember
Claire EpsomMember
Philip HoltonHeadteacher at Mistley Norman and Two Village
Mark Carter-TufnellHeadteacher at St Osyth
Diane FawcettHeadteacher at Weeley St Andrew’s
Lisa WebbFinance Partner
Rachel LayFinance Partner
Hazel CraneClerk
VacancyEx Officio (Incumbent)
VacancyParent
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