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Statutory Information
Our Governance Structure ensures there are clear reporting lines of accountability to ensure probity, good governance and outstanding performance.
Trustees and Members of the Trust are appointed in accordance with the Trust Articles of Association.
Trustees focus on three core functions of governance:
- Ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction of the Trust;
- Hold trust schools and its leaders to account for the educational performance of the schools and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and
- Oversee the financial performance of the Trust and make sure its money is well spent.
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Mrs Ruth Rule-Mullen - Chair Email: r.rulemullen@cfat.org.uk Tel: 01942 487982 Mrs Jane Chambers - Vice Chair |
Governance Roles
The role of Members
Meetings of Members are called 'General Meetings' and the decisions they make are called 'resolutions'. CFAT Members meet at least once a year at the Trusts Annual General Meeting (AGM). Member’s are responsible to ensure the continued adherence of the Trustees to the founding principles of the Trust, namely to secure the best educational standards, personal and academic, for all pupils within the Trusts.
The role of Trustees
The role of Trustee is to oversee the strategic direction of the Trust and work with fellow Trustees to monitor the outcomes of pupils and the application of funds to ensure the continued viability of the Trust. It is also the Trustees role to provide constructive challenge so that they can demonstrate that they are effective and efficient managers of the Trust. Trustees meet at least once a term to discuss key strategic and operational issues.
The Board of Trustees is supported by a Finance, Audit and Risk Committee that meets once per term to monitor internal controls, a Local Academy Board meets once per term at each school/academy and a Headteacher Board (HTB) for the trust school-centred initial teacher training (SCITT) facility Kingsbridge meet once per term.
Member, Trustee & Executive Team Pen Portraits
Member and Trustee pen portraits can be viewed by clicking here
Executive Team pen portraits can be viewed by clicking here
School Improvement / Executive Team pen portraits can be viewed by clicking here
The Board of Charitable Trustess (Sept 2022 to Aug 2023)
|
Name |
Role |
Date of Appointment |
Term of Office |
Date of Resignation (if within 12 months) |
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Members |
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Mrs Ruth Rule-Mullen |
Member & Chair |
03rd December 2019 |
Members do not technically have a term of office |
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Mr Neil Bailey |
Member |
25th September 2017 |
Members do not technically have a term of office |
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Mrs Brenda Szwandt |
Member |
25th September 2017 |
Members do not technically have a term of office |
31st August 2022 |
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Mrs Sarah Greer |
Member |
24th November 2021 |
Members do not technically have a term of office |
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Mrs Rose Crompton |
Member |
1st September 2019 |
Members do not technically have a term of office |
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VACANCY |
Member |
TBC |
Members do not technically have a term of office |
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Trustees |
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Mrs Ruth Rule-Mullen |
Trustee & Chair |
4th May 2018 |
annual appointment as chair SoD| 03rd May 2022 |
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Mrs Jane Chambers |
Trustee & Vice Chair |
6th March 2018 |
annual appointment as vice chair SoD| 05th March 2022 |
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Mrs Sue Darbyshire |
CEO / Trustee |
14th January 2013 |
4 Years | 31st January 2025 |
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Mr Jack Pugh |
Trustee |
01st February 2013 |
4 years | 31st August 2023 |
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Cllr Carl Sweeney |
Trustee |
01st February 2013 |
4 Years |31st January 2025 |
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Mr Mark Rowlands |
Trustee |
01st February 2013 |
4 Years | 31st January 2025 |
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Mrs Michelle Frost |
Trustee |
22nd September 2020 |
4 Years | 22nd Sept 2024 |
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Mrs Lynne Hamnett |
Trustee |
1st September 2019 |
4 Years | 31st August 2023 |
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Mr John McDonald Strategic Finance Manager |
Co-opted member on to the Trustees finance, risk and audit committee |
1st September 2018 |
annual |
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Mr Sean Power Directeur Général - Institut Florimont |
Co-opted /associate member on to the board of Trustees in support of the trusts post covid-19 educational services |
23rd November 2021 |
annual |
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Clerk |
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Ms Marie Collier |
Trust Wide Clerk | 1st September 2018 | annual | |
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Associate Attendees / Executive Team |
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| Craig Holden | Chief Operating Officer | attendee by virtue of their position | - | |
| Carol Brockbank | Chief Finance Officer | attendee by virtue of their position | - | |
Platt Bridge Local Academy Board (LAB) information can be reviewed by clicking here
Kingsbridge SCITT Headteacher Board (HTB) information can be reviewed by clicking here
Trustee or committees with specific roles - updated July 2022
| Name or Committee | Specific Role |
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Mr Jack Pugh |
Safeguarding and Staffing |
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Mrs Lynne Hammett |
Vulnerable Groups including Special Educational Needs & Disability |
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Cllr Carl Sweeney |
Pupil Premium and Looked after Children |
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Mrs Jane Chambers |
Pupil Progress and Outcomes including Curriculum |
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Mr Mark Rowlands |
Health & Safety and Estates |
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Finance Audit and Risk committee (FAR) |
Finance, Audit & Risk |
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Mrs Ruth Rule-Mullen, Mrs Jane Chambers, Mr Mark Rowlands & Mr Jack Pugh |
CEO/Executive Pay Committee |
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Kingsbridge Headteacher Board (HTB) |
Responsible for advising and challenging the Trusts SCITT activity inline with its Scheme of Delegation. |
The Trust Scheme of Delegation applies to all schools/academies & business areas within the Charitable Trust including its SCITT. It is available for review at the footer of this page.
Meetings of Members and Trustees
All meetings of both Trust Members and Trustees take place at the Trust's registered office which is Rivington Ave, Platt Bridge, Wigan, WN2 5NG and generally start at 17:30hrs unless stated otherwise.
Minutes of meetings are available for inspection via request from the Trusts registered office.
Request for Copies
Anyone can by law request a copy of the accounts from the charity at any time. Our accounts are however, displayed online at the footer of this page for public review.
If you would like to request copies of anything else please contact our Clerk in the first instance by emailing info@cfat.org.uk
Contact
To contact any member of the Trusts Governing Board, please contact the Trust Clerk by emailing info@cfat.org.uk
record of meeting attendance - Members and Trustees Meetings September 2022 - August 2023
P – present
A – apology received and accepted
N – apology received but not accepted
D – did not attend, no apology received
meetings of cfat members (sept 2022 to Aug 2023)
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Name |
Planned AGM 22nd November 2022 |
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Ruth Rule Mullen |
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Rose Crompton |
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Sarah Greer |
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Neil Bailey |
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Vacancy |
meetings of cfat trustees (septt 2022 to Aug 2023)
| Name |
20th Sept 2022 Business & Resources Agenda |
22nd Nov 2022 Standards Agenda |
31st Jan 2023 Finance & Resources Agenda |
28th March 2023 Standards Agenda |
13th June 2023 Finance & Resources Agenda |
12th July 2023 Standards Agenda |
Attendance - out of a possible 6 meetings |
| Ruth Rule-Mullen (Chair) |
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| Jane Chambers (Vice Chair) | X out of a possible 6 | ||||||
| Sue Darbyshire | X out of a possible 6 | ||||||
| Jack Pugh | X out of a possible 6 | ||||||
| Cllr Carl Sweeney | X out of a possible 6 | ||||||
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Lynne Hamnett |
X out of a possible 6 | ||||||
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Michelle Frost |
X out of a possible 6 | ||||||
| Mark Rowlands |
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X out of a possible 6 |
in attendance
| Sean Power - Associate |
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X out of a possible 6 | |||||
| Craig Holden (COO) |
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X out of a possible 6 | |||||
| Carol Brockbank (CFO) |
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X out of a possible 6 | |||||
| Marie Collier (Clerk) |
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X out of a possible 6 |
meetings of the finance, audit and risk commitee (sept 2022 to Aug 2023)
| Name | 2nd November 2022 | 15th Feb 2023 | 24th May 2023 | Attendance - out of a possible 3 meetings |
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John McDonald |
X out of a possible 3 | |||
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Jack Pugh (Committee Chair) |
X out of a possible 3 | |||
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Ruth Rule-Mullen |
X out of a possible 3 | |||
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Michelle Frost (Committee Vice Chair) |
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X out of a possible 3 | ||
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Sue Darbyshire |
X out of a possible 3 |
in attendance
| Carol Brockbank (CFO) | X out of a possible 3 | |||
| Craig Holden (COO) | X out of a possible 3 | |||
| Marie Collier (Clerk) | X out of a possible 3 |
record of attendance - members and trustees meeting (previous academic years)
Click Here to review the Record of Attendance - Members and Trustees Meetings 2021-2022
Click Here to review the Record of Attendance - Members and Trustees Meetings 2020-2021
Click Here to review the Record of Attendance - Members and Trustees Meetings 2019-2020
Click Here to review the Record of Attendance - Members and Trustees Meetings 2018-2019
Click Here to review the Record of Attendance - Members and Trustees Meetings 2017-2018
declared conflicts of intrest register
Click Here to review the Trust's Register of Business Interest (Sept 2021 to Aug 2022)
group annual impact report 2020
click here to view our Group Annual Impact Report Aug 2020
finanical statements
Please click here to view Community First Academy Trust Financial Statement to Aug 2021 (approved 23/11/21)
Please click here to view Community First Academy Trust Financial Statement to Aug 2020
Please click here to view Community First Academy Trust Financial Statement to Aug 2019
Please click here to view Community First Academy Trust Financial Statement to Aug 2018
Please click here to view Community First Academy Trust Financial Statement to Aug 2017
trust financial regulations manual
Please click here to view Community First Academy Trust Financial Regulations Manual.
audit management letters
Please click here to view Community First Academy Trust Management Letter 2021 (approved 23/11/21)
Please click here to view Community First Academy Trust Management Letter 2020
Please click here to view Community First Academy Trust Management Letter 2019
Please click here to view Community First Academy Trust Management Letter 2018
cfat value for money statement
Please click here to view Community First Academy Trust Value for Money Statement
cfat articles of association
Please click here to view Community First Academy Trust Memorandum of Association
Please click here to view Community First Academy Trust Articles of Association
cfat scheme of delegation (sept 2022 to Aug 2023)
Please click here to view Community First Academy Trust Scheme of Delegation (updated 19/07/2022)
Please click here to view the DfE's Governance Handbook
cfat funding agreements
Please click here to view Community First Academy Trust Deed of Variation of Funding Agreement
Please click here to view Community First Academy Trust Supplemental Funding Agreement
general data protection regulations
Please click here to view Community First Academy Trust General Data Protection Regulations
trade union facility time publications
Please click here to view Community First Academy Trust Trade Union Facility Time 2018-19
Please click here to view Community First Academy Trust Trade Union Facility Time 2019-20
Please click here to view Community First Academy Trust Trade Union Facility Time 2020-21
publication of executive pay
| Financial Statement August 2016 | Financial Statement August 2017 | Financial Statement August 2018 | Financial Statement August 2019 | Financial Statement August 2020 | Financial Statement August 2021 | |
| £60,001 - £70,000 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| £70,001 - £80,000 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| £80,001 - £90,000 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |
| £90,001 - £100,000 | - | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| £100,001 - £110,000 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |
| £110,001 - £120,000 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| £120,001 - £130,000 | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - |
| £130,001 - £140,000 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
*extract as published in the annual audited accounts
record of member, trustee and local academy board training
All Trustees and Local Academy Boards for all CFAT partner schools are invited for ongoing training. Recent training has included the following:
| Date | Event | in attendance |
| March 2016 | RAISE online with Tauheedul Education Trust (now Star Academies) | Members, Trustees and Local Academy Boards |
| May 2016 | Using Fisher Family Trust Aspire | Members, Trustees and Local Academy Boards |
| June 2016 | Performance Tables - Secondary with Tauheedul Education Trust (now Star Academies) | Members, Trustees and Local Academy Boards |
| Sept 2016 | Narrowing the Gap with Tauheedul Education Trust (now Star Academies) | Members, Trustees and Local Academy Boards |
| May 2017 | CFAT Annual Conference including Review of Governance & Ofsted Framework Training | Members, Trustees and Local Academy Boards |
| April 2018 | Members and Trustee Review of Governance Workshop with the National Governance Association (NGA) | Members, Trustees and Local Academy Boards |
| May 2018 | Mandatory trust-wide GDPR training for Members and Trustees | Members, Trustees and Local Academy Boards |
| July 2018 | CFAT Annual Conference Review of Governance & School Data Analysis Training | Members, Trustees and Local Academy Boards |
| Sept 2018 | CFAT Trustees Business Planning Workshop with Education Business Management | Trustees |
| Oct 2018 |
National Governance Association Conference
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Governance Away Day all Trustees |
| 8th and 9th Feb 2019 |
Confederation of School Trusts (CST) MAT Conference
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Governance Away Day all Trustees |
| June 2019 |
''Don’t Believe Everything You think'' and review of trust business plan. |
Governance Away Day all Trustees |
| November 2019 |
Governor Services - Safeguarding for Governors and Trustees |
Jack Pugh |
| 11th to 12th June 2020 - POSTPONED DUE TO COVID |
CST Inaugural Annual Conference “Holding trust on behalf of children” |
CFAT Executive Team & Trustee working party |
| March 2021 | Chairs CST Governance Training | Chair if Trustees |
| 10th to 11th July 2020 - POSTPONED DUE TO COVID | Agenda - TBC | CFAT Governance Annual Conference All Members, Trustees, LAB Members. |
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13th November 2021 Governance Away Day |
Conference for those involved in the Governance of Multi-Academy Trusts |
CFAT Governance Annual Conference All Members, Trustees, LAB Members. |
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Spring 2022 |
External Review of Governance AtH external evaluation every 3 years as a fundamental to good governance |
All Members, Trustees, LAB Members. |
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9th June 2022 |
Governance Workshop |
All Members, Trustees, LAB Members. |
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11th July 2022 |
CFAT Annual Conference ''CFAT Excellence in Education 2030 Strategy''
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All Members, Trustees, LAB Members. |
request for copies
If you would like a copy of any not listed please contact our Clerk in the first instance by emailing info@cfat.org.uk