Governance

Yorkshire Learning Trust (YLT) encourages all member schools to be self-governing, helping support their responsibility to serve their communities first and foremost. This is achieved through the appointment of a governing body to provide focused governance at the local level. For full details of YLT’s governance arrangements and information regarding the Trustees and Members, please see the MAT website.

A single local governing body was created in March 2023 to provide governance across both Bishopthorpe Infant School (BIS) and Archbishop of York’s Church of England Junior School (AYJS), working closely with the Executive Headteacher appointed to lead both schools.

Our Governance Structure

Within Yorkshire Learning Trust, each school has a Local Governing Committee (LGC) that supports the work of the school and the Trust. The LGC has certain delegated authority to oversee the running of the school under the Scheme of Delegation as defined by our Board of Trustees.

Further information about our governance structure, including details of our Trustees and Members, is available via the Yorkshire Learning Trust (YLT) website.

Our Local Governing Committee (LGC)

Our Local Governing Committee (sometimes called our Local Governing Board or Local Governing Body) is responsible for working with the school to ensure that it delivers a high-quality education and safe environment for all our children. Together with the Headteacher, who is responsible for day-to-day management of the school, the Governors set the school’s aims and some school specific policies.

Governors are people who volunteer their time to work together as part of the LGC team and who wish to make a positive contribution to their communities. Governors do not need an education background; they have an interest in the role of schools in society and have enquiring minds which contribute to the effective running of the school and the educational achievements and wellbeing of its pupils.

Main aims of our Governing Board

The purpose of governance is to provide:

· Strategic leadership

· Accountability and assurance

· Strategic engagement.

LGCs carry out a number of important duties alongside the Trust, which include:

· Ensuring our children are safe.

· Working with school staff to ensure inclusion and equality for all.

· Reviewing policy on the school’s curriculum.

· Setting standards for pupils’ behaviour.

· Making sure school buildings are welcoming and safe.

· Setting and monitoring the school’s aims and policies.

· Agreeing the school’s development plan and monitoring progress against clear objectives.

· Determining how the school’s budget is spent.

· Understanding the views of our stakeholders, including children, parents and staff.

· Hearing appeals and grievances.

Our meetings and membership

Our LGC usually meets six times a year. Minutes of the LGC meetings are available on request from the School Office or via clerktogovs@ylt.org.uk

Attendance at LGC meetings is recorded and published annually on the YLT website.

Governors are expected to declare any relevant business and financial interests they may have. This Register of Business Interests is available via the YLT website.

Governors are expected to declare any relevant business and financial interests they may have. This Register of Business Interests is available via the YLT website. The Register of Business Interests includes a list of our current and recent governors, how they were appointed to the LGC, and their term of office.

Membership of the governing body is made up of a number of different types of governor, reflecting each school’s heritage and our key stakeholders:

• 2 Parent governors (1 BIS and 1 AYJS)
• 2 Staff governors (1 BIS and 1 AYJS)
• 3 Foundation governors (reflecting AYJS’s status as a Church of England school)
• 5 Trust appointed governors

Between them, the governors bring a blend of skills and experience that is greatly valued. The governing body meets formally six times a year, once every half term, and governors also undertake a number of other responsibilities in support of both schools. All are united in their shared commitment to see our schools continue to flourish and grow at the heart of our community.

Local Governor’s Name                                           Category of Local Governor

Mr Timothy Andrew (Chair, Safeguarding)                 Trust appointed

Mrs Jane Flint (Vice-Chair)                                         Foundation appointed

Mrs Kate Freer                                                            Parent appointed (BIS)

Mrs Nicola Childs                                                        Parent appointed (AYJS)

Mrs Joanne Block                                                       Staff appointed (BIS)

Miss Carley Ray                                                         Staff appointed (AYJS)

Revd Simon Bray                                                        Foundation appointed & Ex-Officio

Dr Rosamund Boddington                                          Foundation appointed

Mr Simon Sykes (Health & Safety)                             Trust appointed

Miss Sophie Cunningham (SEND)                             Trust appointed

Vacancy                                                                      Trust appointed

If you would like to contact the governors, you can do so either via contacting the BIS or AYJS school offices, or via email to the Chair, Timothy Andrew, at t.andrew@ayjs.co.uk

If you are interested in volunteering for the school or Trust as a school governor, please see our latest vacancies and application form available on the YLT website.

Diversity statement

At YLT we believe that diversity and inclusion are integral to our success. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to achieve their full potential.

We actively seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. We celebrate the unique contributions of each team member and are dedicated to fostering a culture of equality, where differences are not only embraced but are seen as a source of strength.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is reflected in our policies, practices, and the way we do business. We strive to ensure that our recruitment processes are fair, unbiased, and inclusive, and we are continuously working to improve them.

We understand that diversity drives innovation and creativity, and we are dedicated to building a diverse team that reflects the communities we serve.

Yorkshire Learning Trust – additional governance and financial information

Details of our Trustees and Members are on the YLT website.

There are statutory obligations for Trusts to publish additional governance and financial information online.

This includes our Articles of Association; Annual Reports and Accounts; funding agreements Executive Pay reports; and Gender Pay Gap reports. This information is published on our Trust website