Trustees
This information gives an overview of an academy Trustee’s responsibilities.
Trustees have a strong focus on three core strategic functions:
- Strategic leadership of the academy trust: the board defines the trust vision for high quality and inclusive education in line with its charitable objects – it establishes and fosters the trust’s culture and sets and champions the trust strategy including determining what, if any, governance functions are delegated to the local tier
- Accountability and assurance: the board has robust effective oversight of the operations and performance of the academy trust, including the provision of education, pupil welfare, overseeing and ensuring appropriate use of funding and effective financial performance and keeping their estate safe and well-maintained
- Engagement: the board has strategic oversight of relationships with stakeholders – the board involves parents, schools and communities so that decision-making is supported by meaningful engagement
Trustees are appointed to provide:
- strong links between the academy and the community we serve
- a wide experience of the outside world
- an independent view
- a focus on long term development and improvement
- accountability to the community for the use of resources and the standards of teaching and learning within the academy
- support for the Principal and staff
Trustees are expected to:
- attend meetings of the Trustee board
- work as a member of the Trustee board (not as an individual) in the best interests of the academy
- show an interest in academy activities
- become well-informed about education in general and about our academy in particular
- become familiar with the rules of academy governance
- keep up to date with changes in education legislation
- attend training courses, where appropriate
Trustees are involved in the following activities:
- senior staff appointments
- the financial management of the academy
- student discipline
- the curriculum
- community links
Mrs Jodie Gourlay is our Clerk to the Trustees. The Clerk to the Trustees is primarily responsible for the smooth and efficient running of meetings of the trustee board and any other committees. To this end, Mrs Gourlay works closely with the Chair of Trustees and the Principal to provide assistance and support.
Mrs Gourlay can be contacted by emailing clerk@newent.gloucs.sch.uk
Mr Chris Germaine
(Chair) Trustee
Read More
Chris Germaine has dedicated over 30 years to teaching, beginning his career at Newent in 1995 and working across a number of schools within the county. Throughout this time, he has been committed to supporting young people both in the classroom and beyond, drawing on his extensive experience to help students achieve their potential.
A keen sportsman, Chris’s main passion is cricket. He has been a driving force at his local town cricket club, leading reform and development over many years. He has held a variety of roles within the club, including Chair, and is currently responsible for managing and maintaining the ground. Alongside this, Chris has played a significant role in developing young cricketers through his long-standing involvement with Gloucestershire County Cricket Club. For more than a decade, he has worked with county age group squads at Under-15 and Under-16 level, helping to nurture the next generation of talented players.
Chris brings to all of his work a blend of experience, commitment, and enthusiasm, underpinned by a genuine passion for education and sport.
Ms Nicola Gee
(Co-Vice Chair) Trustee
Read More
A former pupil of Newent Community School and Sixth Form Centre, Nicola has worked in various educational roles in both London and Gloucestershire. Currently a Key Stage 1 Primary Teacher, she has also worked in the education department of the Victoria & Albert Museum and spent 10 years as an Early Years Teacher. Having started her teaching career in London, she moved back to Gloucestershire in 2004 with her husband and young children. She has three children, two still attending Newent and one moving onto university. Although new to being a governor Nicola has extensive experience as a volunteer in the education sector having been chair of both her local toddler group and playgroup and also a long standing committee member for her primary school fundraising group. As a governor Nicola looks forward to supporting and challenging the work of the school as it continues to move forward in providing excellent learning experiences and opportunities for all students.
Mr Robert Weston
Trustee
Read More
Bob has lived in Newent for four years and has been a Trustee at Newent Community School for the last three years. Born and bred in Birmingham, he and his family have lived in the Gloucestershire / Herefordshire area since 1982.
He’s now retired, but for the last 30+ years of his working life he was involved in systems design, development and data analysis at several Financial Services companies in Cheltenham and Gloucester and more recently for the Civil Service working out of London.
His son and daughter-in-law are both involved in Education and live on a small farm near to Dymock, where Bob spends a considerable portion of his retirement time mowing, sawing, painting, general labouring and animal care.
He’s interested in all sports, most notably football (an avid Aston Villa supporter) and is a member of the Holts Health Centre (Doctors Practice) Patient Participation Group. He’s a Read-With-Me volunteer at Highnam Primary School.
He looks forward to providing whatever assistance he can in the future development of NCS, its students, staff and community.
Mrs Sandy Hayes
Trustee
Read More
Sandy has worked in education for over 35 years. For the last 25 of these, she has been immersed in the world of school improvement as a school improvement adviser and inspector. Previously one of His Majesty’s Inspectors, Sandy now works as an independent school improvement consultant and Ofsted lead inspector. She lives in the North of Gloucestershire with her husband and rock-musician son. her quality time is spent cooking for them, gardening and singing in local choirs.
Mr Gareth Wood
Trustee
Read More
Gareth grew up in Gloucester and is an ex-student of Sir Thomas Rich’s. He then moved to Chelmsford where he studied for his degree, before returning in 1998. He is married with two children, and is the founder and Managing Director of an established local marketing company. He has worked at a strategic level with some of the biggest brands in the UK, along with start ups and a variety of local SMEs. These have included both commercial and not-for-profit organisations. He has also played an active part in the development of youth football and rugby teams in the local areas.
Mrs Emma Steward
Trustee
Read More
Emma grew up locally and attended Newent School and Sixth Form Centre as a pupil. In 2008, she began an accountancy apprenticeship with a firm of accountants in Cheltenham before gaining her ACCA qualification in 2016 working in Gloucester
Today, Emma remains working in practice as a qualified audit RI, specialising in external audit. She enjoys her varied client base which includes limited companies, charities and pension schemes predominantly in the South West.
Emma lives in Newent with her husband and two young daughters, who keep her very busy! But in her rare free time, she loves live music, swimming and spending time with family and friends.
Emma is keen to combine her understanding of the school and local community alongside her financial experience to make a positive contribution in her role as trustee
Mr James Joyce
Parent Trustee
Read More
For our society to become the society I passionately believe in, we need to fully invest in our children and that is why I became a governor of Newent Community School in late 2020.
My background is working in various European Countries for multi-national advertising agencies . Before moving to Gloucestershire, in 2016 and building from scratch the house we live in, I was both a District and County Councillor. I also served and chaired Norfolk’s Childrens Services panel and currently serve on an Adoption Panel. My hobbies are Cricket, Flying and old cars.
Mrs Jo Vizor
(Co-Vice Chair) Trustee
Read More
Jo has been a primary teacher for 20 years. She is particularly interested in advocating for the best learning journey for every learner: recently working with the University of Worcester to investigate new possibilities in collaborative work with a range of other schools. She has worked in several countries as a teacher and previously as a project manager and brings this plethora of experience to each of her roles.
Jo has lived in the area for nearly 30 years. One of her two children currently attends Newent with her youngest still in primary.
Mr Steve Jeffree
Parent Trustee
Read More
Steve was born in Coventry; and has since lived in Nottingham, Leicester, Milton Keynes, Mallorca, High Wycombe and Maidenhead before moving to Gloucester in 2013.
His work background is as a Chief Information Officer and Consultant; working extensively in digital transformation for a variety of organisations.
Steve has recently retired and is looking to provide assistance and expertise to Newent Community School at this critical time in educational development.
Miss Catherine Dufour
Staff Trustee
Read More
Catherine has been a teacher for 22 years and 20 of those years have been at Newent. Catherine started as a teacher of RE and PSHE and is now Head of Nelson and Head of RE
Mrs Nazmin Dagada-Khan
School Business Leader / Company Secretary
Read More
Email: businessmanager@newent.gloucs.sch.uk
Telephone: 01531 820550
Mrs Jodie Gourlay
Clerk to the Trustees
Read More
For all Governor enquiries please contact the Clerk:
Email: clerk@newent.gloucs.sch.uk
Telephone: 01531 828923
Members
Members have a distinct but limited role, however, an incredibly important one. Members act as the ‘guardian’ for the effective operation of the Trust by ensuring through holding the Board to account that the organisation is well managed and governed.
The principle rights and powers that Members have to achieve this are:
- appoint other Members;
- amend the Articles of Association;
- change the name of the Trust;
- appoint and remove one or more Trustees;
- approve the appointment of the Principal as a Trustee;
- approve the appointment of external auditors;
- receive the annual accounts and annual report from the Board;
- give directions by special resolution to the Board; and
- (if necessary) to wind up the Trust.
Mrs Karen Elen
Member
Mr Lee Hampton-Whitehead
Member
Mr David Hogg
Member
Mr Chris Rayfield
Member