Local Governance Committee
Overview
The governance of a multi-academy trust differs from those of maintained schools. The White Horse Federation (TWHF) believes that placing statutory responsibilities firmly at its centre, in the remit of the board of trustees, allows the Local Governance Committee (LGC) to focus on providing support, overcoming challenges in the delivery of educational excellence, and outstanding outcomes for all pupils.
There are direct channels of communication between the principal and the LGC chair and central services. The clerk to the board of trustees will hold contact details for all members of LGCs within TWHF. However, routine communication for day-to-day school business should come from the chair of that LGC, managed by the school or through an LGC clerk.
The principal and the chair of the LGC are responsible for ensuring the quality and timely distribution of all material needed to keep LGC members well-informed about the school and TWHF. The principal and the chair are also responsible for ensuring the views of the LGC have good lines of communication to the board of trustees. This can be done via the elected chair’s representative on the board of trustees. Senior executives from TWHF will be nominated by the CEO to attend any LGC.
The White Horse Federation has a very clear and shared understanding of what constitutes good and effective governance. Schools within TWHF will be judged to have outstanding governance when members of the LGC:
- Talk about teaching and learning.
- Know a great deal about the school and its community.
- Are ambitious for the school and its community.
- Ask questions which make colleagues reflect, and that these discussions lead to delivering the very best outcomes for every child and adult within the school community.
- Maintain strong and effective relationships within TWHF.
For the shared model of governance to be effective for TWHF and the schools, it is essential that there is effective communication between the board of trustees, the LGCs, chairs groups, principals, the central team, and the executive leadership team.
Current Local Governance Committee
Hannah Gordon - Headteacher
Cailey Whitcher - Chair of LGC & Trust Appointed Governor
Sean Harper - Trust Appointed Governor
Stephanie Hook - Trust Appointed Governor
Kate Westbrook - Trust Appointed Governor
James Hill - Parent Governor
Jimmy Thorne - Parent Governor
Register of Interests 2025-2026
Governors have been appointed by the board of trustees and will serve a four-year term.
|
Name |
Role |
Nature of Interest |
Date of Declaration |
Term of Office |
|
Hannah Gordon |
Headteacher |
TWHF Employee |
29/08/23 |
01/09/22 - Ex-Officio |
| Cailey Whitcher |
Chair of LGC & Trust Appointed Governor |
Friends of Grange Schools Treasurer | 22/09/25 | 16/10/2024 – 15/10/28 |
|
Sean Harper |
Trust Appointed Governor |
Just For Fun Holiday Club |
22/09/25 |
17/06/2025 - 16/06/29 |
| Stephanie Hook |
Trust Appointed Governor |
|
19/09/25 |
17/06/25 – 16/06/29 |
| Kate Westbrook | Trust Appointed Governor |
Thrings LLP Employee Member of Law Society |
25/11/24 | 01/03/23 - 28/08/27 |
| James Hill | Parent Governor | Parent of child in the school | 21/11/25 - 20/11/29 | |
| Jimmy Thorne | Parent Governor | Parent of child in the school | 21/11/25 - 20/11/29 |
Governors Who Left in the Past 12 Months
Ben Albone - Co-Chair of LGC & Parent Governor 16/07/2025
Joanne Ockwell - Trust Appointed Governor 16/07/2025
Faye Walsh - Parent Governor 16/07/2025
Jen Pound - Staff Governor 16/07/2025
Mallory Britton - Staff Governor 16/07/2025
Frances Ambrose - Staff Governor 06/10/25
The White Horse Federation Governance Information
Click on the button below to access TWHF governance information, including:
- Annual report
- Annual audited accounts
- Memorandum of association
- Articles of association
- Names of charity trustees and members
- Funding agreement
- Gender Pay Gap Report
- Higher Paid Staff reports