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 closing date for applications is Thursday 13th July 2023 at 12.00pm. Interviews will be conducted w/c 17th July 2023.

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.

Full NamePositionNature of Interest/position or relationship e.g. directorship, shareholder, trustee, husband/wife etcCompany Directorships and Charitable trusteeships details of all companies and charitiesMembership of professional bodiesAny other conflictDate
Catherine ShergoldChair – Vine Trust AppointmentNoneNoneNoneNone25/01/2021
Godfrey Evans Member – Vine Trust AppointmentNoneNoneNoneNone25/01/2021
Nigel Benwell Member – Vine Trust AppointmentNoneNoneNoneNone25/01/2021
Richard Hopkins Member – Vine Trust Appointment NoneNoneNoneNone25/01/2021
Claire Kearney Member – Vine Trust AppointmentNoneNoneNoneNone25/01/2021
Emma FlinMember / Headteacher – Great YeldhamNoneNooneNoneNoneEx Officio
Samantha Williams-Dunne Member / Headteacher – Colne Engaine NoneNoneNoneNoneEx Officio
Kirsty StuartMember / Headteacher – RidgewellNoneNoneNoneParentEx Officio
Ana De PiedadeMember / Headteacher – Belchamp St PaulNoneNoneNoneNoneEx Officio