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Governance
The Pingle Academy is an academy within a multi-academy Trust namely The de Ferrers Trust.
The de Ferrers Trust is a charitable company limited by guarantee and as such is required to comply with charity law and company law. The Trust is one legal entity with one set of Articles of Association that governs each academy within the Trust. The Trust has a Master Funding Agreement with the Secretary of State and then each academy has a separate Supplementary Funding Agreement. All documents referred to throughout this page can be located below.
Our Governance Structure
The Members
The trust consists of five members who are very similar to shareholders in a normal company. They are often considered as the custodians of the trust and act as a ‘check and balance’ on the performance of the multi-academy trust. The members have the power to appoint or remove trustees, amend the articles of association and, if necessary, wind up the multi-academy trust. To ensure robust accountability within our governance structure the members are independent of the trust board. The members will meet as often as is necessary to carry out their duties, but at least on an annual basis.
The Trust Board
The trust board has strategic oversight and ultimate responsibility for all of the management decisions within the multi-academy trust. The board consists of up to 11 trustees, 8 of whom are appointed by the members. The trustees are appointed purely on a skills basis. The board’s key responsibilities are to ensure, through their governance structure and leadership team, that the multi-academy trust is making proper and effective use of public funds and for the quality of provision. The trust board will meet as often as is necessary to carry out their duties, but at least five times per year.
The trust board has established three sub-committees to assist them, namely the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, the Standards Committee and the Resources Committee. Each committee operates with its own set of terms of reference which can be located at the bottom of this page. The Finance, Audit and Risk and the Standards sub-committees will meet as often as necessary, but at least three times per year. The Resources Committee will meet as often as necessary, but at least on an annual basis.
The Local Governing Body
A Local Governing Body (LGB) has been established for The Pingle Academy. The LGB carry out the Trust’s vision, policies and priorities and engage with the academy's key stakeholders (our students, parents, staff and members of the community). They will play a support & challenge role and will seek assurances on behalf of the board in regard to academic performance and quality of care and provision for their academy. They are responsible for making decisions by way of the powers delegated to them by the trust board in accordance with the terms of reference and scheme of delegation (located at the bottom of this page).
The LGB has established one sub-committee, namely the pay committee which seeks assurances on behalf of the Trust board that the processes around pay progression for our teaching staff are fair and robust. The pay committee operates with its own set of terms of reference which can be located below.
Our Chair of Governors is David Baker who can be contacted via the Clerk to Governors, by emailing:
clerk.pingle@deferrerstrust.com
Our Clerk to the Local Governing Body is Fiona Harvey, who can be contacted by emailing:
clerk.pingle@deferrerstrust.com
The de Ferrers Trust is currently recruiting for governors in both primary and secondary schools. Should you be interested please do not hesitate to contact Fiona Harvey at the academy or visit The de Ferrers Trust's website.
Annual Report and Financial Statements
To access the Annual Report and Financial Statements from The de Ferrers Trust, please click here.
All documents mentioned in the opening text above can be found by clicking on the attachments below, which will open a PDF document, available to view or download.
If you wish to contact the Local Governing Body you can do so by emailing:
clerk.pingle@deferrerstrust.com Or by writing to the Clerk to the Local Governing Body, The Pingle Academy, Coronation Street, Swadlincote, Derbyshire. DE11 0QA.
Meet our Local Governing Body
Ex-Officio Governor
The Principal of our Academy also sits on our Local Governing Body. He is referred to as an ex-officio governor. This means that he will remain a Governor for as long as he is employed in his role as principal.
Board Appointed Governors
Governors who are Board Appointed are appointed by the Trust board. Their term of office is 4 years. At The Pingle Academy the governance structure allows for 4 board appointed governors.
Parent Governors
Parent governors are elected by the parents/carers of the students who attend The Pingle Academy. When a parent governor vacancy occurs, nominations are requested from all registered parents and carers and an election takes place. Their term of office is four years. At The Pingle Academy the governance structure allows for 2 parent governors.
Staff Governor
The Staff Governor is elected by the staff based at The Pingle Academy. When a staff governor vacancy occurs, nominations are requested from all members of staff based at The Pingle Academy and an election takes place. Their term of office is 4 years. At The Pingle Academy the governance structure allows for 1 staff governor.
Co-Opted Governors
At The Pingle Academy the governance structure allows for the local governors listed above to co-opt up to 4 further local governors to the local governing body in order to bring a specific skill set that will add value to the academy, making local governance even more efficient and effective. Co-opted governors have a term of office of 4 years.
Steven Hall: Ex-Officio Governor
Attendance for 2021/22: 5/5
Committee Membership: Pay Review
Business Interests: Employed at The Pingle Academy, part of The de Ferrers Trust
Non Pecuniary Interests: None
Bio: I am very proud to have been appointed Principal at The Pingle Academy in February 2022. Prior to taking up this role I have held a number of Leadership roles at the academy including Assistant Principal and Vice Principal with main responsibility for curriculum, assessment and timetable. My background is in sport and after graduating from Loughborough University with a degree in Physical Education and Sports Science I completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in PE and science. My first teaching post was as a PE teacher at Noel Baker Community School where I remained for 7 years before being appointed as Head of PE at The Pingle Academy. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Pingle and I am very proud of the improvements made over recent years and the opportunities available in the future.
David Baker: Board Appointed Chair of Governors
Appointed: 16/03/21
Attendance for 2021/22: 5/5
Committee Membership: Pay Committee
Business Interests: Self-employed Independent Education Consultant. Author of Maths text books. Maths tutot.
Non Pecuniary Interests: Chair of Trustees and Director of a charitable company that runs Wirksworth Swimming Pool
Bio: After graduating from Sheffield University with a degree in maths and computer science I became a teacher at Anthony Gell School in Wirksworth. I worked there for 32 years, the last 10 as Headteacher. I now work as an independent education consultant and maths tutor. I am also involved in writing maths text books. I have been a Governor at Pingle since September 2013 and became Chair in September 2016.
Gary Thompson: Board Appointed Vice Chair of Governors
Appointed: 16/03/21
Attendance for 2021/22: 4/5
Committee Membership: None
Business Interests: Employed by Jaguar Land Rover
Non Pecuniary Interests: None
Bio: I have work for Jaguar Land Rover for 30 years and currently have a daughter in Year 12, who started at The Pingle Academy in Year 7. As a Parent Governor, my experience in working for Jaguar Land Rover helps me to bring to the Governing Body my knowledge from a business perspective. Also fostering for the local authority for 10 years helps in the understanding of children in care.
Carl Warren: Board Appointed Governor
Appointed: 18/05/21
Attendance for 2021/22: 3/5
Committee Membership: None
Business Interests: Employed by Toyota Motor Manufacturing
Non Pecuniary Interests: Children in The Pingle Academy
Bio: I became a member of Local Governing Body in May 2017. My background is in Engineering & Maintenance, and I have worked at the Toyota car plant since 1992. My key roles are project management, statutory responsibilities in the work place, budget planning, cost control, energy and managing outside contracts. I am the father of two children, whom both attend Pingle, with one in KS3 and one in KS5. Throughout my life, I have never lived more than 2 miles from Pingle, so I have a very good affiliation and understanding of the local community.
Adrian Hobson: Parent Governor
Appointed: 30 June 2021
Attendance for 2021/22: 5/5
Committee Membership: None
Business Interests: Aviation Industry
Non Pecuniary Interests: None
Bio: I have lived in Swadlincote for the majority of my life, but now have two sons at The Pingle Academy which sparked my interest in becoming a Parent Governor. As one of the two Parent Governors I feel honoured and privileged to represent the interests and concerns of parents on the Local Governing Board. Professionally, I work in the Aviation Industry as a Pilot and also supervise flying operations at five airfields. My professional role is that of oversight and assurance, ensuring flying standards are maintained, operations are conducted smoothly, and any Risks to Life are mitigated appropriately, whilst supporting the accountable Duty Holder chain.
Gareth Jones: Parent Governor
Appointed: 30 June 2021
Attendance for 2021/22: 3/5
Committee Membership: None
Business Interests: Employed by Torsion Construction Limited who are a Medium sized Developer, Contractor and Building Operator based in the North East and Midlands.
Non Pecuniary Interests: None
Bio: I became a member of Local Governing Body in July 2021. My background is in Construction and I have worked for various main contracting companies in managing design. I have a BSc(Hons) Degree and Post Graduate Diploma in Construction. My career has been quite varied and I have managed the design of Schools, Hospitals, Housing Estates, High rise tower blocks and Care Homes. In my spare time I like to read Military History books.
Janine Wyatt: Staff Governor
Appointed: 30 June 2021
Attendance for 2021/22: 4/5
Committee Membership: None
Business Interests: Employed at The Pingle Academy, part of The de Ferrers Trust.
Non Pecuniary Interests: None
Bio: Within my 20 years’ experience working in education I have gained many skills and qualifications which help me support children as well as keeping them safe within the Academy. I am Mental Health First Aid trained and have a Certificate in Education. As a parent governor and member of the local community I have an invested interest in the students’ well-being and future opportunities available to them.
Sarah Withnall: Co-Opted Governor
Appointed: 28/09/2022
Attendance for 2021/22: 5/5
Committee Membership: None
Business Interests: Employed by Park Medical Practice and Oakwood Surgery
Non Pecuniary Interests: Chair of Governors at Hartshorne Primary School and children in The Pingle Academy
Bio: I am a registered pharmacy technician and have worked in a pharmacy for the past 12 years. In addition to being a Governor at another school I previously ran Hartshorne Beaver Scout Colony for 5 years and now help my husband who is Scout Leader at Woodville Scout Group. These roles have given me experience dealing with children across all the age ranges and their parents and carers. I have three children, my eldest has recently started The Pingle Academy in Year 7.
Dean Parker: Co-Opted Governor
Appointed: 09/10/19
Attendance for 2021/22: 4/5
Committee Membership: None
Business Interests: Work in IT in the public sector
Non Pecuniary Interests: None
Bio: I have lived in South Derbyshire all of my life. My 2 children both attended The Pingle Academy and it’s Sixth Form. Prior to joining the LGB, I spent 16 years as a Governor at Albert Village Primary School. I am also involved with the Air Cadet Organisation 1211 (Swadlincote) Squadron where I have been a committee member of the squadron support team for 7 years and have been the secretary since 2016.
Previous Governors
Mark Walker
Appointed: 17 December 2019
Date of Resignation: 17 September 2020
Martyn Connell
Appointed: 17 December 2019
Date of Resignation: March 2021
Richard Kirkland
Appointed: 25 May 2017
Date of End of Term of office: 24 May 2021
Mark Hurst
Appointed: 9 May 2017
Date of End of Term of Office: 8 May 2021
Vivien Sharples
Principal: Ex officio governor
Jo Astley
Appointed: 9 November 2017
Date of end of term of office: 8 November 2021
Eddie Broadhead
Appointed: 24 May 2021
Date of end of term of office: 29 June 2022
