Local Governing Body

Local Governing Body (LGB)

In order to understand the role and responsibilities of the local governing body within The Nicholas Hamond Academy it is important to recognise that the governing body of a school that is part of a multi-academy trust, such as this one is, is very different from that of a single academy school or a community school.

The main difference is that the trust is the accountable body and ultimate decision-making body and not the local governors, or local governance tier as they are known, and it is the trustees who decide how governance works at individual academy level and what responsibilities are delegated to the local tier.  The trust board can, at any time choose to remove those delegated responsibilities or change the committee structure.  So, in a nutshell the local governing body is a committee of, and dependent on, the trust board for any decision-making powers.

So, what is the role of the local governing body at The Nicholas Hamond Academy?

The local governing body is an informed local community resource with a unique local perspective and a delegated responsibility to provide challenge and support to the academy and the Trust.  Local governors are the “eyes and ears” of the trustees in the local community.

In line with the trust’s Scheme of Delegation, local governors are responsible for supporting academy improvement and engaging with academy leaders and the community in order to ensure that all students reach their full potential, regardless of background or level of ability.

This academy is part of a local cluster.  This means that the governing bodies of two or more academies come together to form one local governing body.

Fully supported by the Trust’s Governance Team and the Chair, local governors of The Nicholas Hamond Academy are responsible for:

1.  Knowing, understanding and challenging pupils’ overall progress and attainment. This means being clear about where the attainment gaps are, what provisions are in place to close those gaps and the impact of those provisions.
2. Monitoring child protection and welfare in the academy including attendance, behaviour, suspensions and permanent exclusions.
3. Receiving and noting summary management accounts and risk registers provided by the academy.
4. Hearing any appeals as part of the complaints process and sitting on discipline panels in relation to suspensions and permanent exclusions.
5. Evaluating their own effectiveness through the local governing body action plan, skills audit and clerk-led self-evaluation.

School visits help governors to understand more about their academy and the reality of school life.  We encourage governors to take on specific roles, dependent upon their interests and visit their academy.

Being a governor is a very rewarding experience.  You will be part of a team who is working to improve the life chances of children, some of whom come from very challenging backgrounds.  You will learn new skills whilst giving something back to the community you live and work in.  Our local Governors are committed to Transforming Lives, they give their time and energy to oversee the academy and take on a lot of responsibility.  Governance is enhanced by a team from a diverse range of professional, social and cultural backgrounds, if you are interested in becoming a local community governor please get in touch with us.

How to contact the Governors

The Governance Team

If you have feedback, or need support with a concern, our Governance Team are here to help.  Emily, our Head of Governance, along with Amber, Jo and Jess, our Governance Clerks, all work closely together and will ensure any communications regarding your academy get to the correct person for response and will support you in the process.  The team would also be delighted to hear from you if you are considering becoming a governor yourself and would like some information about it.  They can be found via the following:

• Email: governance@attrust.org.uk
• Telephone: Leave a message for the Central Governance Team via your school reception ​01760 721480
• Address: Send a letter FAO The Head of ATT Governance, c/o The Nicholas Hamond Academy, Brandon Road, Swaffham. PE37 7DZ

Meet the Governors

Simon Conner, Chair and Local Parent Governor

Term of Office: 01/09/2022 – 31/08/2027 appointed by ATT Trustees

Leadership and Management and Safeguarding Link Governor

Simon has been a Police officer for 28 years carrying out a wide range of roles.  Simon has 2 older children 1 who is in the Army and the other works in a family business.  Simon also has 2 children at Iceni Secondary, and has a real passion to ensure all children have the best chance to succeed at school and give themselves options for the future. 

Simon has previously been a Governor at his children’s Primary School, he found it very rewarding and threw himself into the role.   Outside of work Simon has 2 spaniels who need lots of walks. Simon also enjoys gardening and growing his own Vegetables. Simon also enjoys playing golf.

Jacob Morton, Vice Chair and Local Community Governor

Gemma Jermy, Local Parent Governor

I am a primary school teacher and have been teaching for over 14 years in primary schools around Norfolk.  I am incredibly passionate about education and making sure that all children have the chance to achieve their full potential.  I currently teach in year 1 at Mundford Primary Academy and was a governor at this school before I was employed there.  I really enjoyed this role and have a good understanding of what it means to be a governor and the responsibility that comes with that. 

I am a parent to 3 children, my eldest of which has just started at Iceni Academy. I have another son who is in year 5 and a daughter that has just started reception. I am looking forward to supporting the Academy while I am a governor and seeing the journey that the school is going to go on. When I am not teaching, I enjoy going for long walks with friends and taking part in various charity events. I also enjoy spending time with my 6 nephews and going away in our caravan.

Graham Edwards, Local Community Governor

Jonathan Smith, Local Parent Governor

Luke Taylor, Local Staff Governor

Term of Office: 20/09/2024 – 19/09/2028 appointed by Iceni Academy Methwold staff

Staff Voice and Staff mental Health and Wellbeing for ICS Link Governor

Luke wants to be a part of making the Academy the best it can be, and he believes he has the experience, knowledge and passion to do so.  Now in his fourteenth year of teaching, he has taught in three very different schools, including a significant period of time at Iceni Academy. Luke has first hand experience of being a classroom teacher, form tutor, Head of Subject and Head of Year.

The Academy has had periods where it has been performing highly and times where it has faced difficulties. During these changing times, Luke gained great insight as to what was enabling the successes of the Academy, as well as the issues causing difficulties.  During these fluctuating times his standards and contribution as a teacher and member of staff remained consistently high, ranging from the academic outcomes attained by his students, the breadth of opportunity he provided through extracurricular sports and residential trips and positive relationships maintained with pupils and parents alike. This period of time has also seen him become a father himself, adding wider perspective to what an Academy needs to value. Now, as the Academy continues to improve, Luke feels he can add informed opinion to the decisions and directions taken to move the Academy forwards, to give students the best educational experience we can provide.

Mandy Lakey, Local Community Governor

Term of Office: 07/10/2024 – 06/10/2028 appointed by the LGB

Curriculum & Outcomes for TNHA Link Governor

Mandy has worked within the public sector for 16 years in Child & Adult Services, Corporate Services and HR and she is currently employed by the College of West Anglia. Mandy enjoys contributing to her local community and is an advocate of lifelong learning, no-one is too young or too old to learn! She encourages having a healthy mental wellbeing and learning something new every day, no matter how small this is.  

Mandy is passionate about education and started her career as an apprentice over 20 years ago and is now completing a Chartered Manager Degree apprenticeship. She is keen to support pupils, staff and families of TNHA and ICS to contribute to the local community and develop their skills and knowledge to pursue their passions and careers.

Neal Henlen, Local Community Governor

Term of Office: 14/03/2025 – 13/03/2029 appointed by the LGB

Behaviour and Standards Link Governor

Sallyanne Palmer, Local Community Governor

Term of Office: 07/10/2024 – 06/10/2028 appointed by the LGB

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Link Governor

Having lived in Swaffham most of her life Sallyanne feels that it is now time to continue her journey supporting young people to be the best that they can be by becoming an active governor at the ICS and TNHA Cluster LGB.  She is a nationally qualified Youth Worker, with a degree in Youth and Community Studies. Her working career has included Norfolk County Council, The British Youth Council (UK Youth Parliament), the Iceni Partnership, the College of West Anglia, the Mancroft Advice Project (Breckland Youth Advisory Board), and the NHS. 

Sallyanne’s focus, when working with young people, has always been around empowering them to explore opportunities, get involved in having a voice and stepping out of their comfort zones, whilst advocating on their behalf.   Sallyanne and her husband run their own business in Swaffham, working alongside clients and staff whilst managing the running of the day to day business.  She volunteers as the Welfare Officer at Swaffham Golf Club and is a Trustee for the Hamond Educational Trust.  Sallyanne also has a small craft business, hand printing items using sustainable Indian wooden blocks and running workshops.  In her spare time she enjoys being with her family and cats, photography and travelling.

Samantha Caro, Local Staff Governor

Term of Office: 27/05/2022 – 31/08/2027 appointed by The Nicholas Hammond Academy staff

Staff Voice for TNHA Link Governor

Samantha trained as a Maths teacher in 2013 after completing her degree in Mathematics at the University of East Anglia.  Since then, she has worked in several schools in Norfolk and is passionate about providing a good quality of education for young people.  Samantha has been the Director of Mathematics at TNHA since 2017 and has seen first-hand what an amazing job everyone at the school does on a daily basis.  Students get a truly unique and personal experience that she feels very fortunate to be part of.

Sarah Oakley, Local Community Governor

Term of Office: 19/11/2024 – 18/11/2028 appointed by the LGB

Pupil Premium Link Governor

My name is Sarah Oakley, and I live in Watlington with my husband and two children.  Although we live out of the catchment area, our eldest son is a pupil at Iceni Academy.  

I work part-time within social housing, and this enables me to enjoy a good work-life balance, which is of utmost importance to me. I have volunteered in recent times within both the preschool and primary school environments in Watlington, holding the roles of Treasurer for 10 years at the Preschool and PTA Chairperson at the Primary School for 5 years. As our children get older, I feel that a governor within a secondary school environment is the next natural step for me to take; I am looking forward to getting closer to the schools, building new links and relationships, and to help to make a difference during these changing times.  

Being a busy working mum to two boys, much of my spare time is spent juggling their various afterschool activities and I try to find the time to visit the gym as often as I can! 

Useful Links

LGB Meeting Attendance Register 2023-24

LGB Meeting Attendance Register 2022-23

LGB Register of Interests 2024-25

LGB Register of Interests 2023-24

Academy Transformation Trust Governance

Academy Transformation Trust Company Information

Governors Virtual Office – GVO (Governors access only)