Trustees
We are Ashley Scammell and Sue Yearley, Co-Chairs of the Board of Trustees at Amery Hill School. We are proud to have been entrusted with the responsibilities of helping to guide and shape the strategic decisions taken by the School. It is a privilege to be involved with the learning opportunities given to the students as well as helping to plan for the future. We believe that Amery Hill School is a vibrant, exciting and fantastic setting in which students can achieve their very best.
Part of our role is to ensure that the voices of students, staff, parents and the local community are heard. You are welcome to contact us if you wish to know more about what we do and how we work to support and challenge the school.
Good governance is important to the success of any organisation in fulfilling its purpose and also ensuring that public money is being spent well. The Trustees of Amery Hill come from different backgrounds including engineering, banking, retail and project management, as well as the civil service and education. We use the Nolan principles for standards in public life and strive to use our skills and experience to make a positive and effective contribution to the school; working with the fantastic team at Amery Hill to ensure our students reach their full potential.
If you would like to raise any questions to the Trustees Board, or view the minutes of the FTB meetings, please contact us on the email below.
Members and Trustees of Amery Hill
Scheme of Delegation 2023-24 - click here
AHS Attendance 2023-24 - click here
Members and Trustees of the Academy Trust September 2023 - click here
Members and Trustees of the Academy Trust November 2023 - click here
Members and Trustees of the Academy Trust December 2023 - click here
Members and Trustees of the Academy Trust at March 2024 - click here
Members and Trustees of the Academy Trust at July 2024 - click here
Members and Trustees of the Academy Trust at Sept 2024 - click here
Register of Members and Trustees Business and Pecuniary Interests September 2023 - click here
Register of Members and Trustees Business and Pecuniary Interests May 2024 - click here
Register of Members and Trustees Business and Pecuniary Interests October 2024 - click here
Trustees remit
The Trustee Board has four core functions:
- To ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- To hold the school leaders to account for the educational performance of the school and its students, and the performance management of staff
- To oversee the financial performance of the Academy and make sure that public money is well spent
- To ensure the voices of stakeholders (students, staff, parents and the wider community) are heard
The work of the trustees is conducted by specific committees:
- Resources Committee, which discusses and agrees the school budget, and covers estates, human resources and health and safety
- Standards Committee which monitors and analyses all information relating to student outcomes, together with staff and student wellbeing and pastoral care
- Pay Committee
- Risk and Audit Committee, with oversight of performance management and the risk register
The Full Trustee Board also works together to consider and agree funding for new projects that deliver great benefits for the school community, enhancing our environment and facilities and improving outcomes for all our students. We approved funding for the new dining hall, the recent IT upgrade and are also engaged in planning and supporting many new projects and developments across the school.
Amery Hill Academy Trust
Amery Hill School converted to an Academy in 2011. We are bound by our Articles of Association, which describe how we are organised and provide the ‘rules’ for how we can operate.
As an Academy we have more freedom and flexibility over how we are governed, including how the school spends its budget. The school is managed and led by Mr Jeckells and the Senior Leadership Team with the governors supporting and challenging in their role as ‘critical friend’ to drive long term development and strategic improvement.
Academy Trust Governance Framework & Arrangements September 2024 revised - click here
Becoming a Trustee
Trustees can get a great deal from the work and time they put into the role, from meeting new people to learning new skills, and experiencing decision making at board level. Most importantly you have the chance to help improve the education and life chances of children and young people.
Do I need any professional qualifications to be a school trustee?
No. Schools need volunteers with a variety of life experiences, however whilst you do not need qualifications to be a trustee, trustees will need to demonstrate:
- an ability to work in a team and debate issues in a constructive manner
- good strategic and general financial awareness
- the capacity to shape, implement and monitor policy
- an active interest in secondary education and lifelong learning
- a commitment to participate in training to enhance your effectiveness in the role
Are you looking for any skills or knowledge?
Being a trustee provides an opportunity for personal development, building your skills and experience in areas such as project management, budgeting and working as part of a senior team. We welcome applications from a diverse range of people and don't require any specific skills or knowledge, however we are particularly interested in speaking to people with experience in the following areas:
- Finance & Audit
- Legal or Human Resources
- Property & Estate Management
How much time will I need to commit?
The role requires you attend twelve meetings spaced through the academic year and a Trustee Day in October. There is a comprehensive training programme available throughout the year, and trustees are expected to show a commitment to their own learning and development as well as that of the staff and students at the school.
We are always keen to hear from people in our community who may be interested in becoming a school trustee. If you are interested in joining the team, please follow the link below to provide your contact details.