Governance
The Trust Board works with management to shape the strategic priorities for the Trust and all member academies.
The Trust operates within the legislative framework of the Academies Act 2010. It also has requirements placed on it by the Department for Education (DfE), and the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).
The Trust has set the following vision:
"Transforming lives through learning"
Our mission is to:
- Engender a love of learning through an excellent standard of teaching and learning for all
- Lay the foundations for career success
- Promote well-being and inspire students and staff to lead fulfilling lives
Good Governance
The members and trustees of the Trust are committed ensuring quality governance to support the education of the young people who study at our institutions. To this end, we actively follow the guidance set out in the DfE's Governance Handbook and Competency Framework.
Register of Interests
Each member and trustee must declare any interests that may conflict with their role with the Trust – these are recorded in the Register of Interests.
The Trust is required to maintain and publicly disclose the register - please click here to view the register.
The Trust Board and Committees
Trust Board
The Trust Board has three core functions, as set out in the DfE Governance Handbook:
- 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.
In carrying out these functions, the board may choose to delegate responsibility for monitoring to other committees, local governing bodies or the executive leadership of the trust, however they retain overall responsibility for ensuring these functions are carried out.
Trustees:
The following people serve as Trustees on the Trust Board:
- Stephen Foote (Chair)
- Macolm Sugden (Vice Chair)
- Anton McGrath (CEO)
- Kala Mandviwala
- Steven Pleasant
- David Smith
- Colin Challenger (Chair of the Ashton Sixth Form College Local Governing Body)
Finance & Resources Committee
This committee oversees the Trust’s financial dealings, such as annual budgets and on-going accounts. It is also responsible for protecting the Trust's assets.
The Finance Committee, inter alia, recommends to the Trust Board the Trust’s Financial Statements and its annual revenue and capital budgets and monitors performance in relation to these approved budgets. The Committee also considers procurement arrangements, estates and Human Resources.
Committee members
The following members serve on the Finance & Resources committee:
- Stephen Foote (Chair)
- Steven Pleasant
- Kala Mandviwala
- Malcom Sugden
- Anton McGrath
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee ensures that the internal control systems and audit activities of the Trust are objectively and actively monitored. It reinforces the effectiveness of the internal audit function, providing an independent medium of communication with the Trust's auditors, who it invites as required.
The Committee considers detailed reports together with recommendations for the improvement of the Trust’s systems of internal controls and management’s responses and implementation plans. It also concerns itself with the monitoring theTrust’s arrangements for risk management, fraud and irregularity, and value for money.
Committee members
The following members serve on the Audit Committee:
- Malcolm Sugden (Chair)
- Kala Mandviwala
- Steven Pleasant
- David Smith
Ashton Sixth Form College Local Governing Body
The general role of the Local Governing Body is to provide the local context, challenge and support to the Principal, ensuring the very best local provision is given in the College. Where more than one LGB is in place, the Chair of each will form a Chairs' Group which will ensure the LGB's have a role in influencing and communicating with the Trustees on the strategic vision of the Trust going forward.
Committee members
The following members serve on the ASFC Local Governing Body:
- Colin Challenger (Chair)
- Louise Hall
- Elaine Grisdale
- Kamlesh Rajput
- Richard Allanson (Staff)
- Hazel Kindley (Staff)
- Student Council President (16-18)
Terms of Reference
All Committees of the Trust have written remits, referred to as Terms of Reference. Copies of these can be requested by email from cwr@asfc.ac.uk.
Minutes of Meetings
These documents cover information relating to the way the Trust is governed and how decisions are made. In some instances information from the Trust board and committee minutes will be exempt from disclosure where it contains personal information, information that may damage the commercial interests of the Trust or that may threaten the health and safety of specific individuals. Copies of minutes can be requested by emailing cwr@asfc.ac.uk.
Annual Report and Financial Statements
The Annual Report and Financial Statements including the Audited Accounts will be published here by the end of the January for the past three financial years.
Members terms of office
| Name | Date of appointment | Date stepped down (if applicable) |
| Keith Trelfa | 20/12/2018 | |
| Janet Nevin | 20/12/2018 | |
| Christine Lyness | 20/12/2018 | |
| Barry Cheshire | 14/01/2019 | |
| Peter Claus | 14/01/2019 |
Trustees terms of office for the academic year 2018/19 and 2019/20
| Name | Date of Appointment | Term of Office | Date they stepped down (if applicable) | Appointed by |
| Stephen Foote | 14/01/2019 | 4 years | Trust Board | |
| Malcolm Sugden | 14/01/2019 | 4 years | Trust Board | |
| Steven Pleasant | 14/01/2019 | 4 years | Trust Board | |
| Kala Mandviwala | 14/01/2019 | 4 years | Trust Board | |
| David Smith | 14/01/2019 | 4 years | Trust Board | |
| Colin Challenger (as chair of ASFC LGB) | 28/02/2019 | 4 years | Trust Board | |
| Anton McGrath | 14/01/2019 | ex-officio (CEO) | Trust Board |
Click here for Trustees attendance records
Governors terms of office for the academic years 2018/19 and 2019/20
| Name | Date of Appointment | Term of Office | Date they stepped down (if applicable) | Appointed by |
| Colin Challenger | 28/02/2019 | 4 years | Trust Board | |
| Louise Hall | 25/03/2019 | 4 years | LGB | |
| Elaine Grisdale | 25/03/2019 | 4 years | LGB | |
| Kamlesh Rajput | 25/03/2019 | 4 years | LGB | |
| Richard Allanson | 25/03/2019 | 4 years | ASFC Teaching Staff | |
| Hazel Kindley | 25/03/2019 | 4 years | ASFC Support Staff | |
| Vacancy | ||||
| Student Governor 16-18 | ||||
| Student Governor Adult/HE | ||||
| Parent Governor | ||||
| Parent Governor |
Click here for governors attendance records
