Governance
Ormiston Victory Academy Governing Body
The Governing Body is made up of 10 members: the Principal, two parents and two staff elected Governors, with the remainder appointed by the Ormiston Academies Trust.
To contact the Governors, please e-mail Nicole Hawes, PA to the Principal, on [email protected]
What are Governing Bodies for?
Governors are the largest volunteer force in the country and their overall purpose is to help schools and academies raise standards and provide the best possible education for their students.
What are the roles of the Governing Body?
- To challenge and support the Principal.
- To oversee the academy’s long-term vision, strategic aims, values and ethos.
- To carry out statutory responsibilities, such as safeguarding.
- To agree and monitor plans and policies.
- To make creative use of available resources.
- To monitor and evaluate performance.
- To be involved in the appointment of the Principal.
- To ensure proper financial management of the academy.
- To communicate openly with parents, staff and the local community.
How Does the Governing Body Work?
The Governing Body works as a group, taking collective responsibility for all decisions. Governors work in close partnership with the Principal who, as the lead professional, advises and assists the Governing Body to carry out its functions.
The Governing Body includes people with a wide range of skills, experience and backgrounds, all of whom have equal status and rights as Governors. Governors are encouraged to broaden and develop their skills, knowledge and confidence through engaging in training opportunities.
The Governing Body meets approximately three times each term to discuss key areas such as student performance, the curriculum, staffing, finance, premises and health and safety. It is important for Governors to get to know the academy and its staff, which they do by regularly visiting and attending academy events and open days whenever possible.
Governors take on specific roles linking to aspects of the academy’s development plan with members of the Senior Leadership Team and also to specific functions.
Becoming a Parent Governor
Becoming a Parent Governor can be very rewarding and offers the opportunity to make a real contribution to the life and work of our academy. Governors play a key role in the leadership of the academy and work together with the Principal, staff and other governors to ensure that our academy provides a challenging and supportive environment for its students.
Parent Governor vacancies are advertised on our website and circulated to all parents of current students.
Becoming an OAT Governor
Becoming an Ormiston Academies Trust governor is challenging, interesting and deeply rewarding and contributes to the well-being and prospects of pupils, academies and communities. OAT welcomes applications from people from all walks of life to gain a wide variety of skills and experience to support and develop the academy. If you are interested in finding out more, please download an OAT Governor application form here.
Strategic Project Board – responsibilities include student outcomes & progress and the quality of teaching & learning.
Chair – Kevin O’Connell, Trish Phillips, Naomi Palmer and Steffan Griffiths
Enrichment Committee – responsibilities include student attendance and welfare.
Chair – Kevin O’Connell, Trish Phillips, Naomi Palmer, Helena Gillespie and John Howkins
Finance & General Purposes – responsibilities include the quality of the learning environment and the academy budget.
Kevin O’Connell, Trish Phillips, Naomi Palmer and Robert Ellis.
| Name | Governor Type | Term From | Term To | Roles |
| Mr Kevin O’Connell | Chair of Governors | 23 Jan 2023 | 18 Jan 2027 | Chair of the Local Governing Body Strategic Progress Board Member Finance & General Purposes Committee Member Enrichment Committee Member |
| Mr Robert Ellis | Community Governor | 12 April 2019 | 11 Apr 2023 | Finance & General Purposes Committee Chair GDPR Health and Safety |
| Mr Carl Fiander | Community Governor | 23 Nov 2022 | 22 Nov 2026 | |
| Mrs Anne Gardiner | Parent Governor | 10 Dec 2019 | 9 Dec 2023 | LAC SEND |
| Professor Helena Gillespie | Community Governor | 20 Nov 2017 | 19 Nov 2025 | Enrichment Committee Member Careers |
| Mr Steffan Griffiths | Community Governor | 01 Sep 2021 | 31 Aug 2025 | Strategic Progress Board Member A, G & T |
| Miss Mandy Hazell | Staff Governor | 26 May 2021 | 25 May 2025 | Enrichment Committee Member Pupil Premium |
| Mr John Howkins | Community Governor | 09 Mar 2021 | 8 Mar 2025 | Enrichment Committee Member Careers |
| Miss Naomi Palmer | Principal | |||
| Mrs Trish Phillips | Community Governor | 21 Jan 2023 | 7 Jun 2023 | Strategic Progress Board Member Finance & General Purposes Committee Member Enrichment Committee Member Attendance Wellbeing & Mental Health Safeguarding |
| Mr Andrew Rose | Staff Governor | 31 Jan 2022 | 20 Jan 2026 | Finance & General Purposes Committee Member |
| Mrs Farida Thomson | Community Governor | 01 Nov 2022 | 31 Oct 2026 | Pupil Premium |
| Mr Duncan Turton | Parent Governor | 08 Sep 2022 | 7 Sep 2026 | Finance & General Purposes Committee Member |
| Name | Removal Reason | Governor Type | First Appointed | From | To | Leaving Date |
| Miss Marta Sancho | Resigned | Community | 18 Dec 19 | 18 Dec 19 | 17 Jan 22 | 17 Jan 22 |
| Mrs June Carter | Resigned | Staff | 03 Sep 19 | 03 Sep 19 | 02 Sep 23 | 23 Feb 22 |
| Mrs Steph Wrightson | Resigned | Community | 16 Nov 21 | 16 Nov 21 | 15 Nov 25 | 14 Aug 22 |
| Mrs Trish Phillips | End of Term of Office | Chair of Governors | 21 Jan 11 | 21 Jan 2011 | 21 Jan 2023 | 21 Jan 2023 |
| Member | Confirmed | Entity | Nature |
| Mr Kevin O’Connell | Confirmed 24 Jan 23 | – Cliff Park Ormiston Academy -Barningham COE VCP Primary School – Chalk Hill Academy – Ormiston Endeavour Academy – Fordham CoE Primary School – Ormiston Sudbury Academy – S.U.S.A – Pot Kiln Primary School | – Chair of Governors – Co-opted Governor – Local Area Board Member – Chair of Governors – Co-opted Governor – Chair of Governors – Trustee – Vice-Chair of Governors |
| Mr Robert Ellis | Nothing to declare: confirmed 12 Oct 22 | ||
| Mr Carl Fiander | Confirmed 30 Jan 23 | – Adult Learning, Norfolk County Council | – Assistant Head of Service |
| Mrs Anne Gardiner | Nothing to declare: confirmed 5 Oct 22 | ||
| Professor Helena Gillespie | Confirmed 12 Oct 22 | – Norfolk Cricket Board | – Director |
| Mr Steffan Griffiths | Confirmed 2 Oct 22 | – Food and Farming Discovery Trust – Young Norfolk Arts Trust – Norfolk Music Hub – VNET CIC – The Swifts Trust – HMC – Norfolk Learning Board | – Chair of Trustees – Chair of Trustees – Independent Chair of Executive Board – Member – Chair of Trustees – Vice-Chair of Sports Sub-Committee – Member |
| Miss Mandy Hazell | Nothing to declare: confirmed 13 Sep 22 | ||
| Mr John Howkins | Nothing to declare: confirmed 27 Aug 22 | ||
| Miss Naomi Palmer | Nothing to declare: confirmed 27 Aug 22 | ||
| Mrs Trish Phillips | Nothing to declare: confirmed 09 Oct 22 | ||
| Mr Andrew Rose | Nothing to declare: confirmed 28 Sep 22 | ||
| Mrs Farida Thomson | Nothing to declare: confirmed 18 Nov 22 | ||
| Mr Duncan Turton | Nothing to declare: confirmed 02 Oct 22 |
| Member | Entity | Nature |
| Mrs June Carter | – | – |
| Miss Marta Sancho Lorente | – | – |
| Mrs Steph Wrightson | Nothing to declare: confirmed 10 Jan 22 | – |
Governance Documents
Contacting the Chair of Governors
If you wish to contact our Chair of Governors, Kevin O’Connell, please do so via the school address listed above, marked for his sole attention, or email the PA to the Principal at: [email protected].