Introduction – Local Governance Committee
The Committee members support the Trustees to fulfil their responsibility for oversight of each school within the Trust, acting as the eyes and ears of the Board at local level. Their role is more focused than that of a traditional school governing body. The SAST central team manages – finance, HR, Estates, IT, and others.
The committee members’ responsibility is to monitor and scrutinise teaching and learning, welfare, and safeguarding issues. The members provide challenge and support to the Headteachers and senior leadership team, and represent the Trust to local stakeholders – parents, students, staff and the community. Two representatives of each committee are elected from among that school’s parents, while a further representative will be elected by the staff. The Heads of School are ex officio. The remaining representatives are appointed by the Trustees following recommendation from the committee and Headteacher, based on skills and experience, or in our Church of England academies, the Diocese of Salisbury and the Diocese of Bath & Wells receive and consider nominations and appoint. Ex ‘VA’ schools must have a majority of foundation representatives and ex ‘VC’ 25% of representatives must be foundation. Each member is appointed for a term of four years, after which time, representatives, with agreement from the Diocese or Trustees, may agree to renewal of further term(s).
The committee will meet at the beginning of each full term (three times a year), plus an additional meeting to review published exam performance. Typically, this additional meeting will take place during the autumn term for primary and secondary schools, once the SATs results have been published.
Our Local Governance Committee
Executive Headteacher / Ex-officio – Mr Matt Barge
Head of Schools / Ex-officio – Mr Andrew Wright and Mrs Sarah Vail
Staff Representative – Mr Johnathan Harris
Chair / Appointed Community Committee Representative – Mrs Sharon Proyer (Special Needs)
Foundation Committee Representative – Mrs Kirsten Drake (School Community)
Trust Academy Committee Representative – Mrs Sarah Baines (Safeguarding)
Vice Chair / Foundation Committee Representative – Mr Paul Blake (School Improvement)
Community Committee Representative – Mr Robert Corben (Okeford Fitzpaine)
Parent Committee Representative– Mr Tom Troughton
Parent Committee Representative – Mr Duncan Curry
Trust Committee Representative – Mrs Sue Ryall
Clerk – Mrs Emma Williams
Contact
Please contact the committee members through the school office emails:
office@shillingstone.dorset.sch.uk
Information
ACR Roles & Expiry Dates – updated April 2026
AC Business Interests Register 2025-2026
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