Governance

The TSAT Governance Model

The Thinking Schools Academy Trust governance model is different from that of a traditional maintained school. 

Governance within the trust operates through a clear layered structure, combining strong local oversight with trust-wide strategic accountability.

Local governance is delivered through the Academy Governing Body (AGB), with overall responsibility held by the Trust Board of Directors.

This ensures that each school benefits from dedicated local governors who understand the community, alongside consistent trust-wide leadership and assurance.

For information on the role of the Board of Directors, Members and Board minutes, please follow the link here: www.tsatrust.org.uk/about/governance/

Academy Governing Body (AGB)

Each academy (or small cluster of academies) has an Academy Governing Body.

AGBs typically consist of between 8 and 11 governors in addition to the Headteacher, made up of:

  • Parent representatives
  • Staff representatives
  • Trust-appointed governors
  • Community governors

Governors are appointed or elected based on the skills and experience required to support effective governance. Governors usually serve a term of four years and AGBs meet a minimum of six times per year.

The role of the Academy Governing Board

The key responsibilities of the Academy Governing Board are to:

  • Hold academy leadership to account for educational performance, quality of care and provision
  • Ensure the Trust’s vision, policies and strategic priorities are delivered within the academy
  • Monitor the effectiveness of local strategies and progress against the School Improvement Plan
  • Represent and consider stakeholder voices in strategic decision-making
  • Contribute to the performance management of the Headteacher, including the involvement of the AGB Chair in annual professional growth reviews.

The AGB Members for Goodwin Academy are:

Member

Link role

Start of Term

Length of Term

Appointed by

Business Interest

End of term

David Day
Community Member - Recruitment and Diversity
Chair
01/09/2024
4 years
Board of Directors
Supply contract with TSAT (never enacted).
31/08/2028
 
Philip Jones
Headteacher
n/a
n/a
n/a
 
n/a
Lee Lucas
Staff - Pupil Premium 
01/09/2024
4 years
Board of Directors
TSAT Employee
31/08/2028
Paul Slade
Trust Link - Risk & Compliance
01/09/2024
4 years
Board of Directors
TSAT Employee
31/08/2028
Anne-Marie Middleton
Community - SEN
Vice Chair
09/10/2024
4 years
Board of Directors
KCC Inclusion Champion (Sept 24-25)
08/10/2028
Kate Hayes-Watkins
Staff - Workload & Wellbeing
01/09/2024
4 years
Board of Directors
TSAT employee (Goodwin Academy)
31/08/2028
Samantha LaddParent and Pupil engagement, Marketing and communications15/05/20254 yearsBoard of Directors 14/05/2029
Clare PapworthParent -  Attendance01/10/20254 YearsBoard of Directors 30/09/2029
Chloe O' BrienParent - Safeguarding12/01/20264 YearsBoard of Directors 11/01/2030

Geraldine Baird

Staff - Recruitment & Diversity20/04/20264 YearsBoard of DirectorsTSAT employee (Goodwin Academy)19/04/2030

Nicholas Clarke

Community - Curriculum & Enrichment 20/04/20264 YearsBoard of Directors 19/04/2030

To explore Governor vacancies available within the Thinking Schools Academy Trust, please visit our recruitment website or email governance@tsatrust.org.uk 

Governing board meetings attendance during academic year 2024/25

Name

Meetings Attended

Out of a possible

David Day66
Philip Jones66
Lee Lucas56
Paul Slade66
Anne-Marie Middleton66
Kate Hayes-Watkins66
Samantha Ladd22
Clare Papworthn/a 

Contact the Governing Bodies

In the first instance, please contact Mr David Day, Chair of the Academy Advisory Board, c/o Goodwin Academy, Hamilton Road, Deal, Kent, CT14 9BD.