Trustees – Governors – Ascend Learning Trust

Noremarsh Junior School joined Ascend Learning Trust in October 2018. The Trust exists to ensure that the staff, children and parents from each Academy are able to benefit from Excellence in Education across the Trust.

The Trust was set up as a Multi Academy Trust in May 2017. In establishing Ascend Learning Trust, the trust committed to offering strategic leadership and management expertise to facilitate collaboration, commitment leading to high levels of school improvement opportunities to each Academy within the trust.

Ascend Learning Trust

Ascend Learning Trust has strategic responsibility which include achieving high level educational performance in all of its Academies, owning all assets, employing all staff and receiving all funding from Education Funding Agency to allocate budgets to each Academy in Ascend Learning Trust, whilst providing effective and efficient corporate services which offer value for money.

Ascend Learning Trust operates through a governance structure, which includes Ascend Learning Trust Board of Trustees, supported by a Finance Committee, Standards Committee and Academy Attainment Committee identified below. Each committee has its own Terms of Reference. Academy Local Governing Bodies feed into the governance structure.

View Ascend Learning Trust Documents

Noremarsh Junior School Local Governing Body

At Noremarsh we have a Local Governing Body (LGB) that meets six times per year.

Our LGB is a committee. When we meet, we monitor, evaluate and review the Noremarsh Improvement Plan, ensuring clear links from the self-evaluation process. The Local Governing Body exists to provide a platform of governance designed to enhance the monitoring and improvements in education and pupil attainment at local level whilst delivering the three core principles of:

clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction in line with Ascend Learning Trust policy,
holding the Noremarsh Headteacher to account for the performance and attainment of its children,
overseeing the Academy’s delegated financial budget.

We report the needs of our school regularly through reporting to Ascend Learning Trust in line with the operational Scheme of Delegation. The LGB seeks to support Ascend Learning Trust in wide curriculum collaborations and sharing good practice, which underpins the ways of working and terms of reference for the LGB.

The Governing Body is made up of representatives of the Staff, Parents/Carers and the Community. They are volunteers and have various legal responsibilities and duties. The role of governor is largely a thinking and questioning role and ideas from outside education can be useful. The day-to-day decisions about the running of the school are the role of the Headteacher, supported by the staff of Noremarsh.

Composition of LGB

Members of the Full Governing Body

The Chair of governors is Mr. Ben Angell. To contact the Chair of Governors please email the clerk to the governors, Clair Wannell, on cwannell@njs.ascendlearningtrust.org.uk.

Other members are:

Karen Beard

Alex Hill

Jordan Rogers

Dawn Blackler

Danayi Chikoore

The Governing Body is made up of representatives of the Staff, Parents/Carers and the community. They are volunteers and have various legal responsibilities and duties. The role of Governor is largely a thinking and questioning role and ideas from outside the education sector be can useful.

As part of the Ascend Learning Trust (ALT) we have established a group called a Local Governing Body (LGB) to help with school specific ambitions and the integration and alignment of processes within our Trust.

Under the direction of ALT, our pupils experience a smooth transition as they move through our school and onto secondary education, usually with RWBA. Wherever appropriate, our vision, values, culture and strategies will be modified to mirror those of the Trust but without losing our identity as an ambitions and compassionate Junior school integral to the wider community.

Commitment of Local Governors

Local Governors are asked to:

prepare for and make an active contribution at meetings of the LGB.
champion the Academy in the local community.
familiarise themselves with the Academy’s policies.
visit the Academy both during school hours (with prior arrangement with the Head teacher) and for evening events to get to know the Academy and to be visible to the Academy community; and attend training sessions for Local Governors, where possible.

There are many opportunities for governors to support school activities to develop understanding of the students and staff’s experience of teaching and learning, and of pastoral care. It is recognised that, as volunteers, governors cannot necessarily attend school activities during usual working hours, but relevant events are not limited to those hours.

Meet Our Governors

Danayi Chikoore

Parent Governor

I hope to bring fresh perspectives and a strong commitment to our mission at Noremarsh. I am eager to collaborate with my fellow governors to drive positive change and uphold the highest standards of integrity and accountability. With seven years of experience in the Criminal Justice System, I have developed a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within our field. My dedication to justice and rehabilitation has equipped me with valuable insights that I am committed to leveraging for the benefit of our community.

Jordan Rogers

Parent Governor

2 of my 3 children attend Noremarsh and I wanted to be part of the school in an effective way, for both students and for the school so we can all strive to improve.

I have been working in the property sector now for 12 years and have seen many changing environments and challenges through the years. Having not been in the education set up I hope I can bring fresh eyes and a different perspective on how we can all develop as a school and community.

Alex Hill

Parent Governor

I have been a professional in the education sector for the past 25 years, firstly as a secondary school teacher and then in senior leadership posts for the past 12 years, working for a large multi academy trust.

I am married to a teacher with three children of primary school age and my interests outside of my professional career largely involve anything sport related having been head coach of men's rugby teams in the past but now involved in helping and coaching my children's various sports clubs and activities in and around the local community. I am passionate about the 'power of education' and the positive impact this can have on children and adults lives.

Ben Angell

Chair of Governors

Karen Beard

Staff Governor

I have always been really passionate about supporting children to be the very best they can be within the education system. I have been a governor for over 12 years in a variety of different settings including primary and secondary schools, academies and local authority maintained schools. As a member of staff and a parent I am in a really good position to be able to see different perspectives and understand how tricky bringing all views together to reach a resolution can be. Noremarsh is the most amazing place for our children to learn and to grow and I am so proud to be part of a team that is able to deliver that. I love that everyone is made to feel part of our community and that we are part of group of schools in the Ascend Learning Trust family that share common aims and goals. I know it's easy to write that down on paper but it really is true, come and visit us so that you can see for yourself.

Dawn Blackler

Community Governor

I have recently retired after nearly forty years working as a teacher, most of them at a local secondary school. Initially I was employed as a PE and geography teacher. I was always involved in running extracurricular clubs and educational visits. I then took on a pastoral role as a Head of Year supporting students from Year 7 to 11. For the last ten years I was the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for the school. Since retiring I continue to keep active, enjoying pool and wild swimming.

I am passionate about supporting young people to reach their full potential so they can become confident and valuable members of the school community.

If you would like to make contact with any of our governors, please email the clerk, Clair Wannell, via cwannell@njs.ascendlearningtrust.org.uk