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 Progress Board – responsibilities include student outcomes & progress and the quality of teaching & learning.
Aron Whiles, Kevin O’Connell, Trish Phillips, Naomi Palmer and Steffan Griffiths

Enrichment Committee – responsibilities include student attendance and welfare.
Kevin O’Connell, Trish Phillips, Naomi Palmer 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.

NameGovernor TypeTerm FromTerm ToRoles
Mr Kevin O’ConnellChair of Governors23 Jan 202318 Jan 2027Chair of the Local Governing Body
Strategic Progress Board Member
Finance & General Purposes Committee Member
Enrichment Committee Member
Mr Robert EllisCommunity Governor12 April 201911 Apr 2027Finance & General Purposes Committee Chair
GDPR
Health and Safety
Mr Carl FianderCommunity Governor23 Nov 202222 Nov 2026
Mrs Anne GardinerCommunity Governor10 Dec 201909 Dec 2027LAC
SEND
Mr Steffan GriffithsCommunity Governor01 Sep 202131 Aug 2025Strategic Progress Board Member
A, G & T
Miss Mandy HazellStaff Governor26 May 202125 May 2025Enrichment Committee Member
Pupil Premium
Mr John HowkinsCommunity Governor09 Mar 202108 Mar 2025Enrichment Committee Member
Careers
Miss Naomi PalmerPrincipal
Mrs Trish PhillipsCommunity Governor21 Jan 202307 Jun 2025Strategic Progress Board Member
Finance & General Purposes Committee Member
Enrichment Committee Member
Attendance
Wellbeing & Mental Health
Safeguarding
Mr Andrew RoseStaff Governor31 Jan 202220 Jan 2026Finance & General Purposes Committee Member
Mrs Farida ThomsonCommunity Governor01 Nov 202231 Oct 2026Pupil Premium
Mr Duncan TurtonParent Governor08 Sep 202207 Sep 2026Finance & General Purposes Committee Member
Ms Christina ListerParent Governor10 Dec 202309 Dec 2027
NameRemoval ReasonGovernor TypeFirst AppointedFromToLeaving Date
Prof Helena GillespieResignedCommunity20 Nov 1720 Nov 1719 Nov 2511 Oct 2023
Miss Marta SanchoResignedCommunity18 Dec 1918 Dec 1917 Jan 2217 Jan 22
Mrs June CarterResignedStaff03 Sep 1903 Sep 1902 Sep 2323 Feb 22
Mrs Steph WrightsonResignedCommunity16 Nov 2116 Nov 2115 Nov 2514 Aug 22
Mrs Trish PhillipsEnd of Term of OfficeChair of Governors21 Jan 1121 Jan 201121 Jan 202321 Jan 2023
MemberConfirmedEntityNature
Mr Kevin O’ConnellConfirmed 7 Sep 23– 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		– Co-opted Governor
– Local Area Board Member
– Chair of Governors
– Co-opted Governor
– Chair of Governors
– Trustee
– Vice-Chair of Governors
Mr Robert EllisNothing to declare: confirmed 12 Dec 23
Mr Carl FianderConfirmed 30 Jan 23– Adult Learning, Norfolk County Council– Assistant Head of Service
Mrs Anne GardinerNothing to declare: confirmed 2 Oct 23
Mr Steffan GriffithsConfirmed 12 Dec 23– 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 HazellNothing to declare: confirmed 12 Dec 23
Mr John HowkinsNothing to declare: confirmed 12 Dec 23
Miss Naomi PalmerConfirmed 13 Nov 23– Young Norfolk Arts– Trustee
Mrs Trish PhillipsNothing to declare: confirmed 20 Oct 23
Mr Andrew RoseNothing to declare: confirmed 19 Oct 23
Mrs Farida ThomsonNothing to declare: confirmed 12 Dec 23
Mr Duncan TurtonNothing to declare: confirmed 12 Dec 23
MemberEntityNature
Mrs June Carter––
Miss Marta Sancho Lorente––
Mrs Steph WrightsonNothing to declare: confirmed 10 Jan 22–

Governance Documents

Scheme of Delegation

LGB Terms of Reference

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].