Governance

Become a Parent Governor at Plympton Academy

We are delighted to welcome you and your child to our school community. Our goal is to ensure that your child achieves not only fantastic academic progress, but also has a wonderful experience of school life at Plympton Academy.

Parent governors play a vital role on school governing bodies, holding the unique position of having a parental viewpoint of the school. Through the children, they have first-hand experience of the delivery of the curriculum and this enables them to bring a different perspective to the strategic management of the school.

We currently have a vacancy for a parent governor on our Academy Advisory Board (AAB) which we would like to fill as soon as possible. Parent governors serve a four-year term of office and the AAB on which they sit meets three times per year.

Parent Governor flyer

The AGB has a vital role to play in making sure every pupil receives the best possible education. This is achieved by ensuring that governors have the necessary skills and commitment to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school. The particular skills that governing bodies need will vary and will include personal qualities and capabilities, such as the ability and willingness to learn and work as part of a team. It is expected that governors will make use of the various training opportunities available to them and play a full part in the work of the AGB.

Whilst previous experience of school governance is useful, this is by no means a pre-requisite for this role as full support and induction training is provided. Most importantly, we seek a parent governor who has a passion for the inclusive education that Plympton Academy provides and is keen to work in a supportive but challenging way with the Senior Leadership of the school, to ensure the continued delivery of high-quality education for children of families in our local community.

If you are interested in becoming a governor and wish to discuss this, please contact governance@tsatrust.org.uk.

The TSAT Governance Model is different to the way a governing body in a non-academy or traditional school undertakes governance.

Essentially, there are three elements to the governance of the TSAT academies; local governance which is delivered via the Academy Governing Board (AGB), a Regional Review and Assurance Board (RAB) which ensures local governance is effective, and the Thinking Schools Academy Trust Board of Directors.

There is an Academy Governing Board for each school (or small cluster of schools) which consists of a group 8-11 governors made up of the Headteacher, Parents, Staff, Trust link staff and Community members who are appointed with the skills needed to fulfill the responsibilities of the AGB. Governors are elected for a term of 4 years and meet a minimum of 6 times a year. 

The key responsibilities of the Academy Governing Body are to:

• Hold Academy leadership to account for schools’ academic performance, quality of care and provision;

• Ensure the Trust’s vision, policies and priorities are delivered within the Academy;

• Oversee and monitor the effectiveness of local strategies and implementation of the School Improvement Plan 

• Ensure consideration is given to stakeholder voices in strategic decision making and policy setting

• Have involvement in the performance management of the Headteacher via the AGB Chair’s inclusion in annual professional growth reviews.

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

AGB Members

RoleMemberMeetings AttendedOut of a Possible
ChairJanina Villalta 11
Community MemberHelen Quinn11
Community MemberRoger Carlton11
Parent MemberAmy Addlesee11
Parent Member Kelly Wyatt11
TrustCatherine Lewin11
Trust Michael Freeman01

Name

Link role

Start of Term

Length of Term

Appointed by

Business Interest

End of term

Janina Villalta

Pupil Premium

Risk and Compliance 

 Seot 2024

 

Board 

 N/A

 

Helen Quinn

STEM

Mental Health

 Seot 2024

 

Board 

 N/A

 

Roger Carlton

Recruitment and Workload

Diversity and Wellbeing

 Seot 2024

 

Board 

 N/A

 

Amy Addlesee

Curriculum

 Seot 2024

 

Board 

 N/A

 

Kelly Wyatt

Pupil and Parent Engagement

Marketing and Communications

 Seot 2024

 

Board 

 N/A

 

Catherine Lewin

STEM

Careers and Digital

 Seot 2024

 

Board 

 N/A

 

Michael Freeman

SEND and equality

Safeguarding and Attendance

 Seot 2024

 

Board 

 N/A

 

 

I’m interested in getting involved. How do I find out more?

If you would like to know more about the role of parent or co-opted member or the appointment process you can contact our Clerk of Governors governance@tsatrust.org.uk

Or, if you know someone who would be a brilliant board member, please pass our details on, as we are currently looking for people with commitment and enthusiasm to contribute to our academy.

Regional Governance - Regional Governing Body RGB

The South West Regional Governing Body governs Plympton Academy. For information on the role of the RGB and its members please follow the link here.

The Board of Directors

For information on the role of the Board of Directors, members and minutes please follow the link here.

PAN Consultation Letter

Please click here for the letter and survey regarding the admissions consultation 2025.