Local Advisory Board
The Local Advisory Board
The Trust
Avocet Academy Trust was founded in 2014 with the shared belief that collaboration is the key to success. This belief is adopted at all levels throughout each of the Academy schools.
Our vision centres on the child. The way we ensure everything centres on the child is through our core values:
- Collaboration
- Diversity
- Responsibility
- Enrichment
- Inclusion
We believe that this enables children to excel in whatever they do.
Avocet MAT is based on a set of values that determine all actions and decisions made throughout the Trust. All of these values are centered around the children to ensure that they have the perfect platform from which to grow.
With all decisions and actions based around these core values we are able to deliver an education which takes into account the needs of the different pupils, schools and communities in which they serve.
The Local Advisory Boards
Each school within the Academy has an Advisory Board.
The Avocet Board has established five key roles for Advisory Boards:
- To advise/act as a critical friend to the school leader;
- To advise the Trust Board about local issues they need to consider that affect the school;
- Represent the interest of the school community in the running of the school;
- Represent the school in it's community;
- Provide support to the school leader in undertaking appropriate day to day procedures that are essential in the life of the school.
The five roles translate specifically into the following tasks that the AB undertakes:
- it acts as a key link between the school, parents and local community;
- it supports the work of the school in the community;
- it supports the school leadership team in the development and implementation of the school development plan and other relevant plans, ensuring that the Avocet ethos remains at the heart of the school community;
- it helps on the ground with the implementation of certain whole Academy and school policies;
- it offers challenging by positive and proactive support to the school leader;
- it regularly reviews the schools performance in relation to the Key Performance Indicators.
If you would like more information about Avocet Academy Trust and it's members please follow this link https://avocet-trust.secure-primarysite.net/governance/
Members of Wickham Market's Local Governing Body
Roger Theobald
Position and Responsibilities:
Chair of Trustees and Chair of Governors at Wickham Market, responsible for Standards
Brief Biography:
Roger was professionally involved in education over his working life, including time as a headteacher of two Primary schools and as a Senior Adviser, time which included advising headteachers and staff in schools and managing initiatives in several key areas of school improvement. Since moving to Wickham Market in 2012, he has been involved in the governing body of Wickham Market Primary School, as well as the setting up of the Academy trust, and as a volunteer helper at the school. He is pleased to be able to offer both his professional experiences and his commitment to being involved in the community of Wickham Market to both the school and the academy trust.
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Helen Murray
Position and Responsibilities:
Headteacher
Brief Biography:
I have been the Headteacher at Wickham Market Primary School since September 2017. Prior to that I worked at Easton Primary School which is part of Avocet Academy Trust. I also had the pleasure of working in an Independent International School in Muscat, Oman for many years as well as an inner city school in Manchester. I feel the breadth of schools I have worked brings an understanding of the unique child. I have been delighted by the warm, family atmosphere, close community links and polite, well-motivated pupils at Wickham Market School. We are blessed with an excellent team of teachers and teaching assistants, together with a very proactive governing body which makes education at the school really enjoyable. It is a pleasure and a privilege to be the Head of School of such a fabulous school. As a small primary school, Wickham Market provides the diversity and challenge I sought when moving to headship and I feel sure that we will continue to be a thriving part of the local community for many years to come.
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Joanne Ashburn
Position and Responsibilities:
Community Governor
Brief Biography:
Jo is a community governor with a son currently at the school. She brings 20 plus years of experience as a children’s sports coach and children’s ski school manager. Working in a variety of resorts in New Zealand and USA, she has returned home to Suffolk. She is passionate about a varied curriculum to motivate learning and plenty of physical activity opportunities.
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Jo Maghoo
Position and Responsibilities:
Vice Chair, Health and Safety Governor
Brief Biography:
Jo is a parent governor at Wickham market with a son currently at the school. She is a primary school teacher who has taught for many years in a variety of schools both in the UK and Australia.
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Louise Turner
Position and Responsibilities:
Vice Chair and Safeguarding Governor
Brief Biography:
I am a parent governor with one child currently at the school, having had two older children previously educated at Wickham. Prior to moving to the village I was a governor at a school in South Yorkshire for many years. I have experience in youth work, journalism and publishing, and currently I co-run a media company. I’m extremely keen to enhance pupil wellbeing and contribute to positive learning across the academy, with particular attention to reading and e-safety.
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Ruth Leigh
Position and Responsibilities:
Governor
Brief Biography:
I am a freelance writer and author who lives just outside Wickham Market with my husband and three children. We moved to Suffolk in 2006 and all three children attended Wickham Market Primary School from Nursery through to Year 6. I am passionate about community and am always trying to find ways to add value.
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Mandy Garland
Position and Responsibilities:
Staff Governor
Brief Biography:
As staff Governor I represent the dedicated team of teachers and support staff that work at Wickham Market Primary School.
I have worked at our school in various roles from Teaching Assistant to my current position as Family Welfare Practitioner since 1998. Prior to this I trained and worked at the Ipswich Hospital as a staff nurse within the Gynaecology unit before leaving when my son was born and thereafter my daughter.
Working closely with and supporting our families, in addition to my position as subject leader for Relationships, Sex and Health Education enables me to fulfil my commitment to promoting and supporting the emotional and physical wellbeing of each child within our setting.
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Wickham Market Governors Membership, Pecuniary Interests and Meeting Attendance 2019/20
Name | Date Appointed | Resignation date | Pecuniary Interests | Meeting Attendance | |
Roger Theobold (chair) | 01/11/14 | na | None | ||
Jo Maghoo | 01/11/14 | na | Wattle designs Owner (10636708) | ||
Elizabeth Barnham | na | ||||
Louise Turner | 01/11/14 | na | Alej ltd (06150994) | ||
Joanne Ashburn | 12/06/17 | na | None | ||
Helen Murray (Headteacher) | 01/09/16 | na | None | ||
Mandy Garland (staff governor) | na | ||||
Wickham Market Governors Membership, Pecuniary Interests and Meeting Attendance 2018/19
Name | Date Appointed | Resignation date | Pecuniary Interests | Meeting Attendance | |
Roger Theobold (chair) | 01/11/14 | na | None | ||
Jo Maghoo | 01/11/14 | na | Wattle designs Owner (10636708) | ||
Elizabeth Barnham | na | ||||
Louise Turner | 01/11/14 | na | Alej ltd (06150994) | ||
Joanne Ashburn | 12/06/17 | na | None | ||
Helen Murray (head of school) | 01/09/16 | na | None | ||
Joanne Harris (staff governor) | na | Long term leave | |||
Emma Robson (temp staff governor) | na | ||||
Wickham Market Governors Membership, Pecuniary Interests and Meeting Attendance 2017/18
Name | Date Appointed | Resignation date | Pecuniary Interests | Meeting Attendance |
Roger Theobold (chair) | 01/1114 | na | None | |
Jo Maghoo | 01/11/14 | na | Wattle designs (10636708) | |
Louise Turner | 01/11/14 | na | Alej ltd (06150994) | |
Joanne Ashburn | 12/6/17 | na | None | |
Helen Murray (head of school) | 01/09/2016 | na | None | |
Wickham Market Governors Meeting, Pecuniary Interests and Training Attendance 2016/17
Name | Date Appointed | Resignation date | Pecuniary Interests | Meeting Attendance |
Roger Theobold (chair) | 01/1114 | na | None | |
Jo Maghoo | 01/11/14 | na | Wattle designs (10636708) | |
Louise Turner | 01/11/14 | na | Alej ltd (06150994) | |
Joanne Ashburn | 12/6/17 | na | None | |
Helen Murray (head of school) | 01/09/2016 | na | None |
Wickham Market Governors Meeting, Pecuniary Interests and Training Attendance 2016/17
LAB Attendance 2020/2021
All agendas and minutes are available upon request (excepting confidential documents).
Please contact nls@avocetacademy.org stating the documents you are requesting.
Financial Information
Please follow the following link for audited accounts for Avocet Academy Trust. You will also find a link to the school's financial benchmarking service
Avocet Academy Trust does not currently have any employees earning over £100K