
The Swan Trust
We
are proud and excited to be part of The SWAN Trust, a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT),
consisting of six local schools who believe that school to school support and
collaboration will bring about improvements in the quality of learning for children
in our area. For The
SWAN Trusts statutory documents please visit The SWAN Trust website https://swantrust.co.uk/
Our
vision is to develop a successful partnership of
schools that work together to celebrate success and to create opportunities for
our children and staff that raise aspirations and inspire excellence for all.
Who are our partner schools in
the Trust?
Please click on
the logo to see the website for each school
We continue to work closely together as part
of the wider Woking Schools Learning Partnership (WSLP) of 33 schools. We have worked more closely as a smaller
group of five schools since 2012 and became an Umbrella Trust in 2013. We chose to formalise this relationship on 1st
September 2019 as part of our long-term commitment to work together and, most
importantly, our shared values and ethos.
This has also enabled us to expand, and we welcomed the sixth school,
Kingfield Primary School, into our Trust on 1st October 2020.
How does it work?
The SWAN Trust (MAT) was registered formally with the Department for Education
(DfE) on 1st September 2019. Our
aim is that our six schools, who share a child centred ethos, will continue
to work effectively together to enhance the education of all the children in
our care.
At the beginning of each school year, we share
our school data, when available, and develop a shared improvement plan, which
links to each of our School Development Plans. This action plan highlights the
priorities for the Trust for the academic year and shows how we plan to using
each school’s strength to support one another.
Priorities for 2023/24:
1.
To
improve child outcomes, teaching, learning and assessment across The SWAN Trust,
focusing on gaps that have arisen.
2.
To
raise standards in leadership across The SWAN Trust.
3.
To
further develop systems of rigorous evaluation between schools.
4.
To
establish systems and structures across the Trust to enable us to become more
efficient and effective.
5.
To
continue to develop effective collaboration at all levels, including for staff
and children.
Each year, we will engage in a range of
activities to bring about school improvement linked to the annual priorities.
These may include:
·
Shared
training and INSET days.
·
Sharing
of best practice using each schools’ strengths.
·
Action
research in other schools investigating practice and impact for pupils.
·
Peer
coaching and support for staff at all levels.
·
Leadership
training including development of good governance practice.
·
Initiatives
which raise the quality of teaching and learning.
·
Moderation
of teacher judgements for pupil attainment and progress.
·
Early
Years development.
·
Support
for actioning of new government initiatives.
·
Investigation
into commissioning of a range of services, contracts and purchases as a group
to provide better value for money.
We
will keep you updated of further developments through our newsletters. Over
time, we hope to develop the range of activities we participate in, if you have
any ideas for shared community events, please do let us know!
The The NGA (National Governance They are tasked with the role of | ||||
Ian Girdler (also Chair of Trust) | Michael Wood (Chair of Members) | Tina Nowell | Beryl Hunwicks | David Pugh |
The The role of the Trustee is to be the Trust, to follow company and | |||||||
Ian Girdler (Chair of Trust) | Carol Cheesman | Margaret Garner | Dermot Main | Kate Charles | Alistair Smith | Bruce Penson | Elaine Cooper (CEO) |
The The SWAN Trust central offices are based
| ||||
Elaine Cooper CEO (5 days a week) Chief Executive Officer ceo@swantrust.co.uk | Shanna Hall CFO (4 days a week) Chief Financial Officer cfo@swantrust.co.uk | Nicky Dicken Admin Support (3 days a week) admin@swantrust.co.uk | Nicky Oehl HR Support (3 days a week) HR@swantrust.co.uk | Nazia Iqbal HR Support (5 days a week) HR@swantrust.co.uk |
The SWAN Trustee Board
The Constitution and Membership of the
Trust Board
Governance is regulated by law, in
particular the “School Governance (Roles, Procedures and Allowance) (England)
Regulations” of 2013. Trustees are required to publish information about their board
and Trustees, and also to declare any financial or other interest that could
potentially lead to a conflict of interest.
Our Trust Board consists of seven
Trustees and one coopted Trustee. Trustees are appointed to provide a
broad and balanced group who have a wide range of skills. Whenever possible Trustees are recruited for
the skills and commitment they can bring that enhance the role of Trust Board.
The attendance record in the table
below covers the twelve-month period September 2022 to August 2023, so this
shows last years attendance. It includes
those whose term of office has expired or who have resigned and left in the
last twelve months, all are listed in the table below.
The table provides the following
information:
- Trustee
name - Start
and finish date of the Trustee’s term of office - Attendance at Trustee meetings
over the last twelve months and attendance record expressed as a
percentage (%)
The SWAN Trust Board Meetings for the Academic Year 2022/2023 | ||||||||||
Name | 19/10/2022 | 24/11/2022 | 19/01/2023 | 23/03/2023 | 11/05/2023 | 13/06/2023 Trustee Day | 06/07/2023 | % | Start of term of office | Start of term of office |
Ian Girdler (Chair) | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | 100 | 10/07/2023 | 09/07/2027 |
Elaine Cooper | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | 100 | 01/09/06 | Ex officio |
Kate Charles | ü | X | ü | ü | X | ü | ü | 67 | 10/07/2023 | 09/07/2027 |
Carol Cheesman | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | 100 | 10/07/2023 | 09/07/2027 |
Margaret Garner | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | 100 | 10/07/2023 | 09/07/2027 |
Joanne MacDonald | ü | ü | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 34 | 10/07/2019 | 31/12/2022 |
Dermot Main | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | 100 | 12/03/2020 | 11/03/2024 |
Alistair Smith* | X | ü | X | ü | X | ü | X | 34 | 10/07/2023 | 09/07/2027 |
Bruce Penson Co opted | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | 100 | 01/10/2021 | 30/09/2025 |
*Due to pre-agreed work arrangements, it was recognised that Alistair Smiths attendance would be low this year.
Trustee Day, 13th June 2023, was not a minuted day and so does not count towards attendance.