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Trustees

The Fernwood Academy Trust

With effect from 1st May 2011 the school converted to Academy status, which brought about a number of changes in the governance arrangements at the school. The Fernwood Academy Trust was established, a charitable company limited by guarantee, the object of which is to advance, for the public benefit, the education of pupils and develop a school offering a broad and balanced curriculum.

The Articles of Association were further updated in February 2025 in line with the DfE guidance.

The appointed members of the Trust are:-

  • Mr Paul Brittain (appointed 30.9.25)
  • Mr Anthony Hicks (appointed 1.7.25)
  • Mr Andrew Hunt (appointed 13.12.13)
  • Mr Paul Irons MBE(signatory to memorandum)
  • Ms Amanda Smart-Gosrani (appointed 1.7.25)

The Academy Trustees

The Governing Body manages the Fernwood School (Academy) on behalf of the Trust. This places many duties and responsibilities on the Governing Body, the key ones of which are summarised below:-

  • Ensure the quality of educational provision
  • Challenge and monitor the performance of the Academy
  • Manage the Academy Trust’s finances and property
  • Appoint and employ staff
  • Health and Safety
  • Act as the Admissions Authority

The Board of Trustees comprises trustees, appointed in the following categories:-

  • Up to 15 trustees (including the Head Teacher) appointed by the Members.  There are currently 12 trustees appointed by the members.
  • Minimum of 2 elected Parent Trustees.  There are currently 4 elected Parent Trustees.
  • Co-opted Trustees appointed by the Board of Trustees.  There are currently 3 elected Co-opted Trustees.

Appointments to membership are usually for a period of four years and the Chair and Vice-Chair are appointed on an annual basis. The Academy Trust and Governing Body are supported by its Company Secretary and Clerk, Mrs Sue Law, email s.law@fernwood.school.

Current membership is as set out below:-

  • ​​​Mr Paul Irons (Chair) (Trustee appointed by the Members 31/07/25, period of office expiring 31/08/29) (see notes 1,2 & 3)
  • Mr Mark Blatchly (Co-Vice Chair) (Chair of Pupils and Personnel, Trustee, appointed by members 18/05/25, period of office expiring 17/05/2029) (see notes 1 & 2)
  • Mr Andrew Hunt (Co-Vice Chair) (Chair of Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, (Trustee appointed by the Members 31/07/25, period of office expiring 30/07/29) (see notes 2)
  • Mrs Umbrin Afzal (Trustee, appointed by members 18/5/25), period of office expiring 17/05/2029) (see notes 1 & 3)
  • Dr Shamim Ahmad (Parent Governor, elected by parent/carers 20/2/2024, period of office expiring 19/02/2028) (See note 1)
  • Mr Willliam Beasley (Trustee appointed by the Members 31/07/25 period of office expiring 5/01/2027) (See notes 1 and 4)
  • Mr Michael Benford (Parent Governor, elected by parent/carers 20/2/2024, period of office expiring 19/02/2028) (see note 2)
  • Mr Kevin Beswick (Trustee appointed by the Members 31/07/25, period of office expiring 26/09/26) (see notes 1 & 3)
  • Mr Stephen Deadman-Corsie (Trustee appointed by the Members 31/07/25, period of office expiring 17/03/28) (see note 2)
  • Dr James Daubney (Co-opted Trustee appointed by the trustees, 22/05/24, period of office expiring 21/05/2028) (see notes 1 and 4)
  • Mr Chris Gell (Head Teacher and Trustee appointed by the Members 11/02/25) (see notes 1 & 3)
  • Mr Louis Harrison (Trustee appointed by the Members 31/07/25, resigned 5/09/25)
  • Mrs Rosemarie Hudlin (Trustee appointed by the Members 31/07/25, period of office expiring 04/02/26) (see notes 1, 2 and 3)
  • Mrs Amy Huskisson (Trustee appointed by the Members 31/07/2, period of office expiring 21/05/2028) (see note 1)
  • Mr Neil Jackson (Trustee appointed by the Members 31/07/25, period of office expiring 25/05/27) (see notes 2, 4 and 5)
  • Mr Jaz Lovett - Trustee appointed by the Members 31/07/25, period of office expiring on 20/11/2027 (See notes 1 and 4)
  • Mrs Saema Mohammad (Parent Trustee, elected by the parent/carers 19/04/22, period of office expiring 18/04/2026) (see note 1)
  • Mrs Claire Mulholland – (Trustee appointed by the Members 31/07/25, period of office expiring 24/09/2027) (see note 1)
  • Mr Narinder Sagoo (Co-opted Trustee appointed by the trustees 21/09/22, period of office expiring on 20/9/2026 (See notes 1 and 2)
  • Mrs Louise Silver (Parent Trustee, elected by parent/carers 19/4/2022, period of office expiring 18/04/2026) (see note 1)

Notes

  1. Member of Pupils and Personnel Committee
  2. Member of Financial, Audit and Risk Committee
  3. Member of Admissions Committee. Membership of Pupil Discipline and other Staffing Committees is determined when these Committees are required to meet.
  4. Employed by the school
  5. As an employee does not participate when Audit matters are discussed at Finance, Audit and Risk Committee.

The Board of Trustees usually meets twice per term and is supported by a Committee structure of a number of Committees (including, Pupils and Personnel and Finance, Audit and Risk) which meet on a termly basis. The Head Teacher, presents written reports to these meetings. In addition to attending meetings Governors are able, if they wish, to undertake what are known as Link positions in areas where they may have a special interest, for example, Special Educational Needs or taking part in interviews for the appointment of staff. Governors are also offered training that is appropriate to their role over the course of their membership.

The Board of Trustees is always keen to respond to any requests about how it operates and receive any expressions of interest for future membership. In this connection, contact can be made with the Chair or the Clerk, c/o the school or as indicated above.

All trustees and members complete business and pecuniary interest forms on an annual basis. The current register is available here.

The record of Trustees’ attendance at meetings in all previous years may be accessed in the appropriate section of the Financial Statements which can be found below. Further detail on such attendance for the 2024/25 year is available here.

Scheme of Delegation

Some aspects of the delegation of responsibilities are referred to in the preceding paragraphs of this section of the website. For clarity, delegation arrangements can be summarised as under:-

Academy Trust – a small group of Members who must act in accordance with the objectives set out in the Trust’s Articles of Association. The Trust sets the strategic direction of the Academy. As a single converter Academy the Trust has generally only met to date to hold its Annual General Meeting when the appointment of Members, approval of the statutory financial accounts for the year in question, the contents of the report of the external auditors and the appointment of auditors have been determined.

Board of Trustees – As a single converter Academy, Trustees are Directors of the Company and the Board of Trustees manages the Academy on behalf of the Trust. Save for those few matters that are reserved for the Trust the Board of Trustees is responsible for deciding all other matters, subject to the delegation arrangements referred to below

Delegation from the Board of Trustees – the Board of Trustees' Scheme of Delegation for 2025/26 is available here'.

Contact

The Fernwood School
Goodwood Road, Wollaton
Nottingham, NG8 2FT

0115 9286326

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