Governance

 At Forward As One Church of England Multi Academy Trust, strong and effective governance is central to ensuring that every child across our family of schools receives a high‑quality, inclusive education.

Our governance structure is designed in line with Department for Education (DfE) expectations and shaped by our Christian values, with clear lines of accountability and a commitment to ethical leadership. The Trust Board is committed to continuous development and has previously taken the opportunity of the award of the Northern Fund to strengthen governance. All Members, Trustees and Governors are unpaid volunteers that abide by the highest standards of conduct, including the Nolan Principles For Public Life.

The Trust is committed to the five pillars of academy trust quality outlined by the DfE, including high‑quality inclusive education, effective school improvement, strong leadership, and robust financial and operational management. Our governance practices reflect these expectations and are reviewed regularly to ensure they remain compliant, effective, and aligned with best practice.

Our Governance Structure 

Members Board

Our Members play a crucial role in safeguarding Trust governance; they are not involved in the day-to-day business of the Trust but they act as the guardians of the constitution. They ensure that the governance of the Trust is effective, that Trustees act in accordance with the our charitable objects and can use their powers to step in if governance was failing.

Foundation - Rev. Paul Hardingham (Representative of incumbent of St Paul’s), Chair of Members Board

Awarded a BSc from University of London and a BA from Cambridge. Paul was ordained in 1978. Vicar of one of the largest churches in the Diocese of Manchester, with approximately 600 adults and 200 children spread across 6 congregations and 5 different buildings, Paul holds a key leadership role in the community.

Community  - Vacancy

Legal - Vacancy

Project Management - Peter Bond

Peter has extensive experience as a project officer at MBDA systems (retired). He has skills in project management, financial planning, and strategic planning.  With over 20 years of experience as school governor, under his chairmanship, St Paul's CE Primary, Astley Bridge was graded outstanding   

Foundation - Deborah Smith

Director of Education for Manchester Diocese from November 2019. Previously worked as Deputy Director of Education for Carlisle Diocese. Over 30 years’ experience in education and has taught across Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 through to Higher Education. As a Senior Lecturer at Liverpool Hope University, delivered on both undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes. Achieved Master of Science degree in Education and is a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching. Also an experienced SIAMS inspector. Passionate about the way education can open opportunities for all children and supports the Church of England vision for education of ‘life in all its’ fullness’ being made available to all.

Trustees

The Trust Board is the decision-making body of the Forward As One CE MAT and is accountable and responsible for the Trust and its academies. The Trust is also the employer of any central staff and those within Forward As One schools.

The Trustees have systems in place to assure themselves of the quality, safety and good practice of the affairs of the Trust. They meet regularly as a board and delegate aspects of governance and the day to day oversight of school leadership to Executive Leaders, Committees such as Audit & Risk, and to Local Advisory Boards (LABs) for each school, as set out in the Trust's Scheme of Delegation.

Project Management

Peter Bond Foundation (DBE) Chair, Safeguarding and SEND Link Trustee - Peter has extensive experience as a project officer at MBDA systems (retired). He has skills in project management, financial planning, and strategic planning.  With over 20 years of experience as school governor, under his chairmanship, St Paul's CE Primary, Astley Bridge was graded outstanding.   

Ethos and Ethics 

Legal

Vacancy

Finance & Risk

Andrew Simm - Andrew  qualified as a Chartered Accountant in April 2001, and spent nearly 20 years working in practice, with a stint in Industry from 2003-2006. He has experience in preparing accounts for small/medium sized companies and charities , advising owner-managed businesses on accounting, taxation and other business matters,   advising on VAT matters , management accounts preparation/review forecasting/budgeting  and auditing limited companies .

HR 

Vacancy

School Improvement

Pamela Carter - a retired Headteacher, Pamela took her school to triple Outstanding for both SIAMS and Ofsted inspections. Pamela continues to work as a part time school improvement partner for 11 primary schools in Lancashire. Pamela has a depth of experience in holding schools to account and providing constructive challenge and support to schools in a wide range of circumstances.  

Strategy & Compliance

Michael Crossley, Cyber Security Link Trustee - Production project manager at MBDA, STEAM ambassador. Skills in international project and senior corporate management. 20 years of experience as a school governor.    

Standards

Jane Austin - recently retired from a career in education that included teaching and leadership roles in primary and secondary schools, including in the developing world. Janet was previously a local authority inspector and held the position of Director of Excellence in Cities, a government initiative to reduce the impact of deprivation on children's learning. Appointed HMI in 2003 and worked directly for Ofsted for 13 years, specialising in supporting improvement in failing schools. Jane subsequently worked part-time as a contractor for Ofsted for several years.

Governance

Vacancy

Trustee Attendance

• Trustee Attendance 2022-2023 download_for_offline
  download_for_offlineTrustee Attendance 2022-2023
• Trustee Attendance 2023-2024 download_for_offline
  download_for_offlineTrustee Attendance 2023-2024
• Trustee Attendance 2024-2025 download_for_offline
  download_for_offlineTrustee Attendance 2024-2025

 Audit & Risk Committee

Local Advisory Boards (LABs)

Each academy within the Trust is supported by a Local Advisory Board (LAB), which deploys their expert knowledge of the school's local community to provide support and challenge to school leaders. Local Governors work closely with Headteachers to ensure that schools remain deeply rooted in the needs of their pupils, families, and communities.

The Local Area Forums (East and West Hubs) meet termly and provide a space for Chairs of LABs, the Chair of Trustees and Executive Leaders to come together and share issues, questions, concerns and ideas across local boards and provides another vehicle for effective communication across layers of governance.

Each Local Advisory Board has a Chair and Vice Chair of Governors: