Local Academy Committee
Welcome to the Bream Local Academey Committee Section.
Our Local Academy Committees play a vital role in the life of our schools and the wider Trust. All governance within schools and the wider Trust follow the three pillars of effective governance to provide the best possible outcomes for our stakeholders:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
- Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff; and
- Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.
The Severn Federation Academy Trust are committed to having a rigorous standard of governance, and everyone involved with governance within the Trust agrees to uphold the Code of Conduct.
The Local Academy Governors
The Local Academy Governors have a responsibility for delegated matters concerning Bream school; including the upholding the Christian ethos of the school, promoting ties with the outside community, monitoring the impact of the curriculum and ensuring the wellbeing of pupils and staff. The Local Academy Committee meet at least once a term. The Committee Terms of Reference outline the responsibilities and duties of the Bream Local Academy Committee.
The Local Academy Committee represents Bream school within the wider Severn Federation Academy Trust.
They are responsible for:
- Monitoring the Christian distinctiveness within the schools.
- Ensuring accountability.
- Monitoring and evaluating the schools progress.
- Monitoring safeguarding procedures within the schools.
- Monitoring and promoting links between the schools and the local parish, parents and local community.
- Ensuring the highest possible standards are set, achieved and maintained in the schools.
- Ensuring pupils spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development is nurtured.
- Ensuring the well-being of pupils, staff and families is supported.
- Having a role in the appointment senior members of staff including the Head of School.
Whilst the governors are always open to ideas and opinions they are not primarily responsible for:
- Discussing the individual needs of pupils (please contact your child's teacher for this).
- Complaints/concerns about staff (this should initially be addressed to the Head Teacher).
- Fund raising and social events (this is run by the Friends).
If you would like to get involved in local governance, please contact the Trust Governance Professional: governance@sfat.uk
Meet the Governors
Lorna Theophilus
I grew up in Bream and attended Bream C of E Primary School as a child. I left the area for a few years to study English and History at Keele University, before returning home to Bream to raise my family. I’m married with three children, all of whom attend Bream School. I have a professional background in property development and project management, and I now work part-time as a Church Building Support Officer for the Diocese of Hereford. I’m on the Parochial Church Council at St. James Church and I was keen to join LAC as a Foundation representative to support Bream School both because it is my children’s school, but also because I think strong connections between the school and the church are important for both. I’m really pleased to be able to join the LAC at this point in the school’s improvement journey and I am ambitious for the future of the school.
Matt Creed
I was born in the Forest of Dean and attended primary school within the Forest. I am married and we have two children who both attend Bream School. I run my own company working within television broadcast and have worked in that industry for 25 years. I am a keen runner and have taken part in over 100 marathons. I wanted to become more involved with the school and understand more of how it works during the home-schooling period of 2020. I learnt so much from seeing my own children develop through that time, which was early on in their education path. I offer my support to work with parents, teachers, the Head and other Governors to help the continued improvement needed to provide our children with the best chance of primary education and preparation for secondary school. I totally believe in the value and importance of a well-balanced education as well as ensuring they have a safe and loving environment to be taught in.
Ann Hemsley
I have three, now-adult, children who attended Bream School in the 80’s and 90’s, during which time I served as a governor including being chair of governors. I was also involved in the school parent teacher association, which was involved with fundraising, mainly for the school swimming pool at that time.
I worked for Gloucestershire Parent and Toddlers Association (PATA) as a Fieldworker, visiting and supporting community playgroups in the North Forest area and was also part of their training team, which involved training play leaders and committees. In 1995 my family and I moved to Singapore due to my husband’s job. Recently, four of my seven grandchildren have started attending Bream School having relocated from Singapore.
I am currently part of the Leadership team at St James’ Church, Bream and look forward to supporting and encouraging links between the church and school. In line with Bream School’s vision, I firmly believe that all children have the right to achieve their full potential and should be encouraged to do so by all means possible, so I am delighted to be able to offer support to Bream School as it strives to achieve this aim.
Composition of the Committee
Governance Type | Composition | Appointments | Vacancies |
Head of School | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Staff | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Foundation | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Parent | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Co-opted | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Total | 8 | 8 | 0 |
Register of Interests & Governor Responsibilites
Name | Governor Type | Appointing Body | Responsibility | Register of Interests/Declaration of Pecuniary Interest | Governor at another school | Term of Office |
Lorna Theophilus | Co-opted | Diocese of Gloucester |
SEND Pupil Premium
| Child at a SFAT school | No | 19.09.23 to 18.09.27 |
Nicky Brice | Headteacher | Ex-Officio | Employee of SFAT Child at a SFAT school | No | N/A | |
Matt Creed | Parent | Parents of Bream School | Chair of Committee 12.09.23-11.09.24
Health & Safety Children in Care | Director MCR Post Ltd. Children at Bream school | No | 30.09.21 to 29.09.25 |
Ann Hemsley | Foundation | Diocese of Gloucester | EYFS | Grandchildren at Bream school Member of Bream PCC | No | 01.12.21 to 30.11.25 |
Thomas Hayward | Staff | Bream Local Academy Committee | Employee of SFAT | No | 10.10.22 to 09.10.24 | |
Steven Harrison | Foundation | Diocese of Gloucester | Christian Distinctiveness
Worship | Employee Diocese of Gloucester | No | 28.11.23 to 27.11.27 |
Claire Davis | Parent | Parents of Bream School | Sport Premium | Child at Bream school | No | 20.09.23 to 19.09.27 |
Bonnie Ellis | Co-opted | Local Academy Committee | Safeguarding | Manager of Bream Early Years Nursery school | No | 14.11.23 to 13.11.27 |
Retired Local Governors
Name | Governor Type | Appointing Body | Responsibility | Register of interests/Declaration of Pecuniary Interest | Governor at another school | Term of Office |
David Child | Co-opted | Local Academy Committee | Governor at the Dean Academy 2021 to 2024 | 14.06.22 to 13.06.26 RETIRED: 12.07.23 | ||
Kate Emily Evans | Parent | Parents of Bream school | Pupil Premium & SEND | Child at Bream school | Governor at the Dean Academy 2022 to 2026 | 17.10.22 to 16.10.26 RETIRED: 05.03.23 |
Maurice Bloomfield | Associate Member | Local Academy Committee | Trustee Bledisloe New Zealand Trust | No | 17.01.22 to 16.01.23 RETIRED: 07.01.23 | |
Elijah Thompson | Staff | Staff of Bream school | Member of staff | No | 11.10.21 to 10.10.23 RETIRED: 05.10.22 |
Attendance at Committee Meetings
2023/2024
Name | 19.09.23 | 14.11.23 | 09.01.24 | 09.04.24 | 21.05.24 | 09.07.24 | TOTAL |
Nicky Brice | Y | Y | Y | ||||
Matt Creed | Y | Y | Y | ||||
Lorna Theophilus | Y | Y | Apologies | ||||
Ann Hemsley | Apologies | Y | Y | ||||
Tom Hayward | Y | Y | Y | ||||
Claire Davies (Appointed 20.09.23) | ------ | Y | Y | ||||
Bonnie Ellis (Appointed 14.11.23) | ----- | Y | Apologies | ||||
Rev. Stephen Harrison (Appointed 28.11.23) | ----- | Y | Y |
2022/2023
11.10.22 | 06.12.22 | 31.01.23 | 25.04.23 | 06.06.23 | 18.07.23 | TOTAL | |
Lorna Theophilus | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 6/6 |
Nicky Brice | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 6/6 |
Elijah Thompson (Retired 05.10.22) | -------- | -------- | -------- | ----- | ----- | ----- | N/A |
Ann Hemsley | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Apologies | 5/6 |
Matt Creed | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 6/6 |
David Child (Resigned 12.07.23) | Y | Apologies | Apologies | Apologies | Apologies | ------ | 1/5 |
Thomas Hayward (Elected 10.10.22) | -------- | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 5/5 |
Kate Evans (Elected 17.10.22) (Resigned 05.03.23) | -------- | Y | Y | ------ | ------- | ------ | 2/2 |
Maurice Bloomfield (Resigned 17.01.23) (Associate Member) | Y | Y | -------- | ------ | ------ | ----- | 2/2 |