All free schools, like Academies, are governed by not-for-profit charitable trusts, which are closely monitored by the Audit Commission to ensure that they provide good value for the public money with which they are entrusted.
In the case of Bristol Free School the Governing Body is the Board of the Russell Education Trust (RET), a Government-approved academy sponsor. Information about RET's Trustees can be found on the RET website
In each of its schools, RET formally delegates a range of its responsibilities to a Local Governing Body representing the community. More information about this structure can be found in the RET Scheme of Delegation and the Bristol Free School Governing Body Standing Orders.
A close, consultative relationship exists between RET and the Local Governing Bodies of its schools, and the views of local governors inform all aspects of RET policy.
Bristol Free School Local Governing Body
The Bristol Free School Local Governing Body includes the Headteacher, two elected parent governors and up to ten further governors (many of whom reflect the community and, in particular, the school’s founding group, Bristol Parents’ Voice), appointed by the Trust.
Local Governors are appointed/elected for a 4 year term, and are currently as follows:
| Name: | Appointer/Date: | Responsibilities: | Date stepped down (where applicable) |
|
Anne-Marie Boyle (Chair) |
RET/April 2019 |
INC |
|
|
Clive Brazil (Vice Chair) |
RET/April 2018 |
INC |
|
|
Karen Foster |
RET/April 2018 |
||
|
Dave Hale |
RET/April 2018 |
|
|
|
Andrew McWhan |
RET/April 2018 |
H&S |
|
|
Su King |
Not applicable |
|
|
|
Karen Lynch |
RET/April 2018 |
|
|
|
John Meech |
RET/April 2019 |
||
|
Karen Philips |
Elected/April 2019 |
SFG | |
|
Nick Hester |
Elected/May 2021 |
||
|
Kate Groves |
|
March 2021 | |
|
Nathalie Haines |
March 2021 |
Contact the Governing Body
Contact should normally be through the school administrative office.
Key:
SFG: Safeguarding monitoring
H&S: Health and Safety
INC: Inclusion
FIN: Finance
