Governors

Leading with Integrity

Doing the right thing, in the right way, for the right reasons.

At OHCAT, governance is not just a statutory duty – it’s a vital part of how we lead with integrity, collaborate effectively, and make a meaningful impact. Our governors play a key role in ensuring our schools are safe, inclusive, and thriving environments for pupils and staff.

What Do Local Governors Do at Nightingale Community Academy? 

Local Governors form part of our Local Governing Body (LGB), a committee of the OHCAT Board. Our governors work collectively to:

• Support strategic leadership by upholding the Trust’s vision and values.

• Monitor educational standards, including pupil progress, safeguarding, and curriculum opportunities and quality.

• Oversee operational and financial compliance, ensuring resources are used effectively and policies are followed.

• Champion staff wellbeing and development, contributing to recruitment and supporting leadership.

• Engage with the school community, acting as a bridge between the academy, parents, and wider stakeholders.

Our Governance Principles 

Our local Governors are guided by our four core principles: 

• Collaboration – Working together across our schools and teams to share best practice and drive improvement.

• Integrity – Acting with fairness, honesty, and professionalism to earn trust and uphold high standards.

• Impact-Driven – Focusing on actions that make a real difference to pupils, staff, and communities.

• Culture and Values – Living our values every day: Confident, Respectful, Equitable, Advocacy, Teamworking, Enabling.

Who Can Be a Governor on our Local Governing Body? 

Our LGB constitution is:

• 2 Elected parents

• One elected teacher governor

• One elected support staff governor

• 6 – 9 Trust-appointed governors

• The Principal: Simon McBride

Our governors come from diverse backgrounds and bring a range of skills. What unites them is a shared commitment to improving outcomes and transforming lives for all pupils.

How Governance Works  

Our governors meet termly to review performance, discuss priorities, and make decisions. They also conduct school visits to gain first hand insight into our school’s day-to-day operations, monitor progress against improvement plans and see the impact of their work. Governors complete mandatory training each term and follow a code of conduct to ensure professionalism and accountability.

In addition, governors take on a link governor responsibility. There are 6 link roles required by Trustees:

• Curriculum, Learning and Outcomes
• Human Resources and Employee Relations
• Health & Safety, Environment and Sustainability
• Local Governance
• Safeguarding and Wellbeing
• Stakeholder and Community Engagement.

These roles allow governors to focus on specific strategic priorities and contribute to deeper oversight and support.

Governors may also be asked to participate in additional duties, such as:

• Panel hearings for staff matters, complaints, or pupil exclusions

• Pay committees to determine staff pay in line with Trust policy

• Working groups formed to address specific issues or projects

These responsibilities are vital to ensuring robust governance and reflect the Trust’s commitment to transparency, fairness, and continuous improvement.

Why It Matters 

“Governance helps us transform lives. By supporting strong leadership, safeguarding standards, and inclusive education, governors ensure every pupil has the opportunity to thrive. Governance is about doing the right thing for our pupils, every single time. At OHCAT, our governors are united by a shared purpose: to support, challenge, and lead with integrity. Their work ensures that every school in our Trust is a place where children thrive, staff are empowered, and communities are proud.”  Raymond Leclercq, Chair of Trustees

For further information regarding the local governing body or for governance information please e-mail governance@ohcat.org