Accountability Strands and Framework

Leadership and Management at Freemantle (To be read in conjunction with the Scheme of Delegation & Finance Policy)

The academy has a number of levels of management, accountability and responsibility, each layer builds on the previous with key members of staff, directors and members integrated in a ‘cross reference model’ to provide clear, transparent and effective communication channels whilst ensuring accountability sits within all groups.

The Senior leaders (HT, AHTs and other senior leaders) work with middle leaders and teaching staff on curriculum development and implementation via professional development meetings, CPD and training as examples.

There are weekly strategic and day to day meetings held between SAT (Senior Accountability Team) Strategic group and SAT Curriculum group:

(Strategic SAT)- The HT, Finance, Buildings & Estates Director (FBED) and Chair of Directors (CoD) meet weekly for the strategic direction and ongoing needs of the academy trust.

(Curriculum SAT)-The HT, Finance, AHT's, SENDCo and Chair of Directors (CoD) also meet weekly for strategic curriculum development, and ongoing day to day needs. Meetings highlight proactive and reactive elements as the needs of the academy evolve and change; policy development, curriculum development (needs), staffing needs, safeguarding, SEF updates, attendance updates, executive developments, EYFS, feedback on training, MHWB for children and staff.

The AHTs meets with the Curriculum and Standards Committee half termly, chaired by the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors, with a key strategic focus on curriculum development, the HT does not attend this meeting so that triangulation between the HT, CoD and directors is clear and can be challenged where necessary.

The HT meets with the CoD weekly, following the SAT meeting to ensure effective support is on offer to the HT whilst considering the ongoing needs and education of all pupils.

The Finance, Buildings & Estates Director (FBED) meets with the finance officer weekly to look at weekly cash flow implications and ongoing expenditure, this ensures cash flow and resourcing is monitored effectively and efficiently.

The Finance, Buildings & Estates Director (FBED) sits, as an invited guest, on the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, (FAR) with the CoD in attendance too with other directors. The Finance, Buildings & Estates Director (FBED), reports to the FAR half termly, with weekly cash flow updates and monthly management accounts, and identifies key issues and/or over underspends and the actions being taken to remedy these issues.

The HT, Finance, Buildings & Estates Director (FBED), Chair of FAR and Chair of Curriculum report to the Full Board of directors’ half termly on all aspects of the specific outcomes from each of their respective meetings. The HT and Finance, Buildings & Estates Director (FBED), prepare full reports for academic outcomes, and finance & premises respectively.

The Finance, Buildings & Estates Director (FBED) is an invited guest to the Board of Members (BoM) that meets three times annually. A report highlighting key issues within the academy is shared in good time to allow the members to ask questions or challenge/support decisions. To ensure effective triangulation, the CoD also sits as on the BoM, this again ensures transparency and effective communication.

The Finance, Buildings & Estates Director (FBED) meets with the Chair of Members (CoM) approximately six times per year off site to discuss any issues or concerns that may be affecting the academy. The CoM is a ‘sounding board’ for the Finance, Buildings & Estates Director (FBED) and ensures a perspective is kept on WLB and mental health, whilst ensuring the academy continues to thrive and is a financially sustainable position.

The BoD and BoM, each receive the full set of audited accounts annually and any actions required from them.

Freemantle is a partner school with the Southampton Co-operative Learning Trust. This is a co-operative trust with the following schools;

Regents Park Community College (Partner School)

St Marks All through Primary and Secondary School (Partner school)

Polygon School

St John’s Primary School

Banister Primary school

Southampton Solent University (Partner)

All schools and academies within the trust work collegiately for the benefit of Southampton pupils.

The HT and Finance, Buildings & Estates Director (FBED) are members of the trust panel as the academy’s representatives (each school designates a leader to sit within the panel), in addition the Finance, Buildings & Estates Director (FBED) is the current SCLT Chairperson. The group have a strategic focus and work corporately together.

SCLT also has an additional group Primary Leaders Network (PLN) who focus on curriculum development and staff CPD.

The Board of Directors

The number of directors varies according to the size of the school or academy. Freemantle's directors are made up of:

• Staff directors
• Foundation directors (members appointed by the Church)
• Community directors
• Parent directors (normally parents or carers of children currently attending the school)

In addition the Headteacher (Miss N Myszkowski) and the Finance, Buildings & Estates Director (FBED) (Mr K Barnett) are invited guests to the board of directors meetings but have no voting rights.

Roles of Directors

Directors are the strategic leaders of our schools and have a vital role to play in making sure every child gets the best possible education. The purpose of the Board of Directors is to conduct the academy with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement. In addition to the appointment of leadership roles, the roles of the directors monitor and challenge progress and attainment, the effectiveness of the curriculum, the health and safety of pupils, staff and visitors, and ensuring the academy's finances are spent wisely and for the benefit of the children's education.

To ensure these areas are fully explored, the directors have established a number of committees and working groups and these meet regularly during the year. The full board of directors meets twice each term, receiving reports from the various groups, looking closely and specific areas, such as SATs results, and discussing a headteacher's statement at each meeting. The board of directors also tries to maintain close links with parents or carers and welcomes comments and questions from any parent or carer of children at the school.

Vacancies:

The Board of Directors (Governing Body) are currently looking for new Directors to join their team. To register your interest please contact our Chair Of Directors, Val Caldwell, via email on the following address: val.caldwell@freemantleschool.co.uk. You must be 18 or over to apply and all Directors must have Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. Thank you.

Director Committees:

Curriculum and Standards

• Chair: Mrs Janet Parker MBE
• Mrs V Caldwell
• Mr Nick Whittle- invited guest
• Mr Mark Seymour- Invited guest

Finance, Audit & Risk Committee

• Chair: Mrs Val Caldwell
• Mr Richard Ejaz
• Mr Mike Denness
• Mr Kevin Barnett (Invited guest)
• Miss Nina Myszkowski (Invited guest)

Directors Link Curriculum Areas

Governance Clerk: Mrs Tracy O'Connor

Contact: tracy.oconnor@freemantleschool.co.uk

External Assessor- IARO (previously Responsible Officer): Juniper Education

The directors have consulted on the academy’s admissions policy for 2026/27. The policy is available on the academy website (see Admissions). If you would like to make any comments about the policy, please e-mail them to the academy’s admissions consultant, Mrs Jo Glenton, at jo.glenton@googlemail.com or put your comments in writing, marked for the attention of Mrs Jo Glenton to the school office.

The information on governance included here supplements that described in the Directors' Report and in the Statement of Directors responsibilities.

As part of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities report, the following information is provided: Percentage of Race and Ethnic backgrounds- 83% White British, 17% Non WB ethnicity.

The Directors will formally meet six times across this academic year. Attendance at full Board of Director meetings is recorded below and updated after each meeting:

Name	24.9.26	12.11.26	28.1.27	18.3.27	13.5.27	8.7.27
V Caldwell (Chair)	Y
J Parker (Vice)	Y
K Linington	Y
R. Ejaz	Y
K Barnett	Y
N Myszkowski	Y
M Denness	N
L Torpey	Y
Z Leigh	Y
N Whittle	Y
M Seymour	-

Agreed Board of Directors meetings for 2026 - 2027

• Autumn 1 - Thursday 24th September at 5pm
• Autumn 2 - Thursday 12th November at 5pm
• Spring 1 - Thursday 28th January at 5pm
• Spring 2 - Thursday 18th March at 5pm
• Summer 1 - Thursday 13th May at 5pm
• Summer 2 - Thursday 8th July at 5pm

Agreed Curriculum and Standards meetings for 2026 - 2027

• Autumn 1 - N/A
• Autumn 2 -
• Spring 1 -
• Spring 2 -
• Summer 1 -
• Summer 2 -

Agreed Finance, Audit and Risk Committee meetings for 2026 - 2027

• Autumn 1 - Wednesday 16th September 2026 at 09.00 hrs
• Autumn 2 - Wednesday 4th November 2026 at 09.00 hrs
• Spring 1 - Wednesday 13th January 2027 at 09.00 hrs
• Spring 2 - Wednesday 3rd March 2027 at 09.00 am
• Summer 1 - Wednesday 5th May 2027 at 09.00 am
• Summer 2 - Wednesday 23rd June 2027 at 09.00 am

The Board of Directors formally met six times during the last academic year. Attendance during the year 2025 - 2026 was as follows:

Name	18.9.25	11.12.25	29.1.26	26.3.26	21.5.26	9.7.26
V Caldwell (Chair)	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
J Parker	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
K Linington	N	Y	Y	N	Y	Y
R. Ejaz	N	Y	N	Y	N	Y
K Bevan-Mackie	N	Y	-	-	-	-
K Barnett	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
N Myszkowski	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
M Denness	-	Y	N	N	Y	N
L Torpey	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
N Whittle	-	-	Y	-	Y	-
M Seymour	-	-	-	Y	-	Y

 

Name	Meetings Held	Meetings Attended
K Barnett	6	6	100%
K Bevan-Mackie	2	1	50%
V J Caldwell (Chair)	6	6	100%
Z Leigh	3	3	100%
J Parker	6	6	100%
N Myszkowski (HT)	6	6	100%
K Linington	6	4	66%
R Ejaz	6	3	50%
L Torpey	5	5	100%
N Whittle	2	2	100%
M Seymour	2	2	100%

• Kathryn Bevan-Mackie retired 19th December 2025
• Lois Torpey elected 11th December 2025
• Mike Denness elected 11th December 2025
• Zak Leigh elected 26th March 2026
• Mark Seymour invited guest
• Nick Whittle invited guest

Pecuniary Interests

Name	Pecuniary Interest	Date
Mrs Val Caldwell	Trustee for Southampton Co-operative Learning Trust Working for Banister School- a trust partner school
Mrs Janet Parker  MBE	Diocesan Rep- Christchurch Freemantle
Rev Karen Linnington	Reverend for Christchurch, Freemantle
Mr Richard Ejaz	None	Jan 2025
Mr Mike Denness	None	Dec 2025
Mr Zak Leigh	LSA and IT technician working at Freemantle Academy
Miss Lois Torpey	Teacher at Freemantle Academy
Miss Nina Myszkowski	Member of staff at Freemantle Academy Trustee for Southampton Co-operative Learning Trust
Mr Kevin Barnett	Daughter Employed by Freemantle Academy Chairperson Southampton Co-operative Learning Trust Professional Lead for Freemantle Training Hub SCC Schools' Forum Academies Rep	April 2011

The Board of Members

Academy trusts are charitable 'companies' and have a board of members. Members have a similar role to shareholders of a company.

The members hold the trust board and officers to account for the effective governance of the trust but have minimal involvement in running the trust There is clear separation between the board of members and the board of directors.

Members are essential to the integrity of the academy trust governance structure. They will make critical decisions, especially if a trust is failing. The members remain informed of trust performance and will/can appoint new directors to the full board of directors.)

Name	Term of Office	Pecuniary Interest	Appt by	Date
Grant Strange	TOO- 1 year (Nov 2026)	Employed by Nexus education- provide some resources to the academy Director of Tenax Vult Ltd- no connections with the academy Director of ELS Europe Ltd- provide some resources to the academy (Sept 2022)	Board Of Directors	Appointed 26 Sept 2019
Mrs Val Caldwell	TOO- 1 Year (Nov 26)	Trustee of Southampton Cooperative Learning Trust- Partner trust to Freemantle Works for Banister School a trust partner school Undertakes marking and delivery of NCFE adult training	Board of Directors	Appointed 01 April 2011
Mr Nigel Page	TOO- 1 Year (Nov 26)	Provides photocopier servicing (Apple photocopiers)	Board of Members	Appointed 26 March 2024
Mr Gary Hampton	TOO 1 Year (March 26)	Governor at Orchard Junior School  Independent Performance Management Assessor	Board of Members	Appointed 25 March 2025
Mr Pete K McBride	TOO 1 Year (March 26)	Chairperson Banister School- SCLT	Board of Members	Appointed 25 March 2025
Mr Kevin Barnett	Invited Guest whilst in post	Employed by FCA- Daughter works for FCA   Chairperson of Southampton Cooperative  Learning Trust Partner trust to Freemantle   C E O Freemantle Leaning Hub  SCC- School's Forum Academies Rep	Invited by the Board of Members	(Guest) appointed 01 April 2011

The last Members meeting took place on Tuesday 30th June 2026.

Meetings for the academic year 2026-27:

Tuesday 3rd November 2026

Tuesday 23rd March 2027

Tuesday 29th June 2027

Agreed Members meetings 2026-2027

Member	Attended	Possible attendance
Grant Strange	0	0
Val Caldwell	0	0
Nigel Page	0	0
Gary Hampton	0	0
P K McBride	0	0
Kevin Barnett (invited)	0	0

Agreed Members meetings 2025 -26

4th November 2025

24th March 2026

30th June 2026

Agreed Members meetings 2025-2026

Member	Attended	Possible attendance
Grant Strange	3	3
Val Caldwell	3	3
Nigel Page	1	3
Gary Hampton	3	3
P K McBride	2	2
Kevin Barnett (invited)	3	3