Governance
We are required to publish the following information:
• The structure and remit of the members, board of trustees, committees and local governing bodies.
• For each member serving at any point over the past 12 months, their full names, date of appointment, date they stepped down (where applicable), and relevant business and pecuniary interests including governance roles in other educational institutions.
• For each trustee and local governor serving at any point over the past 12 months, their full names, date of appointment, term of office, date they stepped down (where applicable), who appointed them, and relevant business and pecuniary interests including governance roles in other educational institutions. If the accounting officer is not a trustee, their business and pecuniary interests must still be published.
• For each trustee, their attendance records at board and committee meetings over the last academic year.
• For each local governor, their attendance records at local governing body meetings over the last academic year.
To request minutes of board or committee meetings, please contact the Governance Manager ruthali@auroraacademies.org
Register of Members of Aurora Academies Trust
Full Name | Category/Appointing Body | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|
Aurora Education Trust (AET) represented by Mr Ronald Jay Packard | Subscriber/Principal Sponsor
| 15/06/2012 (Represented by Ronald Packard since 11/12/2019)
|
| Mr Antony Nathaniel Blaker QPM | Sponsor/Aurora Education Trust | 01/09/2023 |
Mr Geoff Paul Palmer
| Sponsor/Aurora Education Trust | 22/03/2017 |
Ms Julie Kapsalis | Sponsor/Aurora Education Trust
| 11/12/2019 |
Register of current Trustees and Associate Members
Full Name (Including title) | Category/ Appointing Body | Term of office | Date of appointment | Expiry | Board meetings attended in 2022/2023 |
| Trustees | |||||
| Mrs Martha Burnige (chair) | Sponsor, appointed by Aurora Education Trust | 4 years | 01/05/2023 | 30/04/2027 | 1 out of 1 |
Mr Ronald Jay Packard (vice chair)
| Sponsor, appointed by Aurora Education Trust
| 4 years
| first appointed 31/07/2015 current term 01/08/2023
|
31/07/2027
| 4 out of 5 |
Mr Mark Quentin Brunet (Chair of Finance, Audit, Human Resources and Risk Committee) | Co-opted, appointed by board
| 4 years | 13/12/2018
Reappointed on 06/10/2022 for another term starting on 13/12/2022 | 12/12/2022
12/12/2026 | 5 out of 5 |
Mr Adam Nichols
| Sponsor, appointed by Aurora Education Trust | 4 years | 30/09/2020 | 29/09/2024 | 4 out of 5 |
| Mr Brett North | Co-opted, appointed by board | 4 years | 26/11/2019 | 25/11/2027 | 4 out of 5 |
| Mr Stuart Reeves (Chair of Education, Standards and School Performance Committee) | Sponsor, appointed by Aurora Education Trust | 4 years | 14/12/2022 | 13/12/2026 | 3 out of 4 |
Ms Maria Andrea Ursula Szalay | Sponsor, appointed by Aurora Education Trust
| 4 years
| first appointed 31/07/2015 current term 01/08/2023
|
31/07/2027
| 5 out of 5 |
| Mrs Joanna Upton | Co-opted, appointed by board | 4 years | 21/12/2022 | 20/12/2026 | 3 out of 3 |
Associate Members | |||||
| Mr Jonathan Cornell | Associate Member - FAHR Committee - with voting rights | 07/12/2022 | n/a | ||
| Mr Jonathan Glyn Hodson | Associate Member - FAHR Committee - with voting rights | 27/06/2019 | n/a | ||
Trustees and Associate Members who served in the past 12 months
Full Name (Including title) | Category/ Appointing Body | Term of office | Date of appointment | Date stepped down | Board meetings attended in 2022-2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mr Jeremy Meek | Co-opted, appointed by board | 4 years | 28/06/2023 | 28/09/2023 | n/a |
| Mr Stephen Dawson | Co-opted, appointed by board | 4 years | 28/09/2017 | 28/09/2023 | 4 out of 5 |
| Mr Antony Nathaniel Blaker QPM | Co-opted, appointed by board | 4 years | 03/08/2012 current term started 03/08/2020 |
31/08/2023 | 5 out of 5 |
| David Wootton | Co-opted | 4 years | 07/11/2016 | 12/01/2023 | 2 out of 3 |
| Mrs Dorothy May | Associate Member FAHR Committee - appointed by committee | 4 years | 02/12/2022 | 0 out of 1 |
Register of Interests of Members and Trustees
Full Name (Including title) | Interests |
Members | |
Aurora Education Trust (AET) represented by Mr Ronald Jay Packard | See below for Ronald Packard. |
| Mr Antony Nathaniel Blaker QPM | None declared |
Mr Geoff Paul Palmer
| Governor at Cornfield School, Littlehampton Trustee of Arun and Chichester Citizens Advice Volunteer Maths Tutor, Action Tutoring
|
Ms Julie Kapsalis | Director, North East Surrey College of Technology Trust CEO and board member, North East Surrey College of Technology (Nescot) Director – Nescot Enterprises Limited Chair, Coast to Capital LEP Trustee – Worthing Theatres & Museum |
Trustees | |
Mr Ronald Jay Packard
| CEO of Pansophic Learning which owns Paragon Curriculum. Board member of GoStudent |
Mr Mark Quentin Brunet (Chair of Finance, Audit & Human Resources Committee) | Employed as Buildings officer, Diocese of Arundel & Brighton, Education Service. Freelance School Management Advisor. Trustee of Bishop Otter Academy Trust |
| Mrs Martha Burnige | Employed by Pansophic Learning UK Ltd (subsidiary of Pansophic Learning) Honorary Secretary of Educators' Trust Fund Freeman of City of London Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Educators Director and Company Secretary of Aurora Education Trust Director International School of Berne AG Board member iCademy Middle East Director International School of Berne Foundation |
Mr Stephen Dawson - resigned 28.09.2023 | None declared |
Mr Jeremy Meek - resigned 28.09.2023 | CEO of The Kite Academy Trust |
| Mr Brett North | Fellow of the Institute of Digital and Direct Marketing Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing Executive Board Member of Gatwick Diamond Business Chair of Gatwick Diamond Promote Group Member of Institute of Project Management Chairman and Chief Executive of Gatwick Diamond Initiative Member of Institute of Directors Board member Crawley Innovation Centre Project Board |
| Mr Stuart Reeves | CEO of Tenterden Schools Trust |
Ms Maria Andrea Ursula Szalay | Employed by Pansophic Learning which owns the Paragon curriculum. Director of Pansophic Learning UK Limited. Director of Aurora Education Trust. |
| Mrs Joanna Upton | CEO Pegasi Management Company Ltd Director Godolphin Management Company Ltd Director SMECH Management Company Ltd Director Wayhazel Director Zell Director International Autotech |
Mr David Wootton CBE (resigned 12/01/2023) | Owner and Managing Director of Wootton Education Trustee of Learning Communities Trust Trustee of Educo Trust Trustee of the North of England Zoological Society Trustee of Cheshire Community Foundation Member of Tame River Educational Trust |
Mr Adam Nichols | Founder and CEO of Schole |
| Accounting Officer | |
| Mr James Freeston | Spouse employed at Glenleigh Park Primary Academy |
| Associate Members | |
| Mr Jonathan Cornell (co-opted to the FAHR Committee) | Employed by MD Group as Senior Risk Management Surveyor |
| Mr Jonathan Glyn Hodson (co-opted to the FAHR Committee) | Parent of two pupils at GPPA |
Retired Trustees and Associate Members | |
| Mrs Dorothy May (co-opted to the FAHR Committee - resigned 02.12.2022 | Age UK Camden - HR Advisor to the board |