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Our Governance
King’s Leadership Academy Hawthornes is part of the Great Schools Trust (GST), a company limited by guarantee.
The GST members and board of trustees are the proprietors of the trust and set the overarching vision and strategy for all of the GST academies. Trustees’ main responsibilities are the three core governance functions:
- 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 performance management of staff.
- Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent
In order to discharge these duties successfully the board of trustees has delegated some of these responsibilities to executive leaders and local academy councils (LAC's) (see the Scheme of Delegation for more information).
King’s Hawthornes has a committed team of governors who are actively involved in school life. They successfully represent the local community and bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise from a variety of professional backgrounds. Governors include parent and staff representatives.
The LAC has delegated oversight for curriculum and standards, community presence and safeguarding. This includes attendance, student welfare and health and safety. Finance and staffing are the direct responsibility of the trust board. Nevertheless, the GST governance structure allows each LAC chair to be appointed as a trustee. Therefore, local governance is represented in board discussions.
In short, LAC's are an integral part of the trust’s governance structure. They are the eyes and ears on the ground at school level. The LAC supports the trust board by adhering to their core governance functions and by holding the school to account for performance and development. In addition, they support school leaders by acting as their ‘critical friend’.
Contact Our Local Academy Council
The Chair of the Local Academy Council is John Rigby.
Should you wish to contact the Chair of the Local Academy Council or the LAC please contact the Trust’s director of governance, Michelle Jones, via email m.jones@greatschoolstrust.com or by post by addressing any correspondence for the attention of Michelle Jones at the school’s address:
King's Leadership Academy Hawthornes, Fernhill Road, Bootle, L20 6AQ.
Please note that any complaints regarding the school must be raised in line with our complaints policy and cannot be raised directly with the Local Academy Council.
Chair's Welcome
I am delighted to welcome you to King’s Leadership Academy Hawthornes and to invite you to explore our website which provides you with an excellent insight into our school community.
We are an oversubscribed Academy at the heart of the local community and we are very proud of the first-class education, sporting, leadership and cultural opportunities which we provide to all our pupils. Our teaching, support and ancillary staff work with professionalism, flair and commitment to help every child make the very most of their unique potential throughout their time at our inspiring Academy.
John Rigby - Chair of King's Leadership Academy Hawthornes LAC
Governor Biographies
John Rigby - Chair of Governors and Trustee
I was born and grew up in North Liverpool, attending St. Swithin’s Primary School and St. Edward’s College. I then went to Manchester University for a BSc in Biochemistry, followed by an MSc at Cardiff University and my PGCE at what is now Hope University. I taught in several different schools and 6th form colleges across the North West and spent the last 8 years of my career as a Headteacher and Executive Headteacher.
As I am now retired, I spend more time going on holidays, cycling, walking, running, playing 5-a-side football, golf, supporting the mighty L.F.C. and playing Bridge at a local club and in the Lancashire League. However, I am delighted to still be able to continue to contribute to education through my role as LAC Chair at King's Hawthornes and as a Trustee with Great Schools Trust.
Monique Prendervile - Parent Governor
I have been a governor for over three years at King’s Hawthorne’s where I am the parent contact for PHSE and also SEND. I currently work part-time at the school on an exciting project for reading recovery and am also preparing for my third year at Edge Hill University, studying education and religion with a particular interest in EAL and philosophy for kids. I am passionate about challenging senior leadership to make positive changes for all of our children, especially those who are most disadvantaged. I have a daughter in year 11 and a son coming into the school this September.
Richard Walsh - Co-opted Governor
After leaving college I ran my own event management company specialising in concerts and artist management. After a career break to travel, I started working for a Liverpool-based language school responsible for their extracurricular activities.
Before joining Great Schools Trust, I was the Leadership Education officer for a 4-19, state-funded, mixed ability, single academy trust city day and boarding school. I joined GST in 2018 and am currently responsible for leading the public services arm of the trust’s personal development function and ensuring that programmes of activity are efficient and effective.
I am keen to play a bigger part in King's Leadership Academy Hawthornes, building relationships and expanding networks to provide opportunities to our young people.
Shirley Mullany - Staff Governor
I am currently Assistant Vice Principal at King’s Leadership Academy Hawthornes, Bootle. My area of responsibility is Teaching and Learning/CPD. I have been teaching in Bootle for almost 23 years and have extremely strong links with the area. I believe that the young people of Bootle are deserving of the very best, and If we are to deliver a fairer society, in which opportunity is shared more widely, we must secure the highest standards of education for them.
I am a proud advocate of our school and its values and view serving as staff governor as another strand of my determination to ensure the best outcomes. I am a proud mother of 3 children and grandmother to 6 grandchildren, ranging in age between 22 and 18 months. I believe that I have a wealth of experience and knowledge about the different stages of childhood and the factors affecting young people.
David Garner -
Awaiting bio.
Governor Vacancies
The Local Academy Council currently has vacancies for a parent governor and co-opted governors.