Governance & Scheme of Delegation (Academies)

Within England, there are over 300,000 School/Academy Governors, who form the largest volunteer force in the country.

The roles of individual Governors, and subsequently members of a Governing Body, work collectively to perform a strategic role and carry out key functions such as:

• Discuss and set the aims and objectives for the Academy.
• Set the required policies for achieving those aims and objectives.
• Set the required targets for achieving those aims and objectives.
• Monitor and evaluate the progress that the Academy is making towards it’s set aims and objectives.

Finally the role of the Academy Governor is to be a source of challenge and support to the Principal, i.e. a 'critical friend.'

The Governors are committed to ensuring that children at the Academy achieve their potential and are well-equipped for life after school. We believe that every child can do well, and as staff work hard to make sure this happens, we expect our students to do the same.

The Governors’ primary role is to support the Principal and staff; to work with the Executive team to agree the short and long term strategy for the Academy; to assist in ensuring they have the necessary resources and review the progress of the Academy towards achieving its aim.

The Academy is a member of the Harris Federation. Ultimate responsibility for the Academy rests with the Board of Trustees of the Federation (Federation governance details and scheme of delegation can be found here) but much of the work of the Board is delegated to the Local Governing Body (the Governors of the Academy). Some Governors are appointed by the Federation whilst others are elected by parents or guardians of students at the Academy or by staff. The details of the Governors at Harris City Academy Crystal Palace are shown below.

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Academy Governors 2024-25

Name			Date of Appointment	Term of Office	Appointed as	Business and Pecuniary Interests	Meetings attended 2023-24
Ms Angela Kail			01/09/2022 01/09/2018 01/09/2014	4 Years	Chair of Governors, Pupil Premium link.	Employee: New Philanthropy Trust	MB 5 out of 5
Mr Peter Harris			01/09/2022 01/09/2018 01/09/2014 01/09/2010 01/09/2006	4 Years	Sponsor Governor, Chair of Student Behaviour and Discipline Panel, Behaviour link.	None	MB 4 out of 5
Sir Daniel Moynihan			01/09/2023 01/09/2019 01/09/2015 01/09/2011 01/09/2007	4 Years	Sponsor Governor	CEO of Harris Federation	Visits discharged through Federation monitoring
Mr Aaron King			01/12/2021 01/12/2017 01/12/2013	4 Years	Sponsor Governor, SEND, Safeguarding and Medical Needs link	None	MB 4 out of 5
Mr David Craig			01/11/2020  01/11/2016	4 Years	Sponsor Governor,  Maths and Commerce Faculty link	None	MB 2 out of 5
Ms Donna Herdsman			12/03/2024 12/03/2020	4 Years	Sponsor Governor, Equalities link	None	MB 2 out of 5
Ms Rebecca Hickey			10/12/2020	4 Years	Secondary Director	Trustees Farmington Trust January 2022	Visits discharged through Federation monitoring.
Ms Katherine Cumberbatch			01/09/2022	4 Years	Sponsor Governor	None	Visits discharged through Federation monitoring.
Miss Janeen Gatty			04/11/2022	4 Years	Staff Governor	None	5 out of 5
Dr Ligia Teixeira			06/10/2023	4 Years	Parent Governor	None	3 out of 5

Meeting Schedule 2024-2025

Date	Meeting
Thursday 10th October 2024	Main Board of Governors Meeting
Thursday 5th December 2024	Main Board of Governors Meeting
Thursday 6th March 2025	Main Board of Governors Meeting
Thursday 19th June 2025	Main Board of Governors Meeting

The Full Governing Body meets formally four times a year.  The Head of School is also invited to attend the meeting. On occasions the Head Students together with their Deputies are also invited to attend as observers and to deliver presentations and findings.

All Governors regularly visit the Academy to meet with their attached Faculties and staff and students, attend events, assemblies and lessons and report back at Governing Body meetings. They also attend relevant training and update sessions during the course of the year.

The Chair of the Governors can be contacted via the Clerk to the Governors, Tammy Kiernan, KiernanT@harriscrystalpalace.org.uk, or via the Academy's postal address.