How Ark's governance works
Every school in the Ark network is the legal responsibility of the Ark Schools Board. This board focuses on statutory duties and delegates most day-to-day responsibilities to each school’s individual Local Governing Body (LGB).
This means that our Academy's governors are able to concentrate on the things that really matter – educational strategy, school outcomes and aspiration.
The Ark Schools Decision Making Framework outlines where responsibility and accountability sits for the key functional areas within Ark Schools between the ‘tiers’ of governance.
Our Local Governing Body
Our Local Governing Body (LGB) is made up of 6-12 members – usually people with a local connection or interest who are committed to supporting educational opportunity in the area. The board generally includes:
- Academy Principal
- Up to two Parent Governors
- One Teaching Staff Governor
- One Non-teaching Staff Governor
- One Local Authority representative
- One governor appointed by the Diocese
We aim to create a balanced group that will have the right skills, connections and dynamic for the LGB to work well and support the school in achieving exceptional performance. Attributes we look for include:
- Good insight into the specific challenges at the school and the general challenges of operating top-quality schools
- Excellent community links
- Specific skills as needed by/relevant to the school
- A link to the senior executive team of Ark Schools
All appointments are made by the Director of Governance for Ark Schools. The term of a governor is three years, except for the Principal, who remains a governor for the duration of his or her time in post. Governors may be reappointed for further terms.
The LGB meets four times a year.
Becoming a governor
If you have an interest and commitment to improving education, and would like to make a difference within your community, please register your interest in becoming a governor by completing our online Governor Application Form. If you have any questions about a governor’s role or responsibilities please contact us at governance.team@arkonline.org
A full programme of induction, training and support is provided. You can see more information, including role specifications here.
Contacting the governors
The current Clerk to Governors is Charles Shaw (charles.shaw@arkonline.org). Please contact them if you have any governance-related queries, or would like to contact one of the governors.
Our Governors
Clifford Smith
Link: Chair, Leadership and Management, Health & Safety
I have a background in finance and was formerly a governor at Ark Helenswood and chair of governors at Ark William Parker. Prior to that I was a governor and chair of governors in maintained schools in East Sussex for a number of years. I live locally, my sons were educated at William Parker and my daughter at Helenswood.
David Hinton
Link: Vice Chair, Careers Education, Information and Guidance (CEIAG) & careers destinations, Enrichment, Sixth Form, Community
David is an entrepreneur and business consultant with expertise in social enterprise and purpose led business. He has worked extensively in recruitment, training, and careers education.
He is currently Director of Impact and Innovation at Supplytrain CIC, a social enterprise supporting young people into work across the UK. He is passionate about the social enterprise movement and actively supports entrepreneurs and ventures through his consultancy firm Rebellion and at Westminster Business School where he is a Visiting Lecturer for Social Enterprise.
David grew up in Hastings and attended William Parker school from 1995 through to leaving the sixth form in 2002.
Fiona Lewis
Link: Safeguarding, Attendance, Digital Strategy
I am a Practice Manager for Children’s Services at East Sussex County Council. My previous role was as a Child Protection Chair and Independent Reviewing Officer which involved overseeing Child Protection and Looked After Child plans and brought me into contact with schools across the Country. I have also been an Associate Tutor / Lecturer at Sussex University. I grew up in Hastings and feel strongly that children should be provided with the same opportunities and ambitions as those in other areas of the country. I have had three children and two step-children at Ark schools so feel that I have a good understanding of what the Academy has to offer, its strengths and those areas where there is the potential to improve.
Mary Quinn
Link: Curriculum, Standards, Teaching & Learning, Teacher Training, Primary outreach and transition
Mary Quinn has a proven track record of consistently improving Key Stage 2 results. Before joining Ark Blacklands in 2016, she worked for ten years as a Year 6 teacher and English Lead. As Lead Coach at Ark Blacklands, Mary successfully nurtures and coaches teachers, developing their skills and improving the practice of not only NQTs but established teachers who wish to move from good to outstanding. Mary has a passion for reading and the necessity for children to keep reading as they progress through school, in order to reach their full potential. She is excited about continuing this work as a Governor of Ark Alexandra alongside helping support Year 7 with their transition to secondary school.
Mark Tewkesbury
Link: Finance, Behaviour, School Communications
Mark has lived in the Hastings area for 20 years, and has two daughters at an Ark primary in the area, which gives him a good understanding of and a vested interest in the standards which the schools strive to achieve. He works from home for a large banking group and in his spare time he is a volunteer Coxswain for the RNLI in Hastings, which sees him leading a team in unpredictable and challenging circumstances.
Holly Woods
Link: SEND
I have taught in a special needs school in Hastings for the last 15 years. As part of my role, I work closely with many mainstream schools across the county to ensure appropriate provision is available for children with behavioural difficulties or a diagnosed SEN. I have 3 children who all have been educated in Ark schools, primary and secondary. I have witnessed and been part of the change to an academy and understands the strengths and areas of development needed in his process.