Academy Trust and its Governors

Governor Vacancies

The Academy is seeking Foundation Governors with skill sets in the fields of finance, education or law. We would particularly welcome interest from individuals who do not currently have a connection with Bishop Stopford School, as this would help bring additional independence and perspective to our Governing Body.

For more details, please contact the Clerk to Governors in the first instance.

Bishop Stopford School is an academy under the Academies Act 2010. We are funded and maintained directly by the Department for Education rather than the Local Authority. Our Articles of Association determine how we must function in line with the Companies Act 2006 and our Church of England heritage.  

The Academy Trust is a company limited by guarantee:

Bishop Stopford School: A company registered in England and Wales No: 07698789

Registered Office: Bishop Stopford School, Headlands, Northamptonshire NN15 6BJ

Governance

The Academy Trust has two levels of governance:

Members are similar to shareholders in a company, although they cannot draw a profit from the Academy Trust. 

Members have specific responsibilities as detailed in the Articles of Association and the company's Scheme of Delegation. They hold an annual general meeting as part of their processes.

 

Mr Peter Cantley

Director of Education, Peterborough Diocese

Rev'd Nicki Hobbs

Rural Dean

Mrs Clare Holden

Chair of Trustees

Mrs Catherine Hopkins

Vice Chair of Trustees

Dr Moses Mani

Foundation Trustee

Mr Nicholas Summers

  

 

As with all UK companies, Academy Trusts have directors. Each director is registered with Companies House and is subject to a range of directors' duties under the Companies Act 2006.

Bishop Stopford School is also a charity with exclusively charitable purposes for the provision of education. Directors are therefore also trustees and ensure that the Academy complies with charity law and the requirements of the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

Under education law, directors and trustees are also known as Governors. They act as a collective body, meeting both as a Full Trust (Governing) Board and in a number of committees throughout the academic year. 

 

Name

Trustee Category

Term of Office

Responsibilities

Committee Membership

Mrs Sarah Bertram

Parent 

07.02.24 - 06.02.28

Safeguarding 

CSPS

Mr Stephen Brading

Foundation 

03.02.23 - 02.02.27

Chair of CSPS

CSPS 

Mrs Ziggy Brown

Foundation

01.05.26 - 30.04.30

  

TBC

Mrs Christine Davis

Parent

05.02.24 - 04.02.28

  

CSPS

Mrs Claire Ette

Staff

13.03.24 - 12.03.28

  

CSPS

Rev'd Joe Griffiths

Foundation

11.05.26 - 10.05.30

 

TBC

Mrs Clare Holden

Foundation

06.09.23 - 05.09.27

Chair of Trustees, CEIAG 

CSPS, FAR, Pay

Mrs Catherine Hopkins

Foundation

04.07.25 - 03.07.29

Vice Chair of Trustees, Sixth Form 

CSPS, Pay

Mr Tom Joyner

Foundation

05.01.23 - 04.01.27

SEND

CSPS

Mrs Dalbir Khangura

Community

12.12.23 - 11.12.27

  

FAR

Mr Rob King

Foundation

02.10.25 - 01.10.29

  

FAR

Mr Richard Main MBE

Community

29.04.26 - 28.04.30

  

CSPS

Dr Moses Mani

Foundation

03.12.24 - 02.12.28

  

FAR

Mr Stuart Ross

Foundation

17.10.22 - 16.10.26

Chair of FAR

FAR

Miss Jill Silverthorne 

Headteacher

Appointed 16.04.18

  

CSPS, FAR, Pay (Ex-officio)

Mr Julian White 

Staff

13.03.24 - 12.03.28

  

CSPS

Curriculum, Standards, Pastoral & Safeguarding Committee (CSPS)

Finance, Audit & Risk Committee (FAR)

The Trust Board has four core functions:

  1. ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;

  2. holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its students, and the performance management of staff;

  3. overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent;

  4. ensuring the voices of stakeholders are heard.

Trustees work to the Academy's Core Values and the Standards in Public Life (The ‘Nolan Principles’) in all that they do. Their practice is also compliant with the Academy Trust Handbook and the ESFA's financial regulations.

 

Bishop Stopford School Accounts to 31 August 2023 Bishop Stopford School Accounts to 31 August 2024 Bishop Stopford School Accounts to 31 August 2025 Declarations of Interest Trustee Biographies Executive Pay Memorandum and Articles of Association Signed Model Funding Agreement Scheme of Delegation Trust Board Attendance at Meetings 2024-25