This section provides essential information regarding the roles and responsibilities of the governors at Kents Hill Infant Academy. The governors play a crucial role in ensuring that the school operates effectively and meets its strategic objectives.
They are committed to maintaining high standards of educational achievement and overseeing the financial health of the academy while supporting the leadership team in making critical decisions that impact the school community. This transparency ensures that all stakeholders are aware of governance and can appreciate the level of dedication involved in steering the school towards success.
Hierarchy
This section provides essential information regarding the roles and responsibilities of the governors at Kents Hill Infant Academy. The governors play a crucial role in ensuring that the school operates effectively and meets its strategic objectives. They are committed to maintaining high standards of educational achievement and overseeing the financial health of the academy while supporting the leadership team in making critical decisions that impact the school community. This transparency ensures that all stakeholders are aware of governance and can appreciate the level of dedication involved in steering the school towards success.
Trust Board of Directors
The Board is comprised of six non-executive Directors and one ex officio Director. The non-executive Directors are all volunteers who are recruited for their leadership experience within a range of sectors in order to ensure a diverse and balanced skillset on the Board. The ex officio Director is the CEO/Executive Headteacher.
Each Academy has its own Academy Committee comprising of parents, staff, the Headteacher, and representatives from the wider community. They represent the school and fulfil their roles and responsibilities using the Scheme of Delegation.
The Scheme of Delegation for Academy Committees can be found here.
The Chair of the Directors is Julie Mulchay. She can be contacted at:
Julie Mulchay, c/o South Essex Academy Trust Office, Westwood Academy, Beresford Close, Hadleigh, Essex SS7 2SU.
For more details about our governance arrangements, click here.
More information about the South Essex Academy Trust can be found here.
Meet the Directors! Directors
Kents Hill Infant Academy Committee
The Directors of South Essex Academy Trust take seriously the need to consult and engage with the stakeholders of each academy.The Academy Committee has clear roles and responsibilities as outlined in the Scheme of Delegation. It will work with the school leadership in supporting and holding to account the performance of the Academy to ensure the best possible outcomes for all pupils. The Academy Committee meets at least four times a year and attends training and other events throughout the year. They report directly to the Board of Directors, ensuring that collaboration and challenge result in improving outcomes for pupils.
Our Academy Committee Members
Mrs Gemma Thurston – Headteacher
Mr Kris Tungatt – Chair of the AC
Kris is a parent of children in Year 1 and year 3 at KHJS. He has a corporate background.
Mr James Gates – Vice Chair of the AC
James is a parent with a child in Year 1 and has been connected to the school over many years. He also has a child at secondary school and the junior school. He is a trained football coach who runs football at lunchtimes weekly at KHIA. He works in business and is also the chairman of a youth football team.
Mrs Susan Windham-Peck – Curriculum and Safeguarding Monitoring
Susan is a parent of a child in Year 1 and has a 1 year old baby. She is a higher education lecturer with experience in leading and quality assuring curriculum and standards. She has volunteered with a mentoring programme for students identified as disengaged learners prior to entering GCSE year (Year 8 students).
Mrs Lizzie Rice
Lizzie has been a primary school teacher for 11 years. She has taught in both Hornchurch and Greenwich and has taught a Kents Hill Junior School for the last 4 years. In her career she has been a senior leader and led on Curriculum, English and been a PSHE leader. Lizzie has a daughter currently in year 1 at KHIA.
Mrs Victoria Barber
Victoria has been a Police Officer for 8 years and is currently working for Basildon Council as a Tenancy and Estate Officer, a role she has been in for the last 2 years. She deals daily with Safeguarding issues, working with very vulnerable families so would bring alot of knowledge in this regard to the AC. Victoria has a child in the Junior School and her youngest is currently in reception. Victoria was a member of the Parent Consultation Group where she demonstrated the ability to both support and challenge.
Mrs Jacqui Spink
I have a 4 year BEd degree in Primary Education which I completed many years ago! I’ve been teaching for some time now, although I did have a break from it when I had my own children. I returned to do some part-time teaching and was also a parent governor at my own children’s school. I started working at Kents Hill just before the first lock down, initially working as an HLTA, before becoming a class teacher once again.I’m currently teaching in Reception and am EYFS, Art and DT lead in the school. I love teaching in Early Years, I think it’s such an important year group, perhaps the most important year group!