Governance
Governance – Local Academy Board (LAB)
We, as Academy Board Members, are volunteers from the community appointed by the Trust Board. Our experience is drawn from all walks of life and we aim to provide grounded support and challenge.
We strive to ensure that the academy serves its community by providing education of the highest quality in a supportive atmosphere based on the academy vision.
We meet regularly throughout the school year to support and challenge the academy to ensure the highest standards of achievement and best possible outcomes for all our pupils. Working together with the academy, we set and monitor development priorities and we act as critical friends to the principal and other staff.
The LAB compromises of a maximum of 8 members in total. There are five positions for general volunteer members, two positions for parent members and one position for a staff member.
The Board has a Link Trustee allocated to them ensuring communication and accountability is fed back to the Trustees directly as set out in the Authentic Education Scheme of Delegation.
Authentic Education Governance:
Members & Trustees Trust Governance ModelScheme of Delegation Strategic Plan
Current Board Members
| Name | Appointed as | Appointment date | Term of office | Interests declared | 24/25 Meetings attended |
| Sarah Longdon |
Chair Trust |
01-06-2019 reappointed 01-06-2023 |
4 years | Employee at Public Health Dorset since 2020. | 3/3 |
| Stuart Mead | Trust | 23-01-2024 | 4 years | None | 3/3 |
| Rebecca Hawker | Trust |
23-10-2025 (previous parent) |
4 years | None | 3/3 |
| Peter Vowles | Trust | 17-03-2026 | 4 years | Governor at The Compass Learning Centre since 2016. | Not in post |
| Vacant | |||||
| Christina Whitchelo | Parent | 17-03-2026 | 4 years | None | Not in post |
| Vacant | Parent | ||||
| Alex Tibbey | Staff |
15-02-2022 re-elected 23-02-2026 |
4 years | None | 2/3 |
Our Link Trustees is: Nicholas Spearing
Please contact the governing board via the academy office email: office@wva.weareauthentic.education
Resigned Board Members
| Name | Appointed as | Resignation date | Term of office | Interests declared | 24/25 Meetings attended |
Record of meetings:
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer board member for this Academy, please do contact us or complete an application form and send to the Academy office.
If you wish to request copies of the minutes from LAB meetings, please contact the Clerk to Governors at aegovernanceandcompliance@weareauthentic.education