Chair of Governors
Paul Clayton (Chair) - Trust-appointed Governor
Date of Appointment: 16.09.2024
Appointed by: Trust Board
Elected as Chair: 10.06.2024
End of Term: 15.09.2028 (Four years)
Attendance at Meetings 2024/25: 3/3
Attendance at Meetings 2023/24: 2/4
Link: Behaviour and Attendance
Business and/or Pecuniary Interest: Confirmed no interests to declare
Contact: chair@voy.hlt.academy
Address: Vale of York Academy, Rawcliffe Drive, Clifton (without), York, YO30 6ZS
Our Governors
Reverend Andrew Gready (Vice Chair) - Foundation Governor
Date of Appointment: 14.09.2022
Appointed by: Diocese of York
Elected as Vice Chair: 10.06.2024
End of Term: 13.09.2026 (Four years)
Attendance at Meetings 2024/25: 2/3
Attendance at Meetings 2023/24: 4/4
Link: Stakeholder Engagement
Business and/or Pecuniary Interest: Governor at Lakeside Academy
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Jack Martin - Staff Governor
Date of Appointment: 27.01.2021
Appointed by: Staff Election
End of Term: 26.01.2025 (Four years)
Attendance at Meetings 2024/25: 3/3
Attendance at Meetings 2023/24: 3/4
Link: Student Voice
Declared Business and/or Pecuniary Interest: Teacher at Vale of York Academy
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Victoria Lindberg - Trust-Appointed Governor
Date of Appointment: 22.05.2024
Appointed by: Trust
End of Term: 21.05.2028 (Four years)
Attendance at Meetings 2024/25: 2/3
Attendance at Meetings 2023/24: 1/4
Link: Safeguarding
Business and/or Pecuniary Interest: Director of Quality of Education – York College and University Centre (January 2022)
Bio:
Victoria has been in the Further Education sector for over 20 years. After graduating from Essex University having studied Law, Victoria trained to be a Law Teacher in the post-16 sector gaining her first teaching role at York College. For the past 12 years of her career, Victoria has held both middle and senior leadership roles in colleges in the North East, North West and London. She returned to York College as part of the Senior Leadership Team in January 2022 as the college’s Director of Quality of Education. Victoria is delighted to be part of the Governance team at Vale of York having been a pupil at the then Canon Lee School in the early 1990s.
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Joanna Wheldon - Trust-appointed Governor
Date of Appointment: 22.05.2024
Appointed by: Trust Board
End of Term: 21.05.2028 (Four Years)
Attendance at Meetings 2024/25: 3/3
Attendance at Meetings 2023/24: 1/3
Link: SEND & Pupil Premium
Business and/or Pecuniary Interest: Senior Lecturer at York St John University (September 2022)
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Bethel Omeife - Parent Governor
Date of Appointment: 08.01.2024
Appointed by: Parent Election
End of Term: 07.01.2028 (Four years)
Attendance at Meetings 2024/25: 2/3
Attendance at Meetings 2023/24: 0/4
Link: Personal Development
Business and/or Pecuniary Interest: Parent of child at Vale of York Academy
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Gill Mills - In Attendance
Attendance at Meetings 2024/25: 3/3
Attendance at Meetings 2023/24: 1/4
Business and/or Pecuniary Interest: Principal at Vale of York Academy
Additional Information
Sally Mitcham
Parent Governor
Date of Appointment: 05.07.2023
Appointed by: Trust
Resigned: 09.12.2024
Attendance at Meetings 2024/25: 1/2
Attendance at Meetings 2023/24: 4/4
Link: SEND, Pupil Premium
Business and/or Pecuniary Interest: Parent of child at Vale of York Academy
Bio:
Sally worked in the charity sector for 7 years before retraining as a chiropractor. She is now a carer for her disabled son. Having been a parent governor at Hob Moor Oaks for four years, she moved to the LGC for Vale of York Academy in 2023 and strongly believes in equal opportunities for all.
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Matt Halifax
Trust-appointed Governor
Date of Appointment: 04.07.2022
Appointed By: Trust Board
Resigned: 31.08.2024
Attendance at Meetings 2022/23: 5/5
Attendance at Meetings 2023/24: 3/4
Link: No link role assigned
Declared Business and/or Pecuniary Interest: Teacher and Vice Principal at Vale of York Academy
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Helen Todd
Trust-Appointed Governor
Date of Appointment: 20.05.2024
Appointed by: Trust Board
Resigned: 15/08/2024
Attendance at Meetings 2024/25: 2/5
Attendance at Meetings 2023/24: 2/4
Link: Safeguarding, Personal Development
Business and/or Pecuniary Interest: Employee at Bootham School
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Patrick Looker
Trust-appointed Governor
Date of Appointment: 02.11.2022
Appointed by: Trust Board
Resigned: 31/08/2024
Attendance at Meetings 2024/25: 5/5
Attendance at Meetings 2023/24: 4/4
Link: Whistleblowing
Business and/or Pecuniary Interest: Employee at City of York Council and Trustee of Hope Sentamu Learning Trust
Bio: Patrick Looker is a qualified Public Finance Accountant and has worked in Local Government for over 30 years. He understands the pressures on public service finance and the need to get best value from all income into the Trust. He studied Economics and Business Studies at Sheffield University. Patrick has been a Governor since 2013 and was the Chair of Governors at Vale of York Academy for 5 years. Patrick stood down as Chair of the LGC on 10th June 2024 and remains a Governor for the remaining time of this academic year.
Monday 21st October 2024, 5pm
Monday 09th December 2024, 5pm
Monday 24th March 2025, 5pm
Monday 14th July 2025, 5pm
Governor attendances are updated once a term
Clerk / Trust Governance Support – Georgina.Holman@york.gov.uk
To become a Governor, please contact the school – hello@voy.hlt.academy
Governors do not need specific skills, but many of the tasks they are required to undertake can benefit from general business knowledge such as understanding management systems, budget planning and HR functions. Local authorities are required to ensure that training for governors is available and most governing bodies buy into their local authority training packages (which may include online learning) to ensure that governors are properly inducted to their role and trained for specific tasks such as appointing a Headteacher and then carrying out the Headteacher’s performance review.
For further information, including Governance documents, please visit our Trust website