SCHOOL GOVERNANCE

Makerfield Acadamy Trust Governance Structure

From September 1st 2012 Byrchall High School became a converter Academy. It is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered at Companies House (Company 8175642). An Academy is a publicly funded independent local school.​

The Governors believe the allowed freedoms of changing to Academy status and the additional funding will enable the school to provide the best education that ensures the young people are fulfilled academically, socially and make a positive contribution to their community. A link to the Makerfield Academy Trust Website can be found here.

Article 12

The Members of the Academy Trust shall comprise:

  • up to 2 persons to be appointed by the Foundation
  • up to 2 persons to appointed by the Makerfield Community Trust
  • 1 person to be appointed by the Members, appointed under clause 12a and 12b
  • any person appointed under Article 15A

Board of Directors/Trustees

Article 46

  • The Academy Trust shall have the following Trustees:
  • Up to 2 Trustees appointed by the Members (Article 50)
  • Up to 2 Trustees appointed by the Foundation (Article 50A)
  • Up to 4 Trustees appointed by the Makerfield Community Trust (Article 50AA)
  • The 2 Principals of the Founding Schools
  • The CEO (Article 57)
  • A minimum of 2 Parent Trustees (elected or appointed under Articles 53-56). In the event that no Local Governing Bodies are established (Article 100A) or if no provision is made for at least 2 Parent Local Governors on each established Local Governing Body (Article 101A).

Article 47

The Academy Trust may also have up to 4 Co-opted Trustees appointed (Article 58)

Meeting Schedule (Makerfield Academy Trust

Makerfield Academy Trust: Governance Meeting Schedule (2023-24)

Members

Name Category Date of Appointment Term To
Mr Jeremy Thomas Foundation Governors 10/08/2012 –
Mr David Thorpe Makerfield Community Trust 01/12/2019 –
Dr Jane Moor Makerfield Community Trust 17/05/2020 –
Mr Aileen Wisewell MBE Co-option 15/10/2020 –
Mr Paul Keary Foundation Governors 08/07/2020 –
Former Members Category Date of Appointment Term To
Ms Lynette Turner Stepped Down 07/2017 17/05/2020
Mr Peter Hart Stepped Down 07/2017 08/07/2020

Contact details:

Trustees

Name Category Date of Appointment Term To Role
Mr Alan Birchall CEO 10/08/2012 – CEO, Accounting Officer
Mr Gary Askew Member Appointed  15/12/2022. Confirmed: 12/09/2023 14/12/2026  Finance & Audit
Mr David Howard Co-option/Parent 07/07/2020 06/07/2028 Finance & Audit
Ms Claire Arstall Makerfield Community Trust 22/02/2021 21/02/2025 Safeguarding/ SEND
Mrs Tracy Wogan Makerfield Community Trust 01/03/2021 28/02/2025 Finance & Audit
Mr Kevin Liston Foundation Governors 08/03/2021 07/03/2025 –
Mr Paul Tushingham Foundation 23/09/2021 22/09/2025 Chair
Mrs Anna Dawe Makerfield 01/09/2024 31/08/2028 –

–

Officers Category Date of Appointment Term To Role
Mr James Leigh Chief Financial Officer 02/03/2022
Mrs Angela Finch Company Secretary 17/06/2020
Ms Marie Collier Clerk 01/09/2020
Former Trustees Category Date of Appointment Term To Role
Mr Stuart Entwistle Foundation 07/11/2018 06/11/2022 Stepped Down 12/12/2020
Mrs Vikki Semple Co-option 18/10/2017 17/10/2021 Stepped Down 22/02/2021
Mr Stuart Barton Co-option/ Parent 07/12/2017 06/12/2021 Stepped Down 20/09/2021
Mr Peter Hart Foundation 25/07/2017 23/09/2021 Stepped Down 23/09/2021
Mr Neil Green Makerfield Community Trust  25/07/2017 24/07/25 Stepped Down 03/05/2022
Ms Louise Tipping Makerfield Community Trust 25/07/2017 31/08/2024 Stepped Down 31/08/2024
Former Officers Category Date of Appointment Term To Role
Mr Gill Goulding Former CFO 08/04/2020 21/02/2021 Stepped Down 22/02/2021
Mr Chris Myers Former CFO 05/02/2019 07/04/2020 Stepped Down
Mr Daniel Powell Former CFO 22/02/2021 01/03/2022 Stepped Down

Contact details:

Local Governing Board 

Name

 Category Date of Appointment Term To Role
Mr Alan Birchall Headteacher 10/08/2012 – Headteacher
Mrs Tracey Hughes Appointed Governor (Makerfield Academy Trust) 08/03/2018 14/07/2026 Chair, Science, MFL
Mr Gary Limb Appointed Governor (Makerfield Academy Trust) 08/03/2018 07/03/2026 Computing, Humanities
Mrs Joanne Shaw Appointed Governor (Makerfield Academy Trust) 08/03/2018 07/03/2026 Vice Chair, SEND, Safeguarding/ Child Protection, Children Looke After, Pupil Premium, Attendance, Personal Development, Careers
Mr Nicholas Williams Appointed Governor (Makerfield Academy Trust) 07/07/2020 06/07/2024 Humanities
Mr Paul Barton Appointed Governor (Makerfield Academy Trust) 07/07/2020 06/07/2024 Computing
Mrs Jennie Martin Parent Governor elected 11/10/2024

 first term of appointment 11.10.2024  

term until 10.10.2028

  
Mr Andrew Rastrick Staff Governor elected 19/09/2024

 first term of appointment 19.09.2024  

term until 18.09.2028

  
Former Members Category Status
Mr Steve Sharples Parent Governor Resigned 1.11.2024

Contact details:

Byrchall High School – Attendance (September 2023 to June 2024)

Y = Attended, N = Apologies Accepted, NA = Apologies Not Accepted, NS = No Apologies Sent, ? = Attendance Not Marked, Blank = Not Required, CA = Consent for Absence, – = Not Applicable.

Governor Governor Type Joint Trustee/ LGB Meeting 21/09/2023 Autumn LGB 02/11/2023 Spring LGB 15/02/2024 Summer LGB 20/06/2024
Paul Barton Appointed Governor NS N N N
Alan Birchall  Headteacher Y Y Y Y
Mrs Sue Counsell Clerk Y Y Y Y
Mrs Angela Finch Other Y Y Y Y
Mrs Tracy Hughes Appointed Governor Y Y Y Y
Mrs Lois Hutton   N Y    
Mr Gary Limb Appointed Governor N Y N Y
Phil Paul Observer    Y Y Y
Mr Ste Sharples Parent Governor Y N Y Y
Mrs Joanne Shaw Appointed Governor N Y N Y
Rev Jeremy Thomas   N Y    
Mr Andrew White   Y N    
Mr Nick Williams Appointed Governor Y Y N Y

View chart as a pdf here

 

Makerfield Academy Trust – Attendance (September 2023 to July 2024)

Y = Attended, N = Apologies Accepted, NA = Apologies Not Accepted, NS = No Apologies Sent, ? = Attendance Not Marked, Blank = Not Required, CA = Consent for Absence, – = Not Applicable.

Governor Governor Type Joint Trust Board/LGB Meeting 21/09/2023 Autumn 1 Trust Board Meeting 21/09/2023 Finance Audit and Risk Committee 21/11/2023

Trust Board Meeting

07/12/2023

  Trust Board 01/02/2024  Finance Audit and Risk Committee 05/03/2024 Finance Audit and Risk Committee 30/04/2024

Trust Board Meeting

16/05/2024

 Finance Audit and Risk Committee 25/06/2024

Trust Board Meeting

10/07/2024
Claire Arstall Trustee N N   Y N     Y   N
Gary Askew Trustee (Member Appointed) N N Y NS Y N Y Y NS Y
Alan Birchall CEO Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
David Howard Co-Opted Trustee Y Y Y Y N Y N N Y Y
Kevin Liston Foundation Trustee N N   N NS     N   N
Louise Tipping Trustee Y Y Y Y N Y Y Y N Y
Paul Tushingham Foundation Trustee Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Tracy Wogan Trustee N Y N Y Y Y N Y N N

View chart as a pdf here

 

Declarations of Interest:

Accounts

  • A copy of the Academy Trust’s accounts for the period ended 31st August 2023 can be downloaded here.
  • A copy of the Academy Trust’s accounts for the period ended 31st August 2022 can be downloaded here.
  • A copy of the Academy Trust’s accounts for the period ended 31st August 2021 can be downloaded here.
  • A copy of the Academy Trust’s accounts for the period ended 31st August 2020 can be downloaded here.
  • A copy of the Academy Trust’s accounts for the period ended 31st August 2019 can be downloaded here.
  • A copy of the Academy Trust’s accounts for the period ended 31st August 2018 can be downloaded here.
  • A copy of the Academy Trust’s accounts for the period ended 31st August 2017 can be downloaded here.
  • Number of employees whose benefits are between £100K and £110K = 1

Schools Financial Benchmarking Service

Link to Schools Financial Benchmarking (GOV.UK)

Key Documents

Makerfield Academy Trust Contact Details

The Makerfield Academy Trust is based at:

​Byrchall High School
Warrington Road
Ashton-in-Makerfield
Wigan
WN4 9PQ
England

​Telephone: 01942 728221

Byrchall High School Contact Details

​Byrchall High School
Warrington Road
Ashton-in-Makerfield
Wigan
WN4 9PQ
England

​Telephone: 01942 728221