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Governance

The school is part of the Diocese of Coventry Multi Academy Trust and the Academy Governance Committee (AGC) is part of the governance structure of the Trust which is responsible for overseeing strategic decisions of the school. The governance structure for the trust as a whole is outlined in the governance structure documents here.

As an Academy Governance Committee we work in close partnership with the Headteacher and senior leadership team to ensure the best quality education is provided to every child. It is our responsibility to support, challenge, ask questions and ultimately represent the school community. The Academy Governance Committee acts as a ‘critical friend’ to the senior leadership team, questioning and challenging decisions in a constructive and professional way.

Academy Governance Committees have key roles in relation to: providing support, monitoring and challenge around educational experience and performance; church, community and stakeholder engagement and supporting alignment with Trust strategy, approach, ethos and values. The AGC Members meet regularly, visit the school when possible and during special events.  As a team, we are able to support the school to function well and strive to provide a high standard of education.

As a Church of England Academy (part of the Diocese of Coventry Multi-Academy Trust) all the AGC Members support the school in being a place of inclusive welcome and education for everyone.

Academy Governance Committee (AGC) 

 

AGC Members

Parent and staff AGC Members are elected, except for the Headteacher who holds an ex-officio staff AGC member position. Parent AGC Members must have a child currently at the academy to be eligible; Staff AGC Members must be employed at the academy. Foundation AGC Members are nominated by the parochial church council (PCC) and appointed by the Diocesan Board of Education. One foundation position is reserved for a member of the clergy from the parish in which the academy exists.

AGC Chair: Caroline Taylor

The contact address for the Chair is:

The Chair of Governors, Studley St Mary's CofE Academy, c/o The Diocese of Coventry Multi Academy Trust, Harris CofE Academy, Harris Drive, Overslade Road, Rugby, CV22 6EA

Email:  caroline.taylor1@studleystmarys.covmat.org

You can contact any of the AGC Members through the academy office

Term of Office for an AGC Member is 4 years. The chair is elected annually.

                                                                             

Caroline Taylor

I'm Chair of the Academy Governance Committee (AGC). I'm a Foundation Governor and also link Governor responsible for Safeguarding.  

Both my children attended Studley St. Mary's and flourished during their time here. I joined the AGC in 2020 initially as a Parent Governor because I wanted to get more involved in supporting and contributing to school life.

I'm passionate about supporting children in our local community to enjoy school and achieve their full potential. As a Governor,  I can use my skills and expertise to work strategically alongside the senior leadership team and staff to enable the school to be as effective as possible and to drive school improvement. 

Studley St. Mary's is such a welcoming place and the best part of my role is going into school and seeing pupils enjoying school life and thriving. 

Joe Bevan

Profile to follow

Alan Clarke

Both my children now attend Studley St Marys CofE Academy and I am keen to help the school and headteacher

provide all children with a positive educational experience.

I wanted to be a Parent Governor to gain insight into the experiences of my own children and provide staff and the governing body with an additional perspective.

I have lived in the local community all my life and work there too, I hope I can contribute to the overall success of the school.

Shirley Stout

I'm the Vice-Chair and I moved to Studley only fairly recently in 2021, and as such I am keen to get to know the village better and play 

an active part in the community. Having worked as a secondary school teacher of modern languages for

the last thirty years, and being a practising Christian too, becoming a Foundation Governor at St Mary’s offers

great opportunity to do just this. I believe passionately that a good education is every child’s right and the key to a brighter future for all. As a Foundation Governor I want to serve the school community by supporting the staff and headteacher in their academic and wider provision.

Rich Lewis

I am a Foundation Governor at Studley St. Mary’s School. I have very fond memories of my time growing up in a Christian school and I value the enormous impact it had on my life, my beliefs and values.

I moved to the area in 2013 and I think we have a fantastic community here.

I am keen to make a contribution and being a governor at Studley, St. Mary’s is the perfect

place for me to do this. It is a wonderful school and I find it very rewarding supporting the staff

in providing a great education and experience that I enjoyed as a child.

Glenn Harris

I recently joined the AGC as a Parent Governor and I’m really pleased to have the opportunity to support Studley St Mary’s in a more active role.

With a child currently attending the school, and one that already completed their time here, I’m passionate about contributing to the school’s continued success and ensuring every pupil has the best possible experience.
I’m particularly interested in helping strengthen the link between families and the school community, and bringing a parent’s perspective to support decision-making.

It’s a privilege to be involved in a school that values each child and creates such a positive, caring environment.

Adam Clark

I first joined Studley St Mary's in May 2023 having worked in a number of senior leadership roles at smaller schools, and the first thing that I noticed was how well everyone works together to ensure that all of our children get the best possible education, both academically and socially. I was delighted to be appointed as Headteacher in April 2025, and have enjoyed working alongside the governing body since then to continue to take the school from strength to strength. 

I am passionate about ensuring we utilise current educational research in school development, and I share this with other schools through my role as Evidence Lead in Education through Billesely Research School. I believe that working with others is the most effective way to improve, and it helped to inspire our vision of Walking alongside to live life in all its fullness. The governors 'walk alongside me', and I ensure that I also 'walk alongside' as many people within our local community as I can. 

Leanne Robinson

To follow

 

AGC Meeting Dates 2025-26

     
 
                 
SMA Day:  Friday Thursday Thursday Thursday Thursday Thursday  
Date: 19.09.25 13.11.2025 15.01.2026 05.03.2026 21.05.2026 09.07.2026  
Time 5:30pm - 7:30pm 5:30pm - 7:30pm 5:30pm - 7:30pm 5:30pm - 7:30pm 5:30pm - 7:30pm 5:30pm - 7:30pm  
                 
   
 
Studley St Mary's CofE AGC Membership 2025-26
                   
Category Title First Name Last Name Position Start Date Re-appt End Date Appointed By Attendance 2024/25
Foundation Mr Joe Bevan Ex-officio 01.09.2025   31.08.2029 DBE N/a
Foundation Mr Rich Lewis   31.10.2023   30.10.2027 DBE 3/6
Foundation Mrs Shirley Stout Vice Chair 17.01.2023   16.01.2027 DBE 4/6
Foundation Vacancy
Foundation Mrs Caroline Taylor Chair 11.3.21 18.12.2023 17.12.2027 DBE 6/6
Parent Mr  Glenn Harris   13.02.2025   12.02.2029 Elected by Parents 3/3
Parent Mr Alan Clarke   06.12.2022   05.12.2026 Elected by Parents 4/6
Staff Mr Adam Clark    28.04.2025   N/a ExOffcio N/a ExOffcio 2/2
Staff Mrs Leanne Robinson   10.10.2025   09.10.2029 Elected by Staff N/a
                   
                   
                   
AGC Members who have resigned in the last 12 months                 Attendance 2024/25
Staff   Rebecca Gordon Headteacher 02.11.20   28.04.2025 N/a Ex-officio 5/5
Staff Mr Martin Hughes   09.09.19 17.02.2024 28.04.2025 Elected by Staff 4/5
Foundation   Kate Mier Ex-officio 24.09.2022   20.07.25 DBE 4/5
Foundation Mr Stephen Parry   28.04.2023 18.12.2023 14.11.2025 DBE 5/6
 
Studley St Mary's CofE Academy  
Register of Interests 2024-25  
DATE OF DECLARATION NAME Date of Appointment Term of Office Appointed By BUSINESS / PECUNIARY INTERESTS START & (CESSATION) DATE OF INTEREST EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS START & (CESSATION) DATE OF INTEREST RELATIONSHIPS  
09/10/2024 Shirley Stout 17.01.2023 1 DBE Nil Return  
10/10/2024 Steve Parry 18.12.2023 1 DBE Nil Return  
27/09/2024 Ella Nines N/a ABP ACS Midlands Construction Ltd - I am a consultant to this business and manage their payroll and accounts 01.01.2020 ABP Studley St Mary's CofE Academy & Salford Priors CofE Academy      
14/11/2024 Rich Lewis 31.10.2023 1 DBE Nil Return  
04/11/2024 Caroline Taylor 11.3.21 2 DBE Studley high school (Chair of Governors) 01.09.2020        
11/11/2024 Alan Clarke 06.12.2022 1 Elected by Parents Thorlux Lighting  01.05.2001        
07/03/2025 Glenn Harris 13.02.2025 1 Elected by Parents Nil Return  
29/06/2025 Adam Clark 28.04.2025 N/a Ex-Officio   Nil Return
  Joe Bevan 01.09.2025 N/a Ex-Officio            
AGC Members who have left in the last 12 months  
DATE OF DECLARATION NAME Date of Appointment Term of Office Appointed By BUSINESS / PECUNIARY INTERESTS START & (CESSATION) DATE OF INTEREST EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS START & (CESSATION) DATE OF INTEREST RELATIONSHIPS  
  Tracy Kirkland 01.09.20 1 - ceased 15/11/2023 Elected by Staff Nil Return  
  Carl Walker   1- ceased 03/10/2024 Elected by Parents     Studley High School      
04/11/2024 Rebecca Gordon 02.11.20 N/a Ex-Officio Nil Return  
10/10/2024 Kate Mier 24.09.2022 1 - ceased 18.07.2025 DBE     Foundation Governor at Mappleborough CofE primary school 01.01.2020    
13/10/2024 Martin Hughes 09.09.19 2 - ceased 28.04.2025 Elected by Staff Nil Return