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Governance
Uplands Academy is part of MARK Education Trust.
MARK’s board of trustees is the accountable body for the trust and must ensure that the trust meets its charitable purpose which is to advance education for public good. It does this by undertaking the three core strategic functions.
- Ensuring there is clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
- Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation, its students, and the performance management of staff.
- Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.
To find out more about the role of the board of trustees at MARK Education Trust, please click here (MARK Education Trust Governance Structure)
Governance at Uplands Academy
The trust board has established a Local Governing Committee (LGC) for Uplands Academy that includes members of the local community, as well as elected parent and staff governors. The LGC is delegated by the trust to monitor key aspects of the school’s performance in more detail. This includes:
- Considering strategies to improve the quality of education and outcomes for all students, but especially disadvantaged students and those with Special Educational Needs.
- Ensuring that students and staff are safe and happy, with a specific focus on improving behaviour and attendance.
- Engaging with stakeholders to ensure that parents, staff, students and the wider school community are informed and work collectively for the good of the school.
Individual governors also take on specific responsibilities as “link governors” in key areas of the curriculum and aspects of the school’s life.
Uplands Academy Local Governors
The Uplands Academy LGC has up to five community members, who are appointed by the MARK trust board, two parent governors, who are nominated/elected by the school’s parent body, and two staff governors, who are nominated/elected by the school’s staff.
Information about our Local Governor Committee members can be found below. For information about out Trust’s Academy Members and Board of Trustees, please click here.
To view documents relating to the Uplands Academy LCG please click here.
For documents relating to MARK Education Trust, including financial reporting information, please click here.
The Chair of LGC, Dr Jane Austin, can be contacted in writing via the trust’s governance professional on email: clerk@uplands-academy.org
To find out more about joining the Uplands LGC, please click here.
During a public sector career spanning over 30 years, Jane held a variety of substantive senior executive and operational posts within the NHS, Department of Health and Higher Education. Operating at board level, Jane was responsible for the delivery of complex high-profile infrastructure projects and major business change programmes.Since retiring from full-time employment, Jane has spent the last 15 years running her own independent management consultancy. Over this period, she became an accredited government assurance reviewer working through the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury. In this role, Jane led over 50 major reviews of high-risk/high-cost programmes within a range of government departments across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Before moving to Wadhurst in 2015, Jane lived in Suffolk where she was Chair of Governors at the local primary school. During this time, with the support of parents and governors, she oversaw the school’s voluntary and successful transition to academy status.
She now spends her time on voluntary activities within the local community, working with Carillon Cottage, the Commemoration Hall and Wadhurst u3a. Jane enjoys life with her young grandchildren and is also an enthusiastic member of Uplands Sports Centre.
Pamela Lock (LLB, MA, PGCHE, SFHEA) is a Senior Lecturer teaching undergraduate law and postgraduate vocational legal practice training. She is also an Academic Professional Development Fellow and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Pamela is a qualified barrister and solicitor who worked in the area of civil litigation before moving to her academic role. Pamela is also Chair of the Governing Body of a Tunbridge Wells primary school and in this role has experience of SEN and Safeguarding.
Steph has worked in education for more than 15 years, of which the last five have been at Uplands as Head of History. Prior to this, she worked in Tonbridge and in Maidstone. Steph has always worked in the comprehensive sector and she is passionate about high quality, accessible and diverse education for all students. She also runs the Uplands Pride group, which supports LGBT+ students and their families.
Steph lives locally and has a young son who inspired her to get more involved in the school to support and encourage learners to be passionate about their learning and their potential.
Lauren has long admired the work of school governors and believes the role of parent governors in particular is vital to bridge the gap between governance and the families who make up the school community. She was a long standing PTA member at her son's primary school as well as taking on group scout leader for 2 years.
Lauren's working background as an investigator with extensive safeguarding training and an understanding of child protection is of significant benefit to the LGC and as such Laure is the safeguarding link governor.
Christine Ince is an education professional who has worked in the sector for over 30 years. She was a Preschool/Primary teacher for the majority of this time working in schools both in the UK and abroad (UK schools in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands). Her management roles included Head of PE, Head of Literacy, SENCO and member of the SLT.
Latterly, Christine worked as a Consultant with the British Council in Colombia, South Amerca, giving support on Bilingualism, Preschool and the implementation of the Cambridge Assessment International Curriculum and IGCSEs and IA Levels. She relocated from Hove to Tunbridge Wells in 2020 to support her family and grandchildren and has lived in Wadhurst for the past 3 years. In this role Christine is supporting Literacy for the LGC.