Governance Structure
Our school is operated by Pontefract Academies Trust.
The Trust was created under the provisions of the Academies Act 2010, as amended by the Education Act 2011. Its structure of governance is constituted under the Articles of Association. The Trust is an exempt charity by virtue of the Charities Act 2011.
The Funding Agreement between the Department for Education (DfE) and the Trust sets out the terms and conditions on which grant is made. The Trust Board is responsible for ensuring that the conditions of grant are met. As part of this process the Trust is required to have in place appropriate arrangements for sound governance, financial management, securing value for money and accounting, and for using public funds for the purposes for which they were intended by Parliament.
This Trust Board is accountable in law for all decisions about its schools. This does not mean that the Trust Board is required to make all of the decisions itself. Some decisions can be, and are delegated, including to SPRB, delegated officers, and other Trust Board established committees. The Scheme of Delegation sets out the framework which the Trust Board has approved.
All governance documentation for the Trust, including the Funding Agreement, Scheme of Delegation and Articles of Association can be found here.
Larks Hill J & I School and De Lacy Primary School SPRB
The Larks Hill J & I School and De Lacy Primary School SPRB is a sub-committee of the Trust Board and has various responsibilities delegated to it through the Pontefract Academies Trust Governance Policy and Scheme of Delegation.
The SPRB of Larks Hill J & I School and De Lacy Primary School is currently made up of:
| Name | Role | Appointed By | From | To |
| David Wilkins | Chair (SEND Link Rep) | Trust Board Appointed Parent | 05/10/2020 | 13/12/2024 |
| James Parkinson | Headteacher, De Lacy Primary School | Ex-officio | 01/10/2021 | Not Applicable |
| Shaun Dyson | SPRB Member | Trust Board | 04/03/2024 | 03/03/2028 |
| Alex Lunn | SPRB Member (Safeguarding Link Rep) | Trust Board (Staff) | 07/03/2019 | 06/03/2027 |
| Anthony Dee | Vice Chair (Pupil Premium/Disadvantaged Link Rep) | Trust Board | 17/09/2014 | 16/09/2026 |
| Kara Adams | Headteacher, Larks Hill J& I School | Ex-officio | 01/09/2022 | Not Applicable |
The Chair can be contacted at the following address:
De Lacy Primary School
Chequerfield Lane
Pontefract
WF8 2TG
or by email at dwilkins@patrust.org.uk
SPRB Current Register of Business Interests
| Role | Term start date | Term end date | Appointed by | Name of company or business interestn | Nature of interest | Date interest started | Date interest ceased | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kara Adams | Headteacher at Larks Hill | 01/09/2022 | N/A | Ex-Officio | None declared | |||
| James Parkinson | Headteacher at De Lacy | 01/01/2021 | N/A | Ex-Officio | None declared | |||
| Alex Lunn | SPRB Member | 07/03/2023 | 06/03/2027 | Trust Board | None declared | |||
| David Wilkins | Chair | 14/12/2020 | 13/12/2024 | Trust Board | None declared | |||
| Anthony Dee | SPRB Member | 17/09/2022 | 16/09/2026 | Trust Board | New Collaborative Learning Trust | Director/Advisor | 02/09/2016 | - |
| Shaun Dyson | SPRB Member | 04/03/2024 | 03/03/2024 | Trust Board | None declared | |||
| T Hollies | SPRB Member | 04/02/2014 | 17/02/2024 | Trust Board | None declared | |||
SPRB Membership & Attendance Summary 2023/24
| From | To | Appointed by | Meetings attended | Out of a possible | |
| Kara Adams (Ex Officio: Head of LHS) | 01/09/22 | N/A | Ex Officio | 4 | 4 |
| Anthony Dee | 17/09/14 | 16/09/26 | Trust Board | 3 | 4 |
| Shaun Dyson | 04/03/24 | 03/03/28 | Trust Board | 1 | 1 |
| S Khan (Vice Chair) | 20/07/21 | 19/07/25 | Trust Board Appointed Parent | 3 | 4 |
| Alex Lunn | 07/03/23 | 06/03/27 | Trust Board | 4 | 4 |
| James Parkinson (Ex Officio: Head of DEL) | 01/01/21 | N/A | Ex Officio | 4 | 4 |
| David Wilkins (Chair) | 05/10/20 | 13/12/24 | Trust Board | 4 | 4 |