Bengeworth Multi-Academy Trust formed on 1st February 2018 when Bengeworth CE Academy sponsored Bretforton Village School as a new academy. The Trust works under a service basis with a number of other schools within Worcestershire and Gloucestershire as a school effectiveness and education improvement partner.

Bengeworth Multi-Academy Trust consists of two academies:

Bengeworth CE Academy (with two sites at Burford Road and Kings Road)

Bretforton Village School

Bengeworth Multi-Academy Trust is an Exempt Charity and a Company registered at Companies House, number 08943457.

If you are a school leader or governor seeking more information about partnership working, school support or joining our Trust, please email any enquiry to finance@bengeworth.worcs.sch.uk 

The Charity has four 'Members' of the Charitable Trust. 

They have oversight of the Trust and are the subscribers to the Memorandum of Association and have powers to appoint Trustees (Directors) and receive the annual audited accounts.  Their positions are ongoing until resignation:

Mr Andrew Martyr-Icke

Mr Simon Hill

Mrs Julie Bourdon-Pierre 

Mrs Margaret Percival.

Below the 4 Members there is a Board of seven charitable Trustees, who run the Trust under company law as Directors, responsible for the financial performance and added educational value that the Multi-Academy Trust provides to its schools. The Directors oversee the company business carried out by Executive Officers and make the strategic decisions for the future direction of the Multi-Academy Trust.  We call this layer of governance the MAT Board.

The MAT Board has set up a MAT Finance and Audit Committee and various other statutory and special committees, which report back directly to the Board each half term.

Each academy within the Trust has a local School Governing Body which is responsible for overseeing the Quality of Education provided for the pupils and community, reporting back as a subcommittee of the Board of Directors.

Bengeworth Academy is led by a Headteacher and Head of School as there are two sites, and Bretforton Village School is led by a Head of School.  A Heads' Executive Committee operates collaboratively for the benefit of all the children and works closely with the Senior Leadership Team and the Directors, sharing the same vision and values.

Our Trust is committed to recognising the individual character and context of each school, aligning school efficiency and effectiveness and sharing our collective expertise to get the very best outcomes for pupils and the communities in which they live. Each school is individual, with its own identity and a history rooted within the spirit of the local community.

CHANGES TO THE MEMBERS:

The following changes to signatory Members have taken place:

• Mrs Margaret Percival was appointed as a Member by majority vote 1.5.18.
• Mrs Julie Bourdon-Pierre was appointed as a Member by majority vote 1.3.18.
• Mrs Carole Thomson - retired 1.2.18.
• Mr Robert Banks - retired 1.2.18 as LA connected.

There have been no recent changes.

Directors

There are seven Directors of the MAT Board (also known as the Trustees) who operate at a strategic level (they are the owners of the company rather like shareholders). They are responsible for quality assuring the aims, policies and outcomes of schools within the Trust, setting and implementing the school budget, and ensuring that the curriculum is taught. The MAT Board meets at least half-termly.

The Trustees are diverse and the Trust benefits from a wide range of backgrounds and strong leaders.  There are representatives from each school in the Trust.  Some have been parent governors in the past, appointed by the parents at school level.  Our Trustees have a wealth of experience and backgrounds in Finance, H&S, Premises Management, HR and Psychology, Worcester Diocese, Education Management and Higher Education, and make a good, strong team.

THE 7 TRUSTEES OR DIRECTORS OF THE MAT BOARD:	Email address:
Mr Andrew Martyr-Icke (Chairman) Term to 23.6.28	amartyricke@bengeworth.worcs.sch.uk
Mr Simon Hill (Diocese) Term to 20.5.27	shill@bengeworth.worcs.sch.uk
Dr Lloyd Jenkins (Vice Chairman) Term to 24.9.28	ljenkins@bengeworth.worcs.sch.uk
Mr David Stokes Term to 19.5.27	dstokes@bengeworth.worcs.sch.uk
Mrs Catherine Hill Term to 4.10.28	chill@bengeworth.worcs.sch.uk
Mr Anthony Mealings Term to 31.1.26	amealings@bengeworth.worcs.sch.uk

CHANGES TO THE DIRECTORS:

The company changed name from 1st February 2018 from Bengeworth CE Academy to Bengeworth Mutli-Academy Trust.  At that point the Board was reduced from 11 to 7 Directors.  All the Directors are founding Trustees of the Board, apart from Mr Mealings who joined in February 2018 to represent Bretforton Village School. Any changes to the Directors are approved by the four Members of the Trust.

Mrs French joins the Board as a new Director/Trustee this year from 1st May and comes with a strong legal background.

Mr Nigel Smith resigned as a Director from 22.11.2021.

Mrs French resigned as a Director from 09.09.2024.

There have been no other changes since Bengeworth became a MAT in 2018, giving a strong and stable Board for our Multi-Academy Trust, with a very good range of knowledge, backgrounds and a wealth of school experience.

The Directors are dedicated, supportive and forward-thinking and have worked (voluntarily) for the schools and the Trust for many years between them.

Attendance at Meetings of the Board for year 20223/24:

• Mr Andrew Martyr-Icke   6/7
• Dr L Jenkins 5/7
• Mr D Stokes 4/7
• Mr S Hill 5/7
• Mrs C Hill 7/7
• Mr A Mealings 7/7
• Also Present: Mr David Coaché 7/7.

Attendance at Meetings of the MAT Finance and Audit Committee for year 2023/24:

• Mr D Stokes 6/6
• Mrs C Hill 5/6
• Dr L Jenkins 4/6
• Also Present: Mr David Coaché 6/6.