Governors

The Sea View Trust – Board of Trustees

Devonshire Primary Academy is a member of The Sea View Trust, alongside Anchorsholme Academy, Park Community Academy, Revoe Learning Academy, Tor View Specialist Learning Community and Valley College.

Each Academy retains their own Local Governing Body which is responsible for the development of their own community.

The Board of Trustees for The Sea View Trust remains independent of the Governing Body for Devonshire Primary Academy, although both work closely to ensure that Academies are supported across the Trust. Whilst the Trustees are responsible for raising and maintaining standards Trust-wide, they recognise that Governing Bodies are much better placed to manage these within their own Academies on a day-to-day basis. A Scheme of Delegation (which can be found on The Sea View Trust website) has therefore been agreed so that effective governance can take place at a local level, with the Chairs of Governors and Headteachers regularly feeding back valuable information to the Trustees so that informed decisions can be made.

If you wish to contact the Chair of Devonshire Primary Academy’s Governing Body, please address post to:

Mr David O’ Brien
Devonshire Primary Academy
Devonshire Road
Blackpool
FY3 8AF

Annual Statement of Governance

Our Mission is to make a positive difference by putting children, families and the community at the heart of everything we do.

We were pleased to see that during our previous inspection Ofsted recognised our strengths in ‘Behaviour and Safety’ and ‘Leadership and Management’, with both categories receiving a ‘good’ grade. We have continued to build on this foundation. Ofsted also identified areas for continued focus, including guaranteeing consistency in ‘Teaching and Learning’, which continues to be a priority for us. Therefore, we ensure that all our staff have access to high quality professional development in order to develop their skills at all levels, enabling maximum impact for our pupils.

Our Role as Governors is to: “Conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement.” Education Act 2002

Our core purpose is to inspire, expect and ensure exceptional standards, school improvement and service by:

Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the academy and its pupils, and the performance management of staff
Overseeing the financial performance of the school, and making sure its money is well spent

We endeavour to instil our core values in every aspect of school life. These are:

Resilience

Respect

Pride

Integrity

Co-operation

Honesty

We recognise that a child’s life does not just fall within the parameters of the school building itself. Building positive relationships with families and members of our local community therefore continues to be a crucial aspect of the work of our school as we educate the whole child.

As governors we recognise that reading is of fundamental importance in that it opens doors to lifelong learning and opportunities. Therefore, we have invested heavily in training and resources including high quality reading books for all children.

Governors continue to be proud to be associated with Devonshire Primary Academy and continue to admire the dedication and tireless commitment made by the staff to enable our children to begin their lifelong love of learning.

Mr David O'Brien

Mr David O'Brien

Chair Of Governors

Appointed by FGB

I have been a Church of England Minister since 2004 and held posts in Blackpool and Shrewsbury before returning to Blackpool in July 2019. Prior to becoming a Vicar I lived in Blackpool with my family in Marton, Bispham, South Shore and worked in central Blackpool, so I know the town very well!

I have been involved as a governor across different schools since 2006. From 2006-2008 I was a Governor at Kincraig Primary School, Blackpool.; between 2008-10 I was the Chaplain at Arnold School, Blackpool; from 2010 to July 2019 I was a Foundation Governor of Oxon CE School where I was chair of Standards and Curriculum.

I have always enjoyed taking assemblies, being involved in schools and working with the local community. I am very much looking forward to serving as Chair Of Governors of Devonshire Primary Academy and serving our community.

Start: 01/01/21 End: 31/12/24

Meetings Attended in 2021-22 – 6/9

Ms Victoria Heaney

Vice Chair of Governors

Appointed by FGB

Start: 09/03/22 End: 08/03/26

Meetings Attended in 2021-22 – 2/2

Mrs Giuliana Hornby

Staff Governor

Appointed by FGB

Start: 15/11/22 End: 14/11/26

Meetings Attended in 2021-22 – N/A

VACANCY - Staff Governor

VACANCY

Staff Governor

Currently in our Academy we have a vacancy for two staff governors. As we would like our governing board to reflect our whole staff population, we would like to appoint one staff governor from our teaching staff and one staff governor from our non-teaching staff, although applications from all staff are welcome. Staff governors are elected to serve for a four-year period, although they must leave office if they cease to be employed at the Academy.

If you are considering standing for election as a Staff Governor for this Academy or would like to nominate another staff member to do so, please request a nomination form from the Business Lead.

Miss Jaime Sim

Miss Jaime Sim

Parent Governor

Elected by Parents

Hi, my name is Jaime Sim and am a newly appointed Parent Governor. My son attended Devonshire Primary Academy, between 2012-2019 and my daughter is a current student at the Academy.

I have always tried to take part in school life by attending as many events as possible, volunteering to help the children read in different year groups and I have also been involved with the parent forum. I decided to become a Governor as I want to help the Academy be ‘the best that it can be’.

I believe that Devonshire Primary Academy is already a fantastic learning environment, with great potential to be truly amazing and the children deserve the best that we can provide. My hopes and goals for the Academy are that the children are given the best tools to be able to excel in all areas and become wholesome, respectful and accomplished people.

Start: 14/11/19 End: 13/11/23

Meetings Attended in 2021-22 – 8/8

Miss Nicola Hitchon

Miss Nicola Hitchon

Parent Governor

Appointed by FGB

Hi, my name is Nikki and I am a parent of two children who attend(ed) Devonshire Primary Academy since Preschool. Their time at Devonshire has seen them flourish in their education, social skills and making friends. During this time I’ve played a active role in volunteering on school trips, attending parent and child learning sessions in school and being part of the parent forum, all of which I have thoroughly enjoyed.

I have volunteered within the local community, organising and taking part in mental health and children and young people and fundraising. I chose to be a parent governor because I want to learn more about the academy along with wanting to be a positive asset to the team. Teamwork is important to me, my favourite quote is “teamwork makes the dream work”! I am looking forward to working with the staff, pupils and anyone else who is part of the TEAM! I hope my experience from my own life and volunteering will bring an additional strength to the school and also provide a neutral voice for the academy.

Start: 09/03/22 End: 08/03/26

Meetings Attended in 2021-22 – 1/2

Mr Chris Brambles

Mr Chris Brambles

Community Governor

Appointed by FGB

Start: 01/09/20 End: 31/08/24

Meetings Attended in 2021-22 – 6/6

Mr Simon Clark

Community Governor

Appointed by FGB

Hello my name is Simon Clark and I became a Community Governor for Devonshire Primary Academy in 2020, so I am very new to the role. I have been involved in the locality around the school for the last 35 years through the local church and my work in Environmental Health.

My aim as a Governor is to:

support the work of the school team to deliver the best education for our young people in safe and caring setting,
challenge the school’s processes and procedures, so that the school operates in the most efficient and cost-effective way.

My hope is that all children who attend Devonshire Primary Academy will reach their full potential while they are with us and will look back with pride at what they have been able to achieve.

Start: 15/03/20 End: 14/03/24

Meetings Attended in 2021-22 – 5/6

Mr Nic Hall

Vice Chair of Governors (RESIGNED)

Appointed by FGB

Start: 22/03/21 End: 31/12/22

Mr Andrew Brannigan

Staff Governor (RESIGNED)

Appointed by FGB

Start: 11/03/19 End: 31/08/22

Mrs Lynsey Whitelaw

Staff Governor (RESIGNED)

Appointed by FGB

Start: 03/04/20 End: 02/11/21

Miss Natalie Dean

Staff Governor (RESIGNED)

Appointed by FGB

Start: 03/11/17 End: 02/11/21

Pecuniary and Business Interests

Declaration of Interests

All minutes from the Governors meetings are available on request to the school office.

Interested in joining our Local Governing Body?

*Currently, there are two vacancies in our Governing Body; one community governor and one staff governor*

The governing body, with the Headteacher, has overall responsibility for the running of the academy. Governing bodies have three core strategic functions:

Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the academy and its pupils;
Overseeing the financial performance of the academy and making sure its money is well spent.

No special qualifications are needed to stand as a Governor and the most important thing is to have a keen interest in the academy and be prepared to play an active part in the governing body’s work.

If you are considering standing for election, please request further details and a nomination form from the Business Lead.