Excalibur Academies Trust is committed to ensuring that all schools within the Trust maintain their individuality whilst benefitting from the support of being part of a multi academy trust. Every school has an Academy Committee, governors are volunteers from the parent body and local community. The purpose of the Academy Committee is to support and challenge the Principal to ensure that the best outcome is achieved for every child.
The responsibilities of the Academy Committee encompass:-
Culture, vision and ethos – working with the Principal to formulate the culture, vision and ethos for the school in keeping with the values of Excalibur Academies Trust
Personal development and welfare of the pupils and staff welfare – supporting and challenging the Principal to ensure all activity effectively contributes to personal development and welfare and report to Excalibur’s Board of Directors.
Behaviour and Attendance – supporting and challenging the Principal to ensure behaviour is effective in encouraging learning, inclusion and welfare and report to the Board.
Extra Curricular provision – ensuring extra-curricular provision is appropriate and good quality and report to the Board
Safeguarding – monitoring to ensure that the school is carrying out its statutory duties and supporting and challenging the Principal to do so effectively
Engagement and promotion of the school within local community – promote and champion the school in the local community; helping to build productive links between the school and community, including parents.
Parent governors are elected by and from the parent community, staff members are elected by their colleagues and community members are local people appointed by the Board on the recommendation of the Academy Committee.
The governors on the Liden’s Academy Committee are:
David Parker – Chair of Governors
I have been a school governor at Liden since 2013 and as Chair of Governors supported the School in its journey towards becoming an academy in 2021. Prior to being chair of the governing body, I was chair of finance and the safeguarding governor – I have undertaken many training courses including the ‘Chair of governors’ course run by Swindon Council over the course of a year, safer recruitment, school finance, child protection etc ….
I work for an educational AV company and have the opportunity to visit many schools across the country where I can observe many different aspects of ‘schooling’ as well working on significant financial projects and tenders
In my spare time, I am involved with charity re-uniting relatives across the world!
Suzanne Taylor
I am Vice Principal and Early Years lead at Liden Academy and have been at this lovely school for 3 years. I have been teaching for too many years to mention but during that time I have had experience in teaching in all Primary year groups, however KS1 and Early Years is where my passion lies.
I have 7 years of Governor experience and enjoy working with professionals from a variety of working backgrounds, sharing with them the achievements of our children and staff.
Jenny Gould – Community Governor
Previously a parent governor at Wanborough Primary School I am a qualified accountant and have worked in finance for over 40 years in variance finance manager roles. When my children were growing up, I worked in the education sector, initially as a primary school bursar where I obtained the CSBM qualification. Within two years I turned the school’s finances from a deficit to a surplus budget and progressed to work for FS4S ltd as a School’s Accountant providing support to Swindon schools as they obtained academy status. Two years later, I moved to the Whitehorse Federation as Finance and Resources Manager where I delivered unqualified audits and sorted out management reports and installed a budget software across the Federation. Once my daughters reached secondary age, I moved back into industry and have worked for the family office for Sir James Dyson in various roles. Currently I work within the tax team after recently obtaining the ATT qualification. Outside of work I am an active member of a local bookclub, I love baking, swimming, aquaroebics and any craft activities.
Aleksandra Matczak-Jaskolska – Community Governor
I have lived in Liden since 2012 and I’m married with two children, both of whom attend Liden Academy.
I work as an Environmental Permitting Specialist at Thames Water where my role is to ensure that company has all the necessary Environmental Permits required to carry out its statutory functions in regard to water discharge activities and to offer specialist technical permitting advice to the business and work closely with the Environment Agency on all permitting matters. Environmental Permitting is core to the business; permits are a necessity for the activities and functions of a Water & Sewerage Utility.
Outside of work I enjoy spending actively time with my family as well as running, cycling and walking.
