Governance

GOVERNOR VACANCIES

The Diocese of Chelmsford Vine Schools Trust (DCVST) is looking for Governors to join our dedicated and visionary Schools Governance Boards.

The Vine Schools Trust is a Multi Academy Trust (MAT) set up by the Diocese of Chelmsford. We are a family of Church of England primary schools located throughout Essex and Thurrock. Our vision is to serve our local communities by providing excellent education rooted in our Christian values. Learn more about the Trust, here.

As a Governor on your school Governance Board you will:
• Be an advocate of the Trust Board so that pupils and schools will flourish in a place where the Trust and School vision and values are translated into action
• Provide support and challenge to school leaders
• Know each school well through focused monitoring to gain assurance of school progress and policy in action which will inform decision making

The Vine Schools Trust is a multi-academy trust and is the accountable body for all twenty three of its schools. Therefore, the overarching responsibility for the governance of the Trust and its schools lies with the Vine Board of Directors.  They fulfil the three core functions of governance:

  • Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
  • Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff; and
  • Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.

To enable the Directors to fulfil their responsibility eight regional Local School Boards work on their behalf and undertake delegated local governance of between two and four schools.  Community Boards in each school enable local support and provide information to enable good governance.

The key principle is that all three Boards together with Executive Leaders will provide an aspect of governance the other cannot as set out in this chart.

This model of governance is undertaken under delegated responsibility. For full details see below.

Local Governing Board

All Governors may be contacted via the school.
The school will pass on any correspondence as soon as possible after it has been received.

Chair of Governors: Mike Hope
Contact details: mike.hope@dcvst.org

Full NameCategory of MemberTerm of office endsAreas of responsibility / focusBusiness / pecuniary interestsRelevant personal interests
Mike HopeChair, appointed by Trust31/08/2024SEND
Head of Operations, Morelock Installations LtdNone
Lorna-Rae ShearingVine Head/Deputy30/04/2025Quality of EducationNoneNone
Lisa DaleEx-officio (Headteacher)N/AHeadteacher – Howbridge Junior SchoolNoneNone
Rebecca MoreEx-officio (Headteacher)N/AHeadteacher – Rivenhall Primary SchoolNoneNone
Julie TaylorMember31/08/2026SafeguardingChair of LGB, St Edwards C of E Academy, Governance Lead , Diocese of Chelmsford Vine Schools TrustNone
Sunny CooperParent29/09/2026Church Distinctiveness
Children at Rivenhall C of E Primary SchoolNone
Rachel LayFinance PartnerFinanceFinance Partner: St James Church of England Primary School and Nursery (Colchester)
St Andrews Church of England Primary School (Weeley)
None
Howard William SchnaarEx-Officio foundation governor (appointed by foundation by virtue of the office they hold)01/09/2027Church School DistintivenessTrustee- Parish of St Nicholas , Chipping HillNone

Historic (Left within last 12 months)

Full NameCategory of MemberTerm of office endsAreas of responsibility / focusBusiness / pecuniary interestsRelevant personal interests
Karen JonesAppointed by Trust31/12/2022Vine Trust HeadteacherHeadteacher Great Clacton Junior School – Husband member of Mistley& St Osyth LSBNone
Edit DaviesFinance Partner30/05/2023FinanceNone