Governance

Mrs Susan King with students

All free schools, like Academies, are governed by not-for-profit charitable trusts, which are closely monitored by the Audit Commission to ensure that they provide good value for the public money with which they are entrusted.

In the case of Bristol Free School the Governing Body is the Board of the Russell Education Trust (RET), a Government-approved academy sponsor. Information about RET's Trustees can be found on the RET website

In each of its schools, RET formally delegates a range of its responsibilities to a Local Governing Body representing the community.  More information about this structure can be found in the RET Scheme of Delegation and the Bristol Free School Governing Body Standing Orders.

A close, consultative relationship exists between RET and the Local Governing Bodies of its schools, and the views of local governors inform all aspects of RET policy.

Bristol Free School Local Governing Body

The Bristol Free School Local Governing Body includes the Headteacher, two elected parent governors and up to ten further governors (many of whom reflect the community), appointed by the Trust.

Local Governors are appointed/elected for a 4 year term, and are currently as follows:

Name: Appointer/Date: Responsibilities:

Anne-Marie Boyle (Chair)

RET/April 2019

RET/April 2023

Inclusion; Suspensions

Clive Brazil (Vice Chair)

RET/Sept 2011

RET/April 2014

RET/April 2022

Health & Safety

Su King (Headteacher)

Not applicable

 

John Meech

Elected/April 2017

RET/April 2019

RET/April 2023

Finance

Nick Hester

RET/May 2021

Behaviour & Attendance; Suspensions;

Matt Annable

RET/Jan 2022

Safeguarding;

Anna Short

RET/Sept 2022

Inclusion - SEND

Leona Burton

Elected/Nov 2022

 

Rebekah Priest

Elected/Nov 2023

 

Jenny Richards

RET/Nov 2023

 
Name Date Stepped down
James Chudy March 2023
Karen Lynch March 2023

Contact the Governing Body

Contact should normally be through the school administrative office. 

Further Reading