Our Governance Structure
Within Yorkshire Trust, each school has a Local Governing Committee (LGC) that supports the work of the school and the Trust. The LGC has certain delegated authority to oversee the running of the school under the Scheme of Delegation as defined by our Board of Trustees.
Further information about our governance structure, including details of our Trustees and Members, is available via the Yorkshire Learning Trust (YLT) website.
Our Local Governing Committee (LGC)
Our Local Governing Committee (sometimes called our Local Governing Board or Local Governing Body) is responsible for working with the school to ensure that it delivers a high-quality education and safe environment for all our children. Together with the Headteacher, who is responsible for day-to-day management of the school, the Governors set the school’s aims and some school specific policies.
Governors are people who volunteer their time to work together as part of the LGC team and who wish to make a positive contribution to their communities. Governors do not need an education background; they have an interest in the role of schools in society and have enquiring minds which contribute to the effective running of the school and the educational achievements and wellbeing of its pupils.
Main aims of our Governing Board
The purpose of governance is to provide:
- Strategic leadership
- Accountability and assurance
- Strategic engagement.
LGCs carry out a number of important duties alongside the Trust, which include:
- Ensuring our children are safe.
- Working with school staff to ensure inclusion and equality for all.
- Reviewing policy on the school’s curriculum and assemblies/collective worship.
- Setting standards for pupils’ behaviour.
- Making sure school buildings are welcoming and safe.
- Setting and monitoring the school’s aims and policies.
- Agreeing the school’s development plan and monitoring progress against clear objectives.
- Determining how the school’s budget is spent.
- Understanding the views of our stakeholders, including children, parents and staff.
- Hearing appeals and grievances.
Our meetings and membership
Our LGC usually meets six times a year. Minutes of the LGC meetings are available on request from the School Office or via clerktogovs@ylt.org.uk. Attendance at LGC meetings is recorded and published annually on the Yorkshire Learning Trust website.
Governors are expected to declare any relevant business and financial interests they may have. This Register of Business Interests is available via the Yorkshire Learning Trust website.
Our Local Governing Body consists of 11 Governors; the Headteacher, two elected Parent Governors, one elected Staff Governor; one Associate Governor; and six Trust Appointed Governors. The Register of Business Interests includes a list of our current and recent governors, how they were appointed to the LGC, and their term of office.
Our Chair of Governors is Tom Fielden who can be contacted by writing to the school address, or emailing cofg@tgs.starmat.uk
Meet our Governors:
Tom Fielden – Chair of Governors, Trust Appointed Governor
Tom is a Chartered Accountant and former Finance Director of Northern Powergrid and GNER. Tom is co-owner of the Grimston Park Estate and was previously a Foundation Governor of Kirk Fenton Primary School. He chairs Towton Parish Council as well as the Board of Governors of Queen Mary’s School at Baldersby Park, near Thirsk.
He and his wife have 4 children, all educated at Saxton Primary School.
Email: cofg@tgs.starmat.uk
Postal: For the attention of Mr T Fielden, c/o Mrs N Clarke, Tadcaster Grammar School, Toulston, Tadcaster, LS24 9NB
Sue Quirk – Vice Chair of Governors, Parent Governor
Sue is in paid employment as a School Business Manager for 2 primary schools in Leeds. She has 2 children, the eldest of whom is currently at TGS. She is hoping the youngest will attend TGS when he’s old enough.
Suzanne MacDonald – Parent Governor
Suzanne has worked in a range of schools in Chester, Manchester and York. She has spent the past ten years as a headteacher in North Yorkshire, supporting schools to rapidly improve. During this time, she established a 3-school federation, which she now leads as Executive Headteacher within an academy trust.
Suzanne has completed a PGCert in Coaching and Mentoring and is currently completing an MA in Educational Leadership.
Suzanne has a daughter at Tadcaster Grammar and spends her spare time travelling with family and friends.
Ewen Merer – Associate Governor
Ewan has two children at Tadcaster Grammar School.
He owns and manages a property business working in the retail, commercial and residential sectors. Prior to this he worked in project management and served in the British Army.
Heather Smith – Trust Appointed Governor
Heather is retired. She has been a governor for many years and has gained a wealth of knowledge and experience. She has two daughters who both attended Tadcaster Grammar School. They both now work in education.
She is a keen golfer, playing a least twice a week.
Jo Turnbull – Trust Appointed Governor
Jo has been a primary school teacher for 18 years, the last three of which have been as a special needs coordinator. She has also recently completed an MA in Education at Leeds Trinity University.
Jo has two daughters, the eldest joined Tadcaster Grammar School in September 2022. In her spare time Jo likes to spend time with her family, reading and baking.
David Gluck – Trust Appointed Governor
David is the CEO of a local social enterprise, Tadcaster and Rural CIC. He has worked in Tadcaster for the past twelve years in the community sector, and a key part of his work is managing The Barn, Tadcaster’s Youth and Community Hub.
David has two children who were both educated at Tadcaster Grammar School.
Carmen Harlington – Trust Appointed Governor
Nick Styles – Trust Appointed Governor
Nick has been teaching for over 20 years. He has worked in schools in Cambridgeshire, York, Leeds and North Yorkshire. Nick has been the Headteacher at Riverside Primary School, which is also part of the YLT, since 2022.
Nick is a keen runner and enjoys watching his beloved Chelsea FC whenever he can.
Professor Stephen Westland – Trust Appointed Governor
Stephen has one son who attends the school and has previously served as a governor for Scarborough College.
Stephen lives in Thorner and works at the University of Leeds where he is a Professor in the School of Design. Stephen is also a Director of Colour Intelligence Ltd. In his spare time he enjoys chess and music.
Mike Dunphy – TGS Staff Governor
Mike has taught Design Technology and Electronics for 20 years here at Tadcaster Grammar School. He is also an Assistant Headteacher with responsibility for staffing and timetabling.
Andrew Parkinson – TGS Headteacher
Andrew started as a Geography and Science teacher in 1996 as a second career after training in the south-west of England.
Since 2004 he has been employed in senior leadership positions in numerous schools in West and North Yorkshire. He started his headship at Tadcaster Grammar School in 2019.
Diversity statement
At YLT we believe that diversity and inclusion are integral to our success. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to achieve their full potential.
We actively seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. We celebrate the unique contributions of each team member and are dedicated to fostering a culture of equality, where differences are not only embraced but are seen as a source of strength.
Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is reflected in our policies, practices, and the way we do business. We strive to ensure that our recruitment processes are fair, unbiased, and inclusive, and we are continuously working to improve them.
We understand that diversity drives innovation and creativity, and we are dedicated to building a diverse team that reflects the communities we serve.
Yorkshire Learning Trust – additional governance and financial information
Details of our Trustees and Members are on the YLT website. There are statutory obligations for Trusts to publish additional governance and financial information online. This includes our Articles of Association; Annual Reports and Accounts; funding agreements Executive Pay reports; and Gender Pay Gap reports. This information is published on our Trust website.