Governance

Haberdashers’ Adams and Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby are both part of the Haberdashers’ West Midlands Academies Trust (formerly Haberdashers’ Adams’ Federation Trust) (HAFT). HWMAT is sponsored by The Haberdashers’ Company (the Company), a livery company which was made trustee of Adams’ Grammar School by its founder, William Adams.

Who we are

The governors are unpaid, non-executive volunteers with different backgrounds and experience who, with the benefit of the recommendations of the management, make the strategic, financial and other major decisions for the trust and the schools, and monitor the implementation by management of the strategic decisions. Governors should act as critical friends of the Headteacher and Principal and their senior colleagues, with the benefit of their different interests, experience and expertise. Governors include persons who live locally to the schools and elected parents and members of staff.

Day to day and operational running and management of the schools is led by the Headteacher, in the case of Haberdashers’ Adams, and the Principal, in the case of Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby, in each case together with their respective senior leadership teams and staffs.

Structure

HWMAT has five members (the Company and four Haberdashers nominated by the Company) who elect the Trustees.

HWMAT has a Board of Trustees, which currently has eight members, with Haberdashers constituting a majority. The Board has the ultimate legal responsibilities and liabilities for the governance of the trust and its schools. All the other committees report to the Board and are subject to it. The Board reviews the minutes of all committee meetings and matters referred to it by any committee, as well as itself conducting matters appropriate only for the Board. The Board meets four times a year.

The Board of Trustees are:

Simon Dorman
John Gallagher
David Jones
Sarah Mitchell
Michael Nielsen
Mark Searles (Chair)
Colin Watt
Simon Wood

Committees

There are seven principal committees:

The Local Governing Bodies (LGBs). The LGB for Haberdashers’ Adams is currently chaired by David Jones; the LGB for Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby is currently chaired by John Gallagher. They meet once a term. They govern each school subject to, and within the authority granted by, the Board. They assist the development of strategy of the relevant school and monitor its implementation, including boarding at Adams. The members of each LGB include the respective headteacher, two governors elected from among parents and one governor elected from the staff.

The Finance and Buildings Committee. This is chaired by Mark Searles and has five members. It has oversight of and responsibility for the financial matters of each school and the trust, as well as their premises and maintenance. It meets once a term but its members receive monthly financial updates.

The Audit and Risk Committee. This is chaired by Michael Nielsen and has four members. It meets three times a year, reviewing the audit plan in the summer and the audited accounts and auditor’s report and management letter in the autumn. It is responsible for directing the Trust’s programme of internal scrutiny, ensuring that risks are addressed appropriately, and reporting to the Board on the adequacy of the internal control framework including financial and non-financial controls and management of risks.

The Teaching, Learning & Standards Committee. This is chaired by Simon Dorman and has four members. It reviews teaching and learning in both schools and so it reviews the academic outcomes. It meets four times a year.

The Pupil & Staff Welfare Committee. This is chaired by Colin Watt and has three members. It has responsibility for pupil and staff welfare matters and Safeguarding and Special Educational Needs & Disability (SEND). It meets three times a year.

Careers Committee. This is chaired by Arun Daniel-Selvaratnam and has three members. Its principal function is to guide and oversee the academies’ activities in relation to students’ destinations after leaving school. It meets twice a year.

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