Governance at High Street Primary Academy

A local governing body within a Reach South Academy Trust consists of:

4 Trust appointed members
2 Elected parent members
2 Elected staff members
Executive Headteacher

Additionally, there can be up to 3 Co-opted members.

High Street Primary Academy transitioned to a joint local governing body with Millbay Academy from 1st September 2022 which brings capacity to both schools.

 
 
  • Mr Nick Buckland OBE

    Chair of Governors

    Nick Buckland OBE – Trust Appointed Governor and Chair
    Term: 01.09.22 – 31.08.26
    Responsibility: Leadership and Management and SEND and Inclusion Governor
    Attendance 2023/24: 1/2
    Registered Interests: Joint owner of Ditchen Farm ( 1989), Chair of Parnall Group (2019), Trelonk Ltd (2020), Parnall Aircraft Company (2020), Riverford Organic Trust (2018), Plymouth Waterfront Partnership (2018), St Petroc’s School Trust (2017), SA Certification (2016), HRC College (2021), Shebbear College (2010) and Director of TWSW Ltd. Trustee of PML (2016), Karst (2014) and Future First (2023). Chair of Governors of UTC Plymouth (2016), Millbay Academy & High Street Primary LGB (2022), Stoke Damerel Primary School LGB (2018) and Thomas hall (2023). Fellow of IMA, RSA, IET, BCS and CMI. Member of IoD and RI.

    Eur Ing Nick Buckland OBE is a very experienced Governor and is currently the Chair of the Local Governing Bodies for Millbay & High Street, UTC Plymouth and Stoke Damerel Primary and Thomas Hall School Improvement Board. In these roles he provides leadership, expertise, challenge, mentoring of new Governor colleagues, and a wealth of Governor knowledge.
    Originally a mathematician, he spent many years in the IT industry working on high performance computers, the early years of virtual reality and the internet. From the mid 1990’s he has had a portfolio career as a Chair and Director of organisations in private, public and voluntary sectors. Nick has been a strong advocate of STEM and its importance for the UK economy and is passionate about ensuring young people are given the opportunities to gain a good education that will ensure they can take up exciting, well paid jobs and careers. He was appointed OBE for services to Innovation and Technology in the 2009 New Year Honours List and is a Chartered Engineer, Information Technology Practitioner and Manager. He is also a Fellow of a number of professional bodies.

  • Mrs Joanna Ware

    Executive Headteacher

    Term: 13.03.23
    Responsibilities: Whole Schools
    Attendance 2023/24: 2/2
    Registered Interests: Child attends a Trust School

  • Cassandra Bisco

    Staff Governor

    Term: 01.09.22 – 31.08.26
    Responsibility: Staff Governor
    Attendance 2023/24: 2/2
    Registered Interests: None

  • Cali Aubert BA (Hons)

    Parent Governor

    Term: 01.09.22 – 31.08.26
    Responsibility: SEND and Inclusion
    Attendance 2023/24: 1/2
    Registered Interests: None

    As an experienced creative in the film and television industry, I am currently practising in the UK and the US.

    I have 3 SEN sons and have spent the best part of their schooling life battling for their rights and needs.

    My youngest has a rare and life-threatening condition which has opened my eyes to the difficulties in relation getting his needs met within the Local Authority.

    I believe every child has a right to an education and ought not be penalised for any neurodivergent conditions beyond their metal control. The establishments need to continue to raise awareness through training and understanding...and government legislation raises awareness through the Equality Act 2010, Disability Discrimination Act 1998, SEND Local Offer...the students are protected.

  • Arezoo Farahzad

    Trust Appointed Governor

    Term: 01.09.22 – 31.08.26
    Responsibility: Safeguarding Governor, Equalities and Early Years Foundation Stage
    Attendance 2023/24: 1/2
    Registered Interests: Director of Filmingland Productions (Jun 2020) Chair of Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’is of Plymouth (Apr 1990), Plymouth Centre for Faiths and Cultural Diversity (Sept 2001) and BASED-UK (Nov 2015)

    Arezoo Farahzad is a Producer / Director having overseen projects, over the last 30 years, for the BBC, Channel 4, Discovery and digital clients, with expertise on popular food, travel and cultural programmes. Educated and trained in Plymouth, she began life as a radio producer for BBC Radio Devon with whom she continues close links. In her spare time, she acts as Chair of Trustees for UK charity BASED-UK and Plymouth-based Centre for Faiths and Cultural Diversity – two educational charities very close to her heart. She is also a member of Plymouth Council of Faiths on behalf of the Bahá’i Community. Her passion is meeting new people, promoting diversity and contributing towards Plymouth becoming a truly welcoming city to all who choose to call it home.

  • Charlotte Francis

    Staff Governor

    Term: 01.09.22 – 31.08.26
    Responsibility: Staff Governor
    Attendance 2023/24: 1/2
    Registered Interests: None

    I currently work within the English Faculty in the secondary section of Millbay Academy. Over the past 14 years I have worked within both a college and primary schools, making the move to secondary September 2021. It has been a joy for me working within Millbay Academy. Therefore, becoming a staff governor was important to me as I wish to support both the school and our young people to move forward, with our shared vision. As a mum of two teenagers currently moving through their secondary education I understand the unique challenges and joys that face our young people as they begin their journey to adulthood.

  • Tom Kirk

    Trust Appointed Governor

    Term: 01.09.22 – 31.08.26
    Responsibility: Vice-Chair, Finance and Behaviour and Attitudes
    Attendance 2023/24: 2/2
    Registered Interests: Director of ND (Plymouth) Ltd (Nov 17) Tom Kirk Consultancy (Dec 16)

    Tom is an Accountant and has extensive expertise from working as a trusted advisor to clients in healthcare, e-commerce, manufacturing, recruitment and education sectors from turnarounds through to drawing up and executing strategic expansion plans. Tom has previously worked for Reach South Academy Trust as the Interim Director of Finance and therefore has a very good understanding of the values and ethos of the Trust.

  • Lucian Nechifor

    Parent Governor

    Term: 01.09.22 – 31.08.26
    Responsibility: Quality of Education
    Attendance 2023/24: 1/2
    Registered Interests: Child at Millbay

  • Dr Hannah Wood

    Trust Appointed Governor

    Term: 01.09.22 – 31.08.26
    Responsibility: Personal Development and Quality of Education
    Attendance 2023/24: 1/2
    Registered Interests: Founder and Creative Director of Story Juice (2012) and Member or Plymouth Cultural Partnership (Jan 2022)

    Dr Hannah Wood is Creative Director of Story Juice, an interactive storytelling and game development studio making playful experiences for everyone from individuals to audiences of 200,000. The studio brings untold stories to life in imaginative, new artistic forms and puts the audience at the heart of its experiences, inviting them to embody moments and perspectives that can inspire empathy, delight and empower social change. Collaborators and clients have included the Natural History Museum, Almeida Theatre, Roald Dahl Estate, Eden Project and BBC. The studio is a pledge partner of UKIE's #RaiseTheGame initiative to improve equality, diversity and inclusion in the games industry, and a Story Juice game has won a Global Women In Games Award 2022. Hannah is also a lecturer and researcher based at University of Plymouth where she teaches across creative forms, including creative writing, design, theatre, games, immersive experiences, audio and film. She is a passionate advocate of culture in Plymouth and a member of the Plymouth Cultural Partnership. Her career started in journalism for local and national press before she moved into the arts.

 
Millbay Academy and High Street Primary Local Governing Board Meeting dates 2023-24
 
  • Thursday 5 October 2023
  • Thursday  22 February 2024
  • Thursday 27 June 2024

 

Previous Governors of the past 12 months
  • Jason Trevarthen: 01.09.22 - 13.03.23
  • Beccy Warner: 01.01.23 - 31.08.23
To learn about gender pay gap equality and reporting from Reach South follow this link: https://www.reachsouth.org/governance.
 
Contact:
 
 
If you wish to contact the Chair of Governors you can do so either via the school office or by contacting the Clerk to the Board, Lindsey Johnson: lindsey.johnson@reachsouth.org
 
To find out more about Reach South Academy governance click on the following link- www.reachsouth.org/governance

 

To find out more about Reach South Academy financial statements click on the following link- https://www.reachsouth.org/financial-statements