How Ark's governance works
Every school in the Ark network is the legal responsibility of the Ark Schools Board. This board focuses on statutory duties and delegates most day-to-day responsibilities to each school’s individual Local Governing Body (LGB).
This means that our Academy's governors are able to concentrate on the things that really matter – educational strategy, school outcomes and aspiration.
The Ark Schools Decision Making Framework outlines where responsibility and accountability sits for the key functional areas within Ark Schools between the ‘tiers’ of governance.
Our Local Governing Body
Our Local Governing Body (LGB) is made up of 6-10 members – usually people with a local connection or interest who are committed to supporting educational opportunity in the area. The board generally includes:
- Academy Principal
- Up to two Parent Governors
- One Teaching Staff Governor
- One Non-teaching Staff Governor
- One Local Authority representative
We aim to create a balanced group that will have the right skills, connections and dynamic for the LGB to work well and support the school in achieving exceptional performance. Attributes we look for include:
- Good insight into the specific challenges at the school and the general challenges of operating top-quality schools
- Excellent community links
- Specific skills as needed by/relevant to the school
- A link to the senior executive team of Ark Schools
All appointments are made by the Director of Governance for Ark Schools. The term of a governor is three years, except for the Principal, who remains a governor for the duration of his or her time in post. Governors may be reappointed for further terms.
The LGB meets four times a year.
Becoming a governor
If you have an interest and commitment to improving education, and would like to make a difference within your community, please register your interest in becoming a governor by completing our online Governor Application Form. If you have any questions about a governor’s role or responsibilities please contact us at governance.team@arkonline.org
A full programme of induction, training and support is provided. You can see more information, including role specifications here.
Contacting the governors
The current Clerk to Governors is Vanessa Watson (vanessa.watson@arkonline.org). Please contact them if you have any governance-related queries, or would like to contact one of the governors.
Our Governors
Adam McCormack
I am married with four grown up children and have lived in central London for the past 35 years. My career was spent initially as a Stockbroker and then as an Investment Banker in the City, where I worked in fixed income sales. I am now a consultant and sit on the boards of 3 charities. I am a keen golfer, cyclist, and theatre-goer.
Waleed Backler
Waleed is a strategic leader, complex problem solver and innovator in the Civil Service with experience steering critical work across government in diverse policy areas, building effective partnerships and directly interacting with Ministers to shape the UK government’s strategy. Waleed is passionate about driving positive value and building purposeful, collaborative teams. He is currently leading the long-term strategic thinking at the Department for Transport on employment issues in the transport and infrastructure sectors, working closely with industry and government partners to corral the department’s modal efforts on skills into a cohesive narrative for Ministers.
Waleed holds an MSc (Medical Statistics) from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, as well as a BSc Hons (Mathematics) and a Diploma in Industrial Studies from the University of Greenwich. Waleed became a student at Kensal Rise Primary School now known as Ark Franklin Primary Academy when he moved to the UK in 2003 and wants to ensure education policies work for children, share his life experiences and unique journey, to support, motivate and empower children and young people in this country, paving the way for more successful stories.
Melissa Evans
Melissa, an experienced educational leader, is committed to making a positive impact as a governor. With a focus on enhancing the educational landscape, she brings valuable expertise to strategic decision-making for the benefit of the school community.
James Jacobs
James has worked in the Civil Service for 6 years having initially joined through an accelerated leadership scheme and undertaken a variety of policy roles in the Home Office, Ministry of Justice and Department for Exiting the European Union.
Most recently he has been serving as a senior advisor in the Secretary of State's Policy Unit in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). He is responsible for her priorities in the youth and skills policy space.
James has a solid understanding of policy-making at the national level and brings a helpful ‘big picture’ perspective on the political backdrop of our work. In his recent work, he has developed a good understanding of how youth work and other enrichment activities are delivered for children across the country. James believes that his experience stands him in excellent stead for providing helpful challenge to help drive effective decision making, especially where difficult decisions relating to staff/student wellbeing, finance, and general policy are concerned.
Matthew Karl Urhammer
Matt is a mechanical engineer and business consultant with over 20 years experience in project and programme management.
Having joined the Ark Franklin community in 2017, with children now in KS2 and entering KS1, respectively, Matt aims to represent parents within the school's governance structure, and in turn to facilitate channels for communication and engagement with parents.
Matt is particularly passionate about the impact of teaching (having spent his formative years across the supper table from two college teachers), and looks forward to supporting Ark Franklin's long term success as we strive to provide the best possible foundation and experience for all students in our community.