1. Nicky Dunford- CEO & Accounting Officer
The Link Academy Trust
Nicky Dunford- CEO &
Accounting Officer

2. The Link Academy Trust, what you need to know:
Vision & Mission
Governance Structure
Strengths of Academy Status
Our School Improvement Model
Our Business Support
Aspects of academy finance & governance
Joining a MAT- the legal process

3. Delivering educational excellence supported by strong moral values
Delivering educational excellence supported by strong moral values
Each learner developing a passion for learning and exceeding their aspirations in a unique learning environment
Highly motivated, research-led and passionate teaching
Schools being at the heart of, and valued by their community
Being a partner of choice

4. We will always deliver the very best for our children, families and communities through:
An uncompromising approach to wellbeing, safety, nurturing and inclusion
Innovative teaching and learning practices to uphold the highest education standards
The development of partnership and collaborative working to create a cutting edge approach.
We will achieve this by investment in: High quality provision for staff and their pathways to success School environments that provide stimulating learning spaces Strong business planning to maximise the Trust’s geographical range and collective expertise

5. Multi Academy Trust Structure
5 x Members
Corporate Deanery Representative
The Rev’d Preb.J.C.Ould
Representative St Mark & St John Uni
Gill Golder
Corporate Diocese –
EDEN Representative
Douglas Dettmer
Representative for Bearnes’ Trust
Isabel Cherrett
Trust Director
12 x Directors
Chair
Isabel Cherrett
Vice
Chair
Charlotte
Power
Audit Specialist
Roy Gillard
Finance
Director
Accounting Specialist
Vacancy
Simon
Niles
Fiona
Walters
Diocese Link
Vacancy
Vacancy
CEO
Nicola Dunford
Accounting Officer
Peter Bethel
Audit & Accounting
Specialist
Cheryl Mathieson
HR Specialist
Vacancy
7 Foundation
5 Others
Four Committees working within the 12 Directors
Audit
Finance & General Purposes
Standards & Curriculum
Remuneration
Local Governing Boards
Newton & Teign Hub
Totnes Hub
Woodleigh Hub
Senior Leadership Team
Bearnes
Head of School
Alice Eeles
Cheriton Bishop
Head of School
Alex Waterman
Diptford
Head Teacher
Lizzie Lethbridge
Harbertonford
Head Teacher
Lizzie Lethbridge
Hennock
Head of School
Sarah Clarke
Landscove
Head of School
Jill Ryder
Stoke Gabriel
Head of School
Matthew Medd
Tedburn St Mary
Head of School
Andy Keay
Yeoford
Head of School
Peter Halford

6. Governance Considerations
Individual Academies able to focus on Teaching & Learning
School Boards retained & focussed on Teaching & Learning
Strategic Improvement creating leadership capacity
Directors- based on very high level skill set- no particular allegiance to individual settings
Diocesan Directors representation- VA model
Opportunities at every level of Governance

7. The Link Academy offers:
The Inclusion Hub- continually being expanded & developed to provide the best for our vulnerable children & families
An Educational Psychologist and other ‘experts’ directly employed by The Link- responding rapidly to the needs of our schools
Education Welfare Officer advice
Pre school provision in every school, mostly as Foundation Stage Unit.
Income generation- small projects in schools funded through bidding process all undertaken by designated personnel.
Small scale maintenance issues undertaken in house
Full Business Support from the Central Team

8. Reasons for joining the Link
Collaborative Model- flexible but underpinned by a clear values and expectations
Autonomy- but with robust challenge and support mechanisms
Share, value, celebrate and reward enrichment at all levels
Investment in the school environments- as much as possible spent at the classroom level
Provide meaningful and positive feedback to everyone
A dynamic model of school improvement- unrelenting focus on T&L, emphasising aspiration & ambition.
A business support system that means we can deliver even more for our children & families

9. Interested? What next? For more information contact us
CEO and Trust Business manager can attend Governors Meetings to present and answer questions
The starting point in a nutshell:
Decision made by governors- online Expression of Interest
Liaise with RSC to establish agreement to go forward & start consultation.
Legal Team involvement
Start due diligence procedures
Timeline & programme for consultation established- staff, parents & families, community, Trade unions etc

10. If this information has interested you:
Please contact us and we will listen to your needs
We can answer the questions that are specific to your school/s
We can support you as an Associate before you make the decision to join us
We have experience in Management Partnership working
We anticipating accreditation as a Support Academy and can help schools that have had a negative Inspection or are experiencing difficulties with staffing, governance etc