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Local Governance
Pebsham Primary Academy is an academy as part of The Kemnal Academies Trust (TKAT).
TKAT is a multi-academy trust which was established on 1st September 2010. Its constitution is set out in the Articles of Association and this is shared with individual academies via the Scheme of Delegation. TKAT have, through the Scheme of Delegation, established Local Governing Bodies for each of the Academies.
Please click here to link to the Scheme of Delegation
The Local Governing Body of each of the Academies is responsible for fulfilling the strategic and operational governance role in the conduct of the Academy.
Please click here to link to the Directors of the TKAT Board.
Please click here to link to Governance information relating to TKAT, including the structure of governance and relevant details about Trustees terms of office, attendance and business interests.
Please click here for key documents including the Master Funding Agreement, Articles of Association and Accounts.
Structure
We, the Governors, are a diverse group of people from a range of backgrounds, including education, human resource management, retail work, legal work and finance. We aim to use our skills to support the school so that we attain our vision of a school where every child can shine. We are not paid, but can claim expenses for some activities.
We meet as a Local Governing Body, independent of the TKAT Board of Directors, but accountable to TKAT for everything we do, and our main functions are to set the strategic direction for the Academy and to hold its leadership to account.
We will have 6 full meetings this academic year.
30th September 2025
25th November 2025
20th January 2026
17th March 2026
28th April 2026
14th July 2026
We do not operate any subcommittees, other than the Pay Review Committee.
Membership
We Currently have 5 Governors plus the Head as Ex-Officio Governor;
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1 Headteacher Ex-Officio Governor
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3 Appointed Governors
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1 Parent Governor
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1 Staff Governor
Chair of Governors:
Interim Chair of Governors: Rachel Martin
If you are interested in being a school governor or would like to speak to us at any time, please contact our School Office on: 01424 215175 or by email: office@pebsham-tkat.org
Meet our Governors
| Name | Current term | Type | Responsibility and biography | Attendance % 2024-25 |
Wendy Morgan
Vice-Chair of Governors | Start: 01.01.13 Current Term: 01.01.22 - 31.12.26 | Appointed by LGB | Vice Chair of Governors Link Governor for Safeguarding and Looked after pupils Link Governor for Health & Safety Member of Pay Committee I joined Pebsham’s Governing Body in January 2013 and have enjoyed seeing its considerable progress over the past years and particularly its transition to a beach school. I was formerly an English teacher for 35 years and Assistant Headteacher in a large high school in Staffordshire where I held responsibility for pupil welfare and safeguarding. I was also the Chair of Governors at a small primary school. I am currently the Link Governor for Safeguarding and Health and Safety.
Declarations of Interest including transactions to 31st August 2025 Governor at Headstart since 09/01/2024 | 100% |
Mike Benton | Start 03.01.23 | Headteacher Appointed by TKAT | Attends all Governing Body meetings Declarations of Interest including transactions to 31st August 2025 Nothing to declare | 100% |
Dee HazeldenParent Governor | Start 13.07.22 Current Term 13.07.22 - 12.07.26 | Parent Elected by Parents | Link Governor for Wellbeing and Mental Health I’m Dee and the parent of 2 boys, one of whom currently attends Pebsham. I am a senior manager within the civil service and have many years of experience with safeguarding, working with vulnerable people and supportive agencies. I attended Pebsham as a child and have a strong attachment with the school and its values and principals and its over riding ambitions to succeed and thrive. Declarations of Interest including transactions to 31st August 2025 Nothing to declare | 86% |
Gemma JessupStaff Governor | Start - 01.09.23 Current Term 01.09.2023 - 31.08.27 | Staff Governor Elected by Staff | Attends all Governing Body meetings I joined the Pebsham team in 2020 and I am really enjoying being Deputy Headteacher and Inclusion Leader. I am passionate about making learning relevant and engaging for the children and for them to learn outside the classroom at any opportunity! Outside of school, I like to keep fit, go for dog walks along the beach front and spend time with my friends and family. Declarations of Interest including transactions to 31st August 2025 Nothing to declare | 100% |
Rachel MartinInterim Chair Appointed Governor | Start: 25.01.24 Current Term: 25.01.2024 - 31.08.27 R Martin was an LGB member in her capacity as Headteacher to 31.12.2022 and Interim Chair to 25.01.24 | Appointed by Academy Members | Link Governor for SEND Link Governor for Inclusion and Diversity Member of Pay Committee I am Rachel Martin, one of the Senior Safeguarding Leads for TKAT. My current role allows me to support all 45 TKAT schools in the area of Safeguarding - delivering training, resources and support and working with the schools to ensure we are keeping all of our children safe. My previous role was as the Headteacher at Pebsham Primary Academy and prior to that I was a Deputy Head in a small school near Rye where I was also seconded to support another small school in Sussex; in my career I have also been employed as a class teacher in both Sussex and North London. I have worked in Primary Education for over 25 years and am passionate about seeing children feeling safe and ready to learn. My youngest daughter attends Pebsham which helps me to see the school through the eyes of a parent as well.
Declarations of Interest including transactions to 31st August 2025 Employed by TKAT since 01.01.2014 Owner of Twisted Silver by Rachel, since March 2021. There have been no transactions with TKAT in 2023/2024 Governor at Battle Abbey School since 16.05.2025 Governor at Hastings Academy & St Leonards Academy 18/09/2025
| 100% |
Katie Henshaw
Clerk to Governors | 01/09/2025 | Employed by TKAT | Clerk to Governors | N/A |
Annie Craddock
Appointed Governor | 27/11/2024 | Appointed by Academy Members | Appointed Governor Declarations of Interest including transactions to 31st August 2025 Clerk to Governors to 5 schools aross East Sussex since 01.09.2019
| 67% |
Former Governors
| Name | Current term | Type | Responsibility and biography | Attendance |
Katie McKerrel | Start - 07.10.24 Resigned 11.11.24 | Clerk to the Governors | Clerk to the Governors Declarations of Interest including transactions to 31st August 2024 Nothing to declare | N/A |
| Julia Fuller | Start - 26/01/2024 Resigned 11/09/2025 | Appointed | Chair of Governors Declarations of Interest including transactions to 31st August 2024 Nothing to declare | 100% |